What does it mean to find a connection? To find identity? To find… love? In the curious and mysterious sci-fi romance Love Me, Kristen Stewart and Steven Yuen play opposite each other as avatars of technological devices yearning for that spark. The film premiered at Sundance a year ago, leaving many viewers puzzled about what they just watched. The film, which carries a story and ideas more appropriate for a short, never entirely develops into something truly satisfying. 

 

Love Me begins in the distant and cold future; humanity has long since evaporated. A smart buoy sits alone, trapped in ice. The digital device catches an orbiting satellite tasked with explaining humanity to any lifeform it contacts. After some meet cute interactive moments that feel reminiscent of Wall-E, the two entities evolve their communication. The buoy (voiced by Stewart) learns from the database the satellite (voiced by Yuen) carries about humanity and, more specifically, social media tropes.

 

Their relationship forms into a series of tropes modeled off long-dead influencers. They play out nauseous performative vlogging bits such as cooking blue-apron recipes and holding date nights. This cycle repeats as the satellite avatar I Am (Yuen) questions their reality and authenticity. There is a discussion about gender to be had here. Stewart’s avatar of “Me” is painted to be an insecure, nagging girlfriend with one foot out the door if I Am in any way does not immediately play along with the act. The I Am character plays the betrayed and lost boyfriend who carries the torch of existential wonder. 

 

This set-up is cute and fine for the first 30 minutes, but then its luster fades all too quickly. I can admire Stewart and Yuen (now both Oscar-nominated performers) for taking on riskier projects to distance themselves from their more publicly recognized roles. Both actors hit their marks well, but the story of Love Me can never seem to connect the disparate dots it creates for its characters. 

 

The Zucheros opt for rote relationship commentary rather than an intriguing plot where I could invest. There is room for admiration for the ambitious swings the filmmakers take, populating their debut with great visuals. The sweet and endearing concepts of finding love and understanding play second fiddle to low-hanging targets of social media and vacuous by-the-numbers content. This cosmic AI romance is a high concept but has a low impact, rendering a frustrating experience.