Renner (2025)- Frankie Muniz Takes On AI Thrillers

Do you think Alan Turing really saw this in the future? I know we refer to the Turing test, but I don’t think he quite knew that artificial intelligence would reach where it is now, and that kids everywhere would just stop doing homework. I mean, my google homepage literally has a button for homework help AI. Help. Right.

In this 2025 dystopian AI movie, which follows an onslaught of AI related films last year (most of them were abysmal like Afraid or Subserviance), Renner is hoping to buck the trend and come up with something a little interesting at least. Just like with shark movies, we can’t expect every film to be Jaws. And with AI, we shouldn’t expect them all to be better than HAL.

When a screener came my way for a new Frankie Muniz movie, of course I would hav loved audio description, but I also just really wanted to see what kind of gas he still had in the tank. he took a break from acting, and his star power isn’t what it was. Luckily, he’s supported here by Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden, and Violet Bean. So, we’re on the right path.

if you come for Muniz, you’ll likely stay for the at times manic energy he leaves on the table. Muniz showed up with something to prove, and I love when an actor jumps in with ferocity, regardless of the budget of their film. He’s clearly in this all the way, and fairly competent writing and direction makes Renner a better AI thriller than some of the absolute sludge we got last year.

Renner is not without faults, or things it could have improved upon (other than having an English audio description track available). I never once thought Marcia Gary Harden felt like an AI. As much as I adore her, I would have preferred a lesser known actor with a less recognizable voice. Either that, or just embrace it, and say that Renner programmed it using her voice. we do kind of get a version of that, but I’m not here for spoilers like IMDB’s plot summary is.

I think the one thing that stood out to me the most, was I wasn’t sure when this movie was. And, because the film only has five credited performers, only 4 of which did I notice, it feels smaller than it should. it does take place almost entirely in this apartment complex, bouncing between apartments, as Renner becomes taken with his new female neighbor (Bean). but even she vocalizes how strange it is for her, as a character, to not really be seeing other people.

Despite a few choices I might have gone the other way with, Renner is definitely a solid AI thriller, with a pretty decent third act twist. It really throws more than one twist, but I already saw one coming, and I hadn’t read the IMDB summary. Another one really felt like it caught me off guard.

I’m glad Malcom is back in the midst of our release schedule, and I hope Renner gets enough attention to get audio description so I can recommend if more broadly, and firmly. Films without audio description don’t get firm grades, as I might shift a little once the gaps are filed in for me. it can improve, but it can also take away.

Official Current Grade: unwatchable Due To Lack Of Audio Description

Prediction: B-

RT: N/A. If I do make the tomatometer, I don’t intend on locking in a score without audio description because I’ve changed my mind and gone up/down so many times on a second watch. B- is a median.