I watched this in theatres; the cinema was empty except for me and my friend. I don't know how much money it's making at the box office but the reviews are horrid (although I have no idea why).

I suppose the worst thing you could say about it is the disjointed pacing and odd/on-the-nose dialogue choices. (eg. Mescal's character shouts "I don't want my wife to live with a robot!", and, in another scene, Saoirse Ronan's character exclaims whilst weeping "This is unforgivable!", both of which are very funny, but probably were meant to be dramatic). The pacing also makes the less than 2 hours total make it feel much longer than it is. Multiple times it felt like the movie was going to end at a natural climax, but then it just went on and inserted more plot/more 'twists'.

But the movie is engrossing - particularly in the first half, which, and had that quality had maintained throughout would have made this genuinely great - and beautifully filmed, and the performances are so great they overcome a lot of the clunky dialogue choices. I really enjoyed the initial chamber piece psychodrama feeling of the three protagonists stuck in the house together and distrusting one another, before they felt they need to make the first twist happen.

Basically the premise is that Saoirse Ronan and Paul Mescal are a married couple on a dead farm in the 2060's post-climate disaster, a space man comes to their home and says Mescal has to go to a space settlement for two years, and an AI replica will stay with Ronan for that period to keep her company. The space company guy says he has to live with the couple for a while to gather information to develop the robot replica. The most impressive stuff happens during the pre-twist opening act.

SPOILER I dont know how to do a spoiler box
The second act twist is - Mescal, who we've been watching on screen for an hour, is actually the replica himself, and the replica he thinks is arriving is actually the original dude returning from space.

We think we've been watching a disintegrating marriage slowly repair, but it's actually just been Ronan's character newly falling in love with the AI replacement. When the original husband returns, conflict etc happens.
end spoiler

Honestly, the movie gets less interesting to watch the more the writers force the plot on you. I'd still reccomend watching, which is why I tried to hide the spoilers.

Ben, funny you say this about the first half being great. We watch a lot of the Kermode & Mayo podcast and Kermode said you'd be better off watching the first half (he thought it was great) and then walk out. Great stuff he said, until it all goes pear-shaped.

Such a shame, great cast and I was really looking forward to it.

I've gone back and read negative reviews after seeing it, and I guess I have the same issues as them, but I just don't think it totally ruined the movie.

I'd still recommend seeing it! That opening half is strange, interesting and compelling. The second half is, at worst, underthought

I'll be seeing it anyway cause it's my kind of film.

I'm looking forward to seeing Cat Person too (it comes out on the 23rd).

It copped a bit of a bagging as well, but after reading the NY Times short story it's a must-see for me. Nicholas Braun (Greg in Succession) is a bonus. I think you might enjoy this, Ben. And if you haven't read the short story you should. Maybe wait till after the film... Or not.

Omg they made a MOVIE from that short story? Half that story takes place over text, unfathomable. Very interested to see that.