After a seven-year hiatus, actor Frankie Muniz is making his return to feature films in the artificial intelligence thriller titled “Renner.” The film is directed by Robert Rippberger and is based on a screenplay written by Luke Medina and Martin Medina.
Renner (Muniz), a reclusive computer genius driven by a need for control, designs an AI named Salenus (voiced by Oscar winner Marcia Gay Harden) to help him overcome his crippling social anxieties and find love. Encouraged by Salenus, Renner connects with his alluring neighbor Jamie (Violett Beane) and her brother Chad (Taylor Gray).
Over time, Renner is able to move out of the friend zone and into a possible romance with Jamie, but their relationship starts to unravel when she begins to interact with the AI. As dark secrets and betrayals begin to surface, Salenus’s influence on Renner takes a malicious turn, leaving him entangled in the devastating consequences of his invention.
In a manner reminiscent of the slasher film surge in the 1980s, contemporary audiences are encountering a significant increase in suspense and horror films that incorporate artificial intelligence as a pivotal plot element. Muniz is well-acquainted with thriller films that feature technology as a backdrop, having starred in the 2006 film “Stay Alive,” which has developed a cult following.
The big draw to this film is child star Muniz, who is toplining his first feature film in seven years. The former child star avoided the pitfalls that often befall those in the same profession, so it’s always good to see him in something. Potential viewers should see that the film has a minimal cast, and Muniz appears in 90% of them. In this film, Muniz organically taps into the socially awkward titular character. Anything he displayed on the classic “Malcolm in The Middle” sitcom is gone, and I would love to see him take on more roles.
Violett Beane was one of the better parts of the abysmal film Truth or Dare from a few years back, so it was good to see her in another film genre. Taylor Gray doesn’t have much to do but fully embodies the typical “tool role.” Marcia Gay Harden is good, as always, with her voiceover role.
In the third act, a twist unfolds, which, while somewhat predictable, paves the way for Muniz to stretch his acting abilities truly. This pivotal moment heightens the tension and allows him to delve deeper into his character, revealing layers of emotion and complexity.
Thanks to a career-shifting performance from Frankie Muniz, “Renner” succeeds as a low-budget genre feature that explores the emotional complexity of a man wrestling with forces far beyond his control.
Final Grade: B
“Renner” opens in limited theaters on Friday, February 7th.
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