Big Picture Big Sound

Auggie Review

By David Kempler

Artificial Irrelevance

Richard Kind is one of those actors that will always find work. At the time of this writing, he has at least five projects in either pre or post-production. His acting skills along with his everyman look will always keep him busy. He is tailor-made for both comedy and pathos and he excels at both.

Felix (Kind) has reached the point in his life where his company is retiring him. He has had a long and successful career as an architect, but the time has come to hang up his design tools. Like others who define themselves by their career he isn't looking forward to a new life of leisure time.

At his retirement party Felix is given a farewell gift that he shows little interest in. It's really not explained what it is and he takes it home without even examining it. It's an afterthought. When he finally gets around to it, Felix learns that it is a new kind of eyeglasses that gains access into your brain and then projects what your subconscious wants you to see.

Auggie.jpg


I couldn't help but disconnect a little from the story. Is this in the future? It doesn't look like the future. Wouldn't an invention like this be just about the biggest news on the planet? Felix knows nothing about it. I understand this is sci-fi, but even in sci-fi there has to be an understanding of what makes up this particular reality.

After initial hesitation, Felix becomes immersed in his new toy, and why wouldn't he? It creates an apparition named Auggie (Christen Harper), who is a strikingly beautiful young woman that wants nothing more than to make him happy, including sexually. This creates an entire separate life for him and apart from his wife, Anne (Susan Blackwell). Obviously, this set of circumstances cannot coexist for very long, so which way will it finally turn?

"Auggie" is mildly pleasant to watch, but it's never much more than that. It feels like an elongated version of a mediocre episode of "Black Mirror", a Netflix show that explores similar story lines, sometimes in a much more effective way. Artificial intelligence is definitely going to be causing situations like the one that "Auggie" explores, and better representations will definitely be coming soon. You might as well wait for them.

What did you think?

Movie title Auggie
Release year 2019
MPAA Rating NR
Our rating
Summary Upon retirement, a man doesn't receive a gold watch. Instead, he gets an AI device to live a fantasy life. Pleasant, but only scratches the surface.
View all articles by David Kempler
More in Movies
Big News
Newsletter Sign-up
 
Connect with Us