Published Oct 22, 2026, 3:00 PM EDT

Jenna Ortega and Amy Adams star in this futuristic AI tale

Klara and the Sun transforms compelling AI drama into one big joke

For better or worse, Taika Waititi leads with his humor. Whether it's kids dancing in the midst of tragedy or the discovery of the God of Thunder’s comedic skills, Waititi can find a laugh anywhere.

Maybe it’s a sign of a more jaded world or a less capable film , but with Klara and the Sun , I found myself wishing for restraint. Don’t make the obvious joke; don’t encourage another weird face-off between actors. A dramatic scene depicting a robot’s devotion to humanity would land better if we could sit with it without a giggle break. But no such luck.

Klara and the Sun has plenty of drama and heartbreak, and almost every moment is intercut with a juvenile joke that reassures us it’s not that serious, even if, per the film’s own subject matter, it should be.…