Saturday, February 15, 2025

Steven Yeun and Kristen Stewart Dive Deep into AI and Identity: ‘If You Like Mushrooms, You’ll Love Our Movie!’

In a recent interview with MovieWeb, actors Steven Yeun and Kristen Stewart shared insights on their new sci-fi romantic comedy, Love Me, which was released nationwide on January 31, 2025. The film explores complex themes of identity and the intersection of technology and humanity, as the two stars portray artificial intelligences that develop feelings in a world where humanity has vanished.

Yeun likened the film to a “mushroom trip,” capturing its surreal, thought-provoking essence, while Stewart chimed in, playfully stating, “If you like mushrooms, you’ll like our movie.” The plot of Love Me unfolds with Yeun as a smart buoy and Stewart as a satellite who fall in love after humanity has vanished from Earth. These characters, both forms of digital technology, create human avatars based on insights from an ancient “Google-like” time capsule sent into space by the last survivors.

Stewart emphasized how the movie illuminates the construction of identity, stating, “We’re always looking over our shoulders and at our neighbors and at our friends and parents and everyone around us for the things that we want.” This notion of identity as an impressionable construct forms a crucial thread in the film’s narrative, making viewers ponder their influences and interactions.

In addition to the exploration of personal identity, the film, co-directed by Sam and Andrew Zuchero, probes into the relationship between humans and AI, raising questions about future interactions and potential consequences. Yeun referenced David Lynch’s approach to creativity, advocating for a deeper dive into consciousness: “I’m personally attracted to digging a little bit deeper into the creative consciousness, not just like skimming the top layer.” His perspective reflects a general sentiment within the film that urges viewers to contemplate profound and abstract thoughts beyond the ordinary.

Stewart added a humorous take when discussing the moral implications of AI: “We made [AI] and so, hopefully, it can be the best and worst aspects of us.” Her comment highlighted the trepidation surrounding AI development and echoed a recurring theme in the movie—making conscious decisions about what characteristics of humanity to instill within these technologies. Stewart expressed concern over the narratives often portrayed in film, suggesting, “I hope that we can stop making movies about robots killing us — because they’re just learning from us anyway.” This sentiment poignantly underscores the film’s underlying message regarding the influence humanity has on AI.

As the characters in Love Me grapple with questions of existence and aspirations, viewers are compelled to reflect on their interactions and how they shape their own identities. This introspective journey within the film is designed to linger with the audience long after the credits roll. Though not every viewer may resonate with its themes, as Stewart compellingly puts it, “if you like mushrooms, you’ll like our movie.” Love Me invites audiences to engage in a complex dialogue about identity and technology’s role in shaping the human experience.

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