SUPERINTELLIGENCE

When an AI develops superintelligence, it discovers it has the power to destroy, enslave or help the planet. In trying to figure out which path to choose, it targets Carol Peters (McCarthy) to observe for a few days in order to get a better grasp on humanity and ascertain if it is, in fact, worth saving. After communicating with Carol through her phone, TV, clock radio, toothbrush and rice cooker, Carol is convinced of its existence (and freaked out), and is now on a mission to save the world. Unsure how to go about the task, the AI (voiced by James Cordon, 'The Prom', 'Into The Woods') breaks it down for her - if she had three days left to live, how would she spend that time? She decides to make amends with ex-boyfriend George (Bobby Cannavale, TV's 'Mr Robot', 'Everybody Loves Raymond'). Believing this will show Carol at her most vulnerable, the AI is onboard and willing to do whatever it takes to make this work - including giving Carol a makeover, a Tesla and unimaginable funds... because sure, why not. These are all fun efforts to fill a 90-minute comedy about nothing, right?

Boy oh boy oh boy oh boy. I was waiting... but the laughs never came. The sequence of crazy outfits, poking fun at the fashion industry - pedestrian. The woman looking crazy talking to an entity no one but she can hear - elementary and tired. The inept and clueless government bodies - if I had a dollar. The romantic reconciliation - boooooring. There is nothing new here. Not one single thing. And to add insult to injury, McCarthy's talents are wasted. Falcone, her own husband, has given her nothing to do, nothing to play with. Carol is a character McCarthy can play in her sleep, and 'Superintelligence' is a film that came close to putting me to sleep.

Falcone and McCarthy are two people whose partnership should be hitting home runs. They know each other's strengths and weaknesses to such an intimate level that it's a no-brainer. So why doesn't it work? Box office-wise, their collaborations are bringing in less money with each new outing - and now, thanks to COVID-19, who knows if studios will be willing to back these two again. If this is the case, they are not going out on a high note. Perhaps this is a good opportunity to go back to formula. With around 60 years of comedy experience between them, we know they're better than this. If only they knew it themselves.