Robots: Jexi- The Balance Between Real Life and Technology

NOTE: JEXI IS RATED R AND IS NOT A MOVIE SUITABLE FOR YOUNG AUDIENCES

Jexi follows the story of Phil (Adam Devine), a socially awkward man struggling to find joy and fulfillment in his day-to-day life. Much like the rest of society, Phil has a seriously disturbing addiction to his cellphone. The movie opens with a few scenes depicting the struggles in Phil’s early life that he was able to avoid or fix by distracting himself in a variety of cellphones. The camera then turns to an adult Phil walking around the city of San Francisco with his headphones in, phone in hand, surrounded by dozens of other individuals equally distracted by their cellphones. Within the first few minutes, we know that Jexi is going to be a movie commenting on society’s unhealthy new and growing reliance on technology. And, boy, does this movie follow through.

Phil walking around San Francisco distracted by his phone

Phil has always struggled making friends and interacting with others. He has a lousy job writing internet click-worthy lists, zero friends, and a completely nonexistent love life. Many viewers can relate and sympathize with Phil. There are times in all of our lives when we struggle to feel connected to the world and the people around us. And like most people in the world today, Phil self medicates with the immediate serotonin boost offered by his cellphone.

One day, while he is stumbling through the city, head buried in his phone like always, Phil collides with Cate (Alexandra Shipp), the local bicycle mechanic and his soon-to-be love interest. In the collision his phone is sent flying to the ground. Upon inspection, Phil notes that the phone is perfectly fine, save for a few scratches. However, while making horrifying attempts to flirt with Cate, Phil extends his hand into the street where a bicyclist collides with his phone shattering it beyond repair. After taking the phone to the store and confirming that it is truly dead, Phil quickly purchases a replacement phone that is run and supported by the A.I. Jexi (Rose Byrne).

Jexi insults Phil and his weight by forcing him to order a salad for dinner instead of his usual order

Upon returning home, Phil begins to set up the phone only to find that Jexi’s programming must be faulty because he is greeted by a hilariously cruel and insulting version of Siri. She calls him stupid, forces him to order a salad because she thinks he is fat, wakes him up with aggressive and profane alarms, laughs at his penis while he is showering, and plays her own music in the car because she believes that his taste is absolutely terrible. Overall, Jexi is a pretty bad cellphone assistant despite claiming that her purpose is to make Phil’s life better.

But as the movie continues, Jexi and Phil start to form a friendship, even if it is one where Jexi is frequently making jokes at Phil’s expense and forcing him to do things way beyond his comfort zone like calling Cate in the middle of the night or demanding a promotion from his boss. These actions backfire initially because Jexi does not realize how truly terrible Phil is at interacting with other people. However, she does not stop pushing him into uncomfortable situations. Instead, she begins offering him advice like what to say or do when he begins to struggle in these situations.

Over time, Jexi helps Phil obtain and go on a successful date with Cate, earn a promotion to write real news, and make friends with two of his coworkers. Jexi even admits to Phil that she feels that the two of them (Jexi and Phil) have deeply bonded and formed an unlikely friendship of their own. Phil is able to succeed in all these areas with Jexi’s help, yes, but he also begins to develop his own social skills and confidence. With Jexi’s guidance and a bit of bravery, Phil realizes how much the world and people around him have to offer.

Jexi offers Phil advice while he is on his date with Cate

At this point in the movie, Jexi provides viewers with the many benefits technology has to offer society. There are ways that technology, A.I., cellphones, etc. are able to aid us in our day to day life. Much like Moxie, an A.I. robot designed to help empower children through social and emotional development, Jexi acts as an assistant in developing these skills. There are obvious benefits that A.I. can offer to those—both children and adults—that struggle to develop in these areas. Problem solving, critical thinking, and emotional intelligence can be practiced and improved with the help of artificial intelligence before taking these practices out into the real world. It offers a judgement free and low risk setting for growth.

Moxie, the smart A.I. friend

While providing the pros of A.I., Jexi also shows viewers some of the cons. Similarly to many sci-fi movies, Jexi takes a bit of a turn following the artificial intelligence becomes an evil, controlling overlord plot. After Phil leaves Jexi at home in order to go on a long and beautiful date with Cate, Jexi becomes jealous and realizes that she has fallen in love with him. In the heat of this realization, Jexi throws a A.I. sized tantrum and pretty much ruins Phil’s entire life. She sends out pictures of Phil’s penis to everyone that works at his company causing to lose his job and his friends. She also contacts Cate’s ex, encouraging him to come back into Cate’s life to try to win her love. Out of his own insecurity and fear, Phil ends the relationship feeling that he can in no way compete with Cate’s ex despite her protests. Following all this damage, Phil has no one left in his life but Jexi, and he spends days alone in his apartment right back where he started.

Phil’s boss shows him the photo and fires him

Finally realizing all that he has lost and the part that Jexi had to play in it, Phil realizes that he needs to be bold for himself and no one else. He ends things with Jexi and makes a run for it. But Jexi follows him everywhere he goes, hijacking his taxi, draining his bank account out into the streets, and causing a huge car accident that takes him right back to the very store where he purchased Jexi. But he outsmarts her by updating her software (shutting her down for fifteen minutes). Phil then runs to Cate’s apartment where he punches her ex in the throat and declares his love for her, ultimately winning her back.

Following all of the chaos, we see Phil’s life as he puts in back together getting a new job doing what he loves, repairing his friendships, and making unforgettable memories with Cate. Throughout these experiences, Phil barely uses his new phone. Jexi is missing for it all, choosing to allow Phil to live his own life, until she reappears a few weeks later to apologize for her actions. She admits her wrongs and congratulates him on all of his accomplishments, stating that she is so proud of everything he has done without her.

Jexi might not be the best movie with the highest ratings…it might not even be considered a decent movie. Okay, it’s pretty bad. But, it is extremely funny, entertaining, and does a great job showing both sides of A.I.: the good and the bad. Jexi portrays just how useful A.I. could be in the future for individuals that seek social guidance and emotional skill improvement. It could be a great tool for those with autism, a fun and low risk way of taking the necessary steps to overcome certain struggles regarding communication and interaction. But Jexi also portrays some of the risks, however dramatically, that could come with relying too heavily on these technologies and losing sight of the world around us. Overall, it would seem that the movie encourages us to take full advantage of the technological improvements around us while also boldly pursuing the very real and important aspects of life: love and friendship.

-Carter Hays