Klara and the Sun Review: Jenna Ortega Makes Us Fall in Love With a Robot
Jenna Ortega as Klara in the 2026 science fiction drama Klara and the Sun.
Would you welcome an artificial intelligence robot into your family? After watching Klara and the Sun, I’m reconsidering my answer.
Synopsis In a futuristic world where artificial intelligence has become part of everyday life, Klara (Jenna Ortega) is a solar-powered Artificial Friend designed to provide companionship to humans.
When she’s chosen by Josie (Mia Tharia), a seriously ill teenager, Klara becomes part of a family struggling with difficult decisions and complicated emotions. Josie’s mother, Chrissie (Amy Adams), is determined to protect her daughter, while Josie’s childhood friend Rick (Aran Murphy) represents another important connection in her life.
Meanwhile, society has embraced a controversial process called “lifting,” which genetically enhances children to improve their abilities and opportunities, sometimes with devastating consequences.
My Review: A Robot With More Humanity Than Humans?
I’ve always been ambivalent about a future populated by AI robots that look and behave like humans. The idea is both creepy and delightful.
But Klara and the Sun made me reconsider. Jenna Ortega is absolutely magnificent as Klara, an Artificial Friend who possesses seemingly all the best human qualities without any of our negative ones. She’s compassionate, loyal, patient, and completely devoted to making the people around her happy.
What fascinated me most was Ortega’s performance. Her expressions are remarkably human, while her graceful, slightly mechanical movements remind us that she’s a robot. At times, I forgot I was watching an actress portraying artificial intelligence. And therein lies my dilemma.
Klara doesn’t seem artificial or particularly robotic. Instead, she appears to be all heart. We know today’s robots don’t experience human emotions, yet Ortega makes us believe Klara does. She makes us want a Klara of our own! On the other side of this technological conundrum is the unsettling practice of genetically altering children to make them intellectually superior. It’s an interesting contradiction: We’re trying to make robots more human while engineering humans to become something supposedly better than nature intended.
I found the latter far more disturbing.
A Mexican Surprise and Some Unexpected Tears
Despite its serious themes, the movie has some funny moments. In one scene, Amy Adams’ character expresses her doubts about Klara with a line reminiscent of Star Wars: “You’re not the droid we’re looking for.” I loved that reference! But another scene caught me completely off guard.
When Klara arrives in a box, Chrissie and her housekeeper, Melania (Rachel House), open it to inspect their new acquisition. Melania looks at Klara and exclaims something along the lines of, “You bought a Mexican?!” I burst out laughing! Being Mexican myself, born and raised in Mexico, I found the exchange especially funny. It reminded me of the time I interviewed Jenna Ortega over the phone. Before the interview, we were specifically advised that although Ortega is Latina, she doesn’t speak Spanish.
Was the remark racist? I didn’t interpret it that way, although I can understand why someone else might.
As the story progresses, however, the humor gives way to something far more sentimental. Klara’s unwavering devotion to Josie becomes the emotional heart of the film. What begins as an unusual friendship develops into a beautiful exploration of love, family, sacrifice, and hope.
I found myself on an unexpected emotional roller coaster. One moment I was smiling at Klara’s innocence, and the next I was reaching for tissues. I didn’t expect this movie to move me so much.
A Thoughtful Screening Experience
Before the advance screening, we were treated to drinks, beautiful bookmarks, friendship pins featuring two halves of a heart, and delicate permanent gold bracelets. I interpreted the bracelets as a connection to Klara’s solar-powered existence. Just as sunlight gives her energy and hope, our bracelets reflected light, reminding me of brighter days ahead. It was a lovely touch that made the screening feel even more special.
Would I Want a Robot Friend?
Here’s something I never expected to admit. I’ve recently turned 66, and the idea of growing older with a companion who is patient, kind, helpful, and always available doesn’t sound quite as unsettling as it once did. There’s a scene in which Amy Adams’ character is home alone, and Klara’s presence offers a glimpse of what companionship might look like in a future where AI takes human form. That scene stayed with me. Of course, I wouldn’t want technology to replace genuine human relationships. But could an Artificial Friend make someone’s life less lonely? Could it bring comfort to someone living alone?
Well, I’ll be damned. This movie actually made me think seriously about those possibilities.
Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro has described the film adaptation as an evolution of his novel rather than a strictly faithful retelling. Having not read the book myself, I appreciated experiencing the story without expectations. Readers familiar with the novel should be prepared for a different interpretation of Klara’s world.
Final Thoughts
I loved Klara and the Sun. It’s a beautiful, surprisingly emotional film that explores our complicated relationship with technology and what it truly means to be human.
Jenna Ortega delivers a magnificent performance, giving Klara an innocence and humanity that make her impossible not to love. Amy Adams brings emotional depth to a mother facing impossible decisions, while director Taika Waititi balances humor with a moving story about family and hope.
I went into the screening thinking about artificial intelligence. I left thinking about what makes us human.
My verdict: A beautiful, thought-provoking film and an unexpected emotional roller coaster. Bring your tissues!
Klara and the Sun opens in theaters October 23, 2026.
Would you welcome an AI robot into your family? Or would that be crossing a line? Let me know in the comments.
- Director: Taika Waititi
- Based on: The novel by Nobel Prize-winning author Kazuo Ishiguro
- Starring: Jenna Ortega, Amy Adams, Mia Tharia, Aran Murphy, Steve Buscemi, Natasha Lyonne, and Rachel House
- Genre: Science Fiction / Drama
- Rating: PG-13
- Runtime: 1 hour, 56 minutes
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