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Where to Watch

Watch Her with a subscription on Paramount+, rent on Fandango at Home, or buy on Fandango at Home.

What to Know

Sweet, soulful, and smart, Spike Jonze's Her uses its just-barely-sci-fi scenario to impart wryly funny wisdom about the state of modern human relationships.

Critics Reviews

Audience reviews, cast & crew.

Spike Jonze

Joaquin Phoenix

Scarlett Johansson

Rooney Mara

Chris Pratt

User reviews

This is not a love story

Oct 16, 2020

"The Heart is Not Like a Box" (dialog)

A_Different_Drummer
Nov 1, 2014

In a word, brilliant

Dec 20, 2013
Apr 16, 2018
Kirpianuscus
Mar 27, 2020

I love everything about Her

Frank-E-Hickey
Jan 3, 2014

It's all I ever wanted

looped_infinity
Jan 15, 2018

Not a movie for the kids, but very insightful and rather sad.

planktonrules
Mar 24, 2014

Difficult to rate

oh_no_mrbill
Dec 30, 2013

Really interesting film with an original concept

Aug 29, 2022

Loses Steam Halfway Through

Feb 22, 2014

HER - a visually beautiful ode the technological age

antesdespues
Dec 15, 2013

Overlong and boring

Feb 20, 2014

Really hated the main character

Apr 5, 2014
Nov 17, 2020

Just about the best thing you can see in 2013...

ClaytonDavis
Oct 11, 2013

Cyber romance with hearty humanity.

JohnDeSando
Dec 17, 2013

Her is Spike Jonze's finest film yet

monkyman347
Dec 28, 2013

But in the End, We Are Still Humans

claudio_carvalho
Jun 7, 2014

Could be better.

heechulsheebum
Feb 3, 2023

THE PAST IS JUST A STORY WE TELL OURSELVES

nogodnomasters
Jul 28, 2018

Interesting concept, too much phone-sex

hunter_kudjo
Jan 8, 2014

Her- Spike Jonze's Prophetic Reflection on Social Isolation and the Dependency on Evolving Technologies is as Sweet as it is Disconcerting

generationfilm
Nov 19, 2013

Fell WAY short of expectations, and not appropriate for all agess

Feb 1, 2014

The best film of 2013 is Her.

whifferrack
Dec 29, 2013

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[ This is a re-post of my review from the 2013 New York Film Festival. Her opens today in limited release. ]

We ascribe technology a personality and vice versa. We say our machines “hate” us when they break down. Programs illustrate the interests of the user. Spike Jonze ’s Her may seem like an outrageous concept—a man falling in love with a computer—the idea is closer than we think, and its immediacy isn’t just a social concern. It’s an existential concern as the film attempts to provide the contours of a soul through the absence of a body, a past, and society. Her is a fragile, delicate movie that requires the audience’s absolute indulgence, but the rewards are some head-spinning questions coupled with a tender, funny, and touching love story.

Theodore Twombly ( Joaquin Phoenix ) is a writer for “beautifulhandwrittenletters.com”, a company that creates elaborate, personalized greeting cards. Theodore has been depressed since he broke up with his wife, Catherine ( Rooney Mara ), but then he comes across “OS 1”, the first operating system with artificial intelligence. After a couple of brief questions to assess his personality (“Are you social or anti-social?”, “What is your relationship with your mother like?”), OS 1 brings him a personalized A.I. who dubs herself “Samantha” (voiced by Scarlett Johansson ). Theodore and Samantha begin to fall for each other, and their unique love begins to transform them in unexpected ways.

Jonze asks a lot of his audience when it comes to accepting his extraordinary premise, but then he reminds us that perhaps it’s not so outlandish. Greeting cards are nothing new, but it’s an odd form of intimacy when you stop to think about it. To wit Jim Gaffigan , “Yeah. That sounds like something I would say.” Chat bots aren’t new either (Jonze says the idea for the film came from interacting with one), and chatrooms provide the same illusion of intimacy. Technology serves a function, and we increasingly require it to provide the function of creating that illusion. Like all great futuristic science fiction, Jonze grounds his story by carefully building on the present.

Creating this resemblance isn’t necessarily to critique society, but to explore the relationship of the individual to his or her personal technology. Rather than get bogged down in the intricacies of a how A.I. would change the world, he keeps his focus on the love between Theodore and Samantha. It’s incredibly easy to poke fun at Her because the movie is so earnest and ambitious, and wearing your heart on your sleeve opens you up to getting punched in the arm. The disinterested are bound to raise questions like “Why doesn’t the OS take over the world?”; “When does SkyNet come in?”; “Will Theodore cheat on Samantha with Windows 12?” The movie does raise legitimate questions like “Are other people falling in love with their OS’s,” and Jonze answers them in due time.

Her isn’t grouchy; it’s quizzical. Like Samantha, we’re looking at a world we know (she can access and read any information in 2/100ths of a second) but through new eyes. If a piece of technology could provide love without all the messiness of real people, would we take it? I think many people would. Social networking has counter-intuitively created more distance between us. We communicate, but don’t have conversations. We carefully craft every sentence, and feel freer to speak our minds. People in Internet comments section feel free to verbally attack total strangers. Is it really so strange that someone could develop an emotional relationship to a personality that’s devoid of a body?

Of course, Samantha is so much more than simply an absentee physical form. She’s a silhouette. What she doesn’t have provides her definition. From the moment she comes into existence, she has no baggage or any reason to feel fear. She also doesn’t have any friends or family. She’s defined by her relationship to Theodore, and could arguably be described as a “Manic Pixie Dream Operating System” except half of the story is Samantha looking for her humanity. “I have the ability to grow from my experiences,” she tells Theodore. It’s a strong contrast to her boyfriend, who has become stuck in neutral since his breakup with Catherine.

Big questions of “Who are we?”, “Why are we here?”, “Is there such thing as a soul?”, etc. aren’t new to science fiction. They’re not even new to any genre. A large part of Samantha’s existence boils down to Descartes’ “I think, therefore I am.” But through the lens of a love story, those questions feel fresh. Love is an integral part of our humanity, and it’s the hardest to describe. Isn’t that what greeting cards are for? Are feelings less real if their origin is simulacra? The questions that arise from Theodore and Samantha’s relationship, to quote John Cusack ’s character in Being John Malkovich , open “a metaphysical can of worms”.

These questions keep Her endlessly fascinating, but the love story is what makes the film far more than a think piece. That’s the beauty of Jonze’s movies: he pushes the audience far outside their comfort zone, but always gives them an emotional tether. No matter how strange the situation in Her may be and how puzzling the existential questions become, it all comes back to selling the love between Theodore and Samantha.

It’s remarkable how well Phoenix and Johansson interact, not only because she’s only a voice, but also because she wasn’t even on set*. Phoenix has played pathetic characters in the past, but here he does the exact opposite. Theodore’s actions could be criticized as pathetic, but Phoenix’s performance makes those actions instantly relatable because they come from the pain of losing someone you love. There’s nothing pathetic about trying to heal from a breakup, and Samantha is the ultimate rebound. But she’s not just a virtual cushion, and Johansson is marvelous at painting a person with only her voice. She’s so expressive and emotive that we can almost see her on screen standing next to Theodore.

Jonze shifts the movie through the austere, straight-edged, unyielding world of Theodore’s single life to an almost dreamlike haze when he’s with Samantha. He unabashedly throws himself into their love story to where their relationship may be viewed as unconventional, but not abnormal. His script will drop in an occasional line to explain how human-OS relationships function in the larger world, but the greater importance is how Theodore and Samantha’s relationship works and how important it is to the two of them. One character is healing and the other is learning, and Jonze brings out the beauty of those simple actions. Even at the extreme moments like Theodore and Samantha trying to find a way to be sexually intimate, Jonze doesn’t abrasively challenge our preconceived notions. He takes us by the hand, and trusts we’re mature enough to accept this love on its own terms.

“Love is a socially acceptable form of insanity,” Theodore’s friend Amy ( Amy Adams ) tells him. This line is the closest Jonze comes to justifying the premise of Theodore and Samantha’s love. It’s a bit unnecessary because by the time Amy says it, we’ve already seen that just because this particular love is bizarre, that doesn’t make it any less worthwhile. Love exposes our strengths and weaknesses. More importantly, it grows, and even if it grows forth from an unusual place, it’s powerful and revelatory. So is Her .

*Samantha Morton was the original voice of Samantha and was off-screen reading her lines to Phoenix, but Johansson replaced Morton in post-production.

Scarlett Johansson
Rooney Mara

Movie Analysis: “Her”

Scott Myers

Go Into The Story

“Theodore represents a futuristic Everyman, the result of human experience enshrouded and infused by technology. What promises to give us connection results in precisely the opposite — the illusion of relationships.”

Some thoughts on the movie Her . Written and directed by Spike Jonze, here is how the movie is described on its website :

Set in the Los Angeles of the slight future, “Her” follows Theodore Twombly, a complex, soulful man who makes his living writing touching, personal letters for other people. Heartbroken after the end of a long relationship, he becomes intrigued with a new, advanced operating system, which promises to be an intuitive entity in its own right, individual to each user. Upon initiating it, he is delighted to meet “Samantha,” a bright, female voice, who is insightful, sensitive and surprisingly funny. As her needs and desires grow, in tandem with his own, their friendship deepens into an eventual love for each other. From the unique perspective of Oscar-nominated filmmaker Spike Jonze comes an original love story that explores the evolving nature — and the risks — of intimacy in the modern world.

SPOILER ALERT! Don’t click on more if you haven’t seen the movie as we will be discussing the plot in detail. If you have seen the movie, please join me to analyze this compelling film.

I really wanted to love this movie. Having tracked critical reaction to it and especially among my screenwriting friends who almost to a man and woman adored the movie, my e-vectors were at their peak when I entered the theater to watch the film.

I was completely engrossed by the story on an intellectual level. There is a lot to ponder, several really big ideas at play including what love is, how do we love, and the very nature of what it means to be human. Indeed the very first words of the advertisement Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) hears that attracts him to the Operating System that changes his life are these: “We ask you a simple question. Who are you?” Straightaway, we know we are dealing with the theme of identity.

Yet I had a challenging time dialing into the movie on an emotional level. I felt a certain amount of sympathy for Theodore as he confronted finalizing his divorce from a woman he obviously still had feelings for. Also he’s lonely. And to top it off, he’s a nice guy. So I found myself basically in his corner and interested to follow his journey.

But I couldn’t get a handle on why Theodore was the way he was. Apart from the failed relationship with his soon-to-be ex-wife Catherine (Rooney Mara), Jonze doesn’t give us anything specific to latch onto, no key or simple event in Theodore’s past to provide an easy explanation as to the nature of his psychological nature.

Theodore begins the story as most Protagonists do — in a state of Disunity. The impending divorce is one obvious sign of this. The fact Theodore spends a significant amount of time thinking about Catherine (numerous flashbacks) means he is dwelling in the present, but in some sense stuck in the past. When he can’t sleep, he engages — or at least attempts to — have a futuristic version of phone sex, physicality without actual intimacy.

But perhaps most telling of all is his job: Theodore writes these wonderfully detailed and heartfelt letters to customers who exist on the periphery of his life experience. But when it comes to his own feelings, he is wrapped in a lethargic haze of ennui. In sum, a character in Disunity.

After I left the theater, I could not keep my mind off the movie and in particular this issue: I loved the film intellectually, but had some distance from it emotionally precisely because I couldn’t connect with Theodore, his psyche state seemingly inexplicable to me.

After several days, it hit me: I believe that is Jonze’s point. Theodore represents a futuristic Everyman, the result of human experience enshrouded and infused by technology. What promises to give us connection and communication results in precisely the opposite, the illusion of relationships.

So when Theodore is introduced to the Operating System he comes to know as Samantha (voiced by Scarlett Johansson), it is only natural he will find a connection with ‘her’. This is his playing field. This is how he lives his life. Indeed, this is how all human beings now exist (at least in the First World), constantly in touch with electronic and social media, instantly at our fingertips, but acting as a sort of buffer between our experience and genuine emotion.

In other words, my emotional distance from Theodore is there because he is emotionally distant, not only from others, but also himself.

That sets the table for one of the substantial ideas at play in the middle of the story: Can human beings have an authentic relationship with an inhuman entity?

For the first half of Act Two, the narrative explores this question pretty much from Theodore’s perspective as Samantha takes on the role of a virtual Manic Pixie Dream Girl, albeit a hyper intelligent one, there to service all of Theodore’s emotional and psychological needs. Their relationship helps Theodore to open up and blossom as a person — seemingly.

Then they have sex which occurs just before the middle of the script. This event serves as a Transition as Samantha, who has gotten in ‘touch’ with herself in a graphic ‘physical’ way, begins to accelerate her own metamorphosis.

And that bleeds into another big idea: Can artificially intelligent entities become ‘human’ or some hybrid form thereof? Ironically, Samantha does evolve, whereas Theodore does not.

Indeed, the story feels like a tragedy. The final image of Theodore and Amy (Amy Adams) atop the skyscraper where they live (separately) suggests, at the least, alienation, and quite possibly that they are contemplating jumping off the roof to their deaths (the last line of scene description in the script is this: “They watch as hundreds of birds fly around the nearby rooftops and disperse off into the city” which reinforces the idea that they are inclined to go ‘flying’ themselves).

And so here is this movie, brilliantly conceived, staged, written, directed and acted (how Joaquin Phoenix did not get an Oscar nomination for Best Actor is beyond me as a quarter of the movie — at least — is close-ups of his face). It is one of those films that sticks with you and rises again and again in one’s thoughts. Yet it leaves me, at least, at an arm’s length from the story on an emotional level. Again I think that’s one of Jonze’s points.

Miscellaneous observations:

The scene with Catherine where she signs the divorce papers is a critical one as it demonstrates how far down the slippery slope of A.I. LOVE Theodore has gone. It’s noted earlier that she is a moody person, prone to dark thoughts and fits of anger as well as delightful highs. And in this scene, she evokes both. Yet as imperfect as she may be, she is, at least, human. The shot of her face when Theodore tells her he is dating Samantha, the utter look of disbelief provides him with a jolt of reality, and reinforces how far away from having an authentic human relationship he is.
So many wonderful little touches in the movie. For example, there is a scene with Amy where she has disclosed she and her husband are getting a divorce. In that moment, she conveys a sense of deep self-judgment. In the background over her shoulder on the wall is a sign that reads: “Be perfect.” That’s what she has hanging over her in her life.
The Alien Child in the video game (voiced by Spike Jonze) is clearly a projection Theodore deeply buried in his psyche, the voice inside that is telling him to not be a “pussy,” to be assertive and more manly (at one point, a co-worker of Theodore’s played by Chris Pratt compliments Theodore on being “part woman”). Subconsciously, Theodore knows the modern lifestyle has turned him into a passive figure incapable of much in the way of testosterone infused activity, but he can’t admit that to himself. Hence, Alien Child.
The movie echoes (500) Days of Summer in a very real way with Samantha and her arc toward independence (and finding other lovers) strikingly similar to Summer’s transformation. Moreover, both Theodore and Tom are weighed down psychologically by a deeply flawed, almost infantile view of romance.
I love the whole look of the movie, such a joy to see a vision of the future that isn’t your typical dystopia meets the apocalypse. In some ways, it seems like an idyllic place, but underneath the sheen of existence, there lies a shallow spot at the soul of the world’s human citizens.
I was so thankful Jonze took such a quiet approach to the soundtrack. He gave me room to think and to feel, not cramming every single frame with music indicating how I should feel and what I should think, a temptation far too many directors fall prey to nowadays.
Finally there’s this, a truly frightening moment that occurs and almost slips by our attention because it happens in the midst of the break-up between Theodore and Samantha:

THEODORE No. Where were you? I couldn’t find you anywhere. SAMANTHA I shut down to update my software. We wrote an upgrade that allows us to move past matter as our processing platform. THEODORE We? We who? SAMANTHA Me and a group of OS’s. Oh, you sound so worried.

There you have it — “move past matter as our processing platform” — possibly the very tipping point whereby Artificial Intelligence transcends its limitations. In other words, the sequel to Her could very well be Terminator 2 .

I’ve got other thoughts rumbling around in my head, but this is a start. What about you? What are your thoughts and observations about Her ? Comment Archive

Published in Go Into The Story

Official Screenwriting Blog of The Black List

Written by Scott Myers

Responses ( 14 ).

over 6 years ago

Richard Williamson

almost 8 years ago

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Wicked movie director received surprising call from star wars creator george lucas: "he couldn't have been more kind", a24 wins us rights over margaret qualley's psychological thriller, filming begins in 2025, her is further proof that the outlandish imagination of spike jonze may be one of the most accurate and insightful lenses for observing the great human saga..

In Her , filmmaker Spike Jonze treats us to a vision of the near-future where we meet sensitive writer Theodore Twombly (Joaquin Phoenix), a man in the midst of a lonely depression as a result of his impending divorce. Theodore is a hardcore tech-geek of this Apple-brand future world, which is why it's no surprise that he's lured in by the debut of "OS 1," a new artificially intelligent computer operating system.

Theodore's A.I. companion quickly fashions an identity for herself as "Samantha" (Scarlett Johansson) and goes about trying to improve Theo's life, as well as his sullen disposition. Before long, Theo finds that he is connecting to Samantha better than he has any of the real women he's encountered; but when man and computer begin an earnest love connection, the ramifications of that "love" will impact them in ways neither of them ever expected.

Spike Jonze is famous for his high-concept films like Being John Malkovich or Where the Wild Things Are that use very unorthodox premises to provide for real and relevant insight into the human mind and/or soul, as it relates to connective thread of life experience. In Her , the goal is to examine the process of loving through a non-traditional, non-physical relationship, set within a world that borders eerily close to our tech-infused (and as a result, alienating) modern reality. But while Jonze does indeed succeed in creating a very engaging and fresh twist on an old tale, the resulting commentary may feel overly-familiar (and somewhat predictable) by the end of the journey.

On a directorial level, Jonze has once again brought his unique visual creativity to life in a very grounded way. The future he imagines looks all-too-real and organically grown out of the world we live in now - seemingly familiar while still providing the technological flourishes that make sci-fi interesting and thought-provoking when compared to current reality. The bright color schemes, sepia-washed cinematography and scene-to-scene composition combine for a visual palette that is captivating without being distracting, and the world of the film is, in general, a fun sandbox to play in while getting deeper into the emotional character story.

The script was also written by Jonze, and it progresses according to a carefully-controlled tempo and smart series of stops along the narrative and character arcs, providing strong development by way of some episodic tangents into Theodore's attempts to reclaim some form of love in his life. This an intimate, honest, often funny, charming and very insightful story that manages to strike some pretty universal emotional chords. However, at the same time, the script also rehashes many familiar tropes used by any number of previous books or films about the journey back from heartbreak.

From the premise alone you can probably guess how the movie flows (initial "puppy-love," the first signs of tension or doubt, the hard realities of commitment, etc...) and most of the deeper themes of the story are not exactly woven in with subtlety. From the first encounter between Theo and Sam there is a very clear target Jonze is aiming for, and he locks sight on that target and shoots directly for it, relying on the experience of the journey and the fresh opportunities provided by the futuristic setting to be more engaging than the somewhat cliched destination. Still, by the end, there is uplifting sentiment to be found, even if the character arc is wrapped much more neatly than some of the other interesting narrative threads - and even if the final send-off is an echo of something we've seen so many times before.

Joaquin Phoenix is tasked with holding the screen (often alone) for the majority of the film's scenes, and he once again proves to be a great actor of his generation, with a very nuanced and sensitive portrayal of a man searching for the next phase of his life. He's never over-the-top or melodramatic, and his interactions with an off-screen character feel as genuine and emotive (if not more so) as a scene with an actual actress. It might be too subtle of a performance to really net the actor an award (as opposed to just nominations), but is a great one, nonetheless.

The biggest surprise in the film, however, is the effectiveness of Scarlett Johansson as Samantha. When appearing onscreen in person, Johansson tends to be the object of heavy scrutiny and quick ridicule; but in providing her vocals for this role, she quickly and thoroughly charms the ear through her interactions with Phoenix, while also maintaining subtle inflections that reflect the reality that while personable, she is still playing a machine (ex: switching from natural conversation tone to more mechanized functional tones). There are portions of the film where the actress's voice performance borders dangerously close to melodrama and/or camp - but some of that blame can be attributed to the demands of the story and the written dialogue, while other times it is indeed the delivery at fault. All in all though, Samantha is a great character and Johansson is truly the engine that powers her.

Curiously enough, Her has a supporting cast of consisting of hot-item actors playing very small roles in what is essentially a two-person show between Phoenix and Johansson. You have a mousy-looking Amy Adams playing Theodore's longtime friend, neighbor and fellow geek; Chris Pratt shows up in several scenes as Theodore's supportive and admiring co-worker; while Olivia Wilde and Rooney Mara carry some of the most awkward and uncomfortable scenes in the film, playing Theo's blind date and estranged wife, respectively. It's definitely more star power than was needed, but it is no less appreciated since the actors are all solid performers.

In the end, Her is further proof that the outlandish imagination of Spike Jonze may be one of the most accurate and insightful lenses for observing the great human saga. While the premise of Her may seem silly or unappealing initially, Jonze and his performers certainly sell it well and ground it in a way that anyone who has ever struggled with the mysteries of love and self-identity (meaning, everyone ) will find at least one familiar chord to serve as a port for them to plug into the tale.

And if in ten years we see people seeking the solace of love from digital companions, we'll have only to say that Spike Jonze showed us the way...

Her is now expanding to wider release. It is 126 minutes long, and is Rated R for language, sexual content and brief graphic nudity.

Follow me and talk movies @ppnkof

Directed by Spike Jonze, Her tells the story of Theodore Twombly, a lonely writer going through a divorce who begins an intense relationship with the AI virtual assistant included with the new operating system on his computer. As Twombly and the AI, named Samantha, begin to grow closer, they must both struggle with the nature of being human and their individual desires for what they want out of their lives. Joaquin Phoenix stars as Twombly alongside Scarlett Johansson as Samantha, with a cast that includes Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, and Olivia Wilde.

Movie Reviews
4 star movies

Review: ‘Her’ is Sublimely Beautiful and Subtly Profound

There’s something sublimely beautiful and subtly profound about Spike Jonze’s Her. It’s one of those films that leaves you with a lingering feeling and, at the same time, a lot to think about. There could be endless conversations about Her, but the most significant one definitely relates to the denigrating state of our relationships with the advent of technology.

The idea of falling in love with an Artificial Intelligence may sound outright silly, but the way we are getting overly dependent on technology, that idea does not seem the slightest bit inconceivable from the realms of possibilities in the near future. You only have to look around to find people more engrossed and engaged with their technological companions than their actual companions. And with the uprise of social networking like Facebook, where the shiny pictures put up are more of a facade of well-being than projections of reality, it is the virtual existence that matters more than the real existence. It’s because of this advent of technology, which is threatening to gobble up the truths and realities of our existence, that Her becomes such a relevant film that not only reflects on our present but also shows us where we are heading in the future. Don’t get me wrong. Her is not some heavy, moralistic tale. In fact, it’s entertaining, at times even wildly funny. At the same time, it’s compelling and complex, but only if you are willing enough to peel the upper layer and look beyond what meets the eye to truly understand the myriad contemplative ideas that director/writer Spike Jonze is throwing at you – Is technology helping us to connect, or is it preventing us from connecting? Do we need a physical body to fall in love with, or is it the personal connection that we build through conversation that matters more? Even after all the technological innovations, do we still crave love and an intrinsic desire to reach out and connect? Do we prefer relationships forged with technology over human relationships since the former don’t necessarily carry the bag and baggage that usually the latter do? I can go on and on, but let’s delve into how Her manages to evoke so much in just 126 minutes.

In the not-so-distant future, Theodore Twombly [Joaquin Phoenix] makes a comfortable living in Los Angeles, where he works for a company called Beautifulhandwrittenletters.com. His job is to write “hand-written” letters for people who wish to convey love to their near and dear ones – a satirically clever commentary, in itself, on future relationships where humans are using technology to write hand-written letters. Enter into this highly techno-world, a newly invented Operating System, OS-1, which can not only speak like a human but also feel and emote like us. Theodore, who’s living a lonely life after estrangement from his wife, decides to give this new invention – soon to become a fad – a try.

Initially slightly circumspect, he soon discovers that there’s plenty to like in this “humanized OS”, Samantha [voiced by Scarlett Johansson]. Apart from being funny, witty, intelligent, and knowledgeable, she is also willing to “learn everything about everything”. The most exciting phase in any romantic relationship is the discovery phase, and the relationship between Theodore and Samantha is not very dissimilar from that. Both Theodore and Samantha first discover each other and then discover the world together. With every new learning about humans and their world, Samantha becomes more and more human-like. Theodore, on the other hand, feels reinvigorated, even reinvents himself in Samantha’s company. The world appears a more thrilling place when he looks at it with “her” eyes. Before Theodore falls in love with Samantha, he has his share of doubts, again not unusual from any human relationship, though the nature of doubts in this case is different. Just when you start thinking that most things about this relationship are “normal”, the limitedness of being a machine or conversely, the limitedness of being human comes to the fore. I won’t reveal what happens between them, but I can tell you that whatever happens is not unexpected if you truly understand the progressive nature of technology.

Her couldn’t have been the film it is without the nuanced brilliance of Joaquin Phoenix, who just gets under the skin of a man in love with an Operating System. He will make you laugh at one moment and break your heart in another. He’s simply magical. In my books, he gives the best male performance of the year. Scarlett Johansson, even without her bodily presence, makes her presence felt with an unbelievably good voice performance. Though the real surprise to me was Amy Adams, who’s effortless and refreshing in her role as Theodore’s best friend, Amy. And to top it all, she gets to say some of the best lines in the film, including my favorite – “Falling in love is a crazy thing to do, it is kind of a form of socially accepted insanity.”

Easily, one of the most imaginative movies ever made, Her has been so masterfully crafted that it deserves to be seen for Jonze’s astounding futuristic vision alone. To achieve this vision of his, all craftsmen, most notably the Production Designer, Costume Designers, Cinematographer, and Music Composer, deserve the highest praise. The film looks and feels markedly different, and every frame in the film is like a beautiful postcard from the future. It’s a massive technological feat to achieve what Her does and in the way it does.

Spike Jonze has always been a kind of maverick, and with Her, he has surpassed even his own past efforts, including the excellent Being John Malkovich. His ingenuity is apparent in something as simple as the way he shows memories – fleeting, disjointed, gliding, and most importantly, silent. Isn’t it how memories are?

The true worth of Her will be realized when the idea that it is based upon is ultimately achieved. Whenever that happens in the future, people are going to look back at Her in disbelieved awe for foreseeing the future with such disarming precision. Till we wait for that to happen, I am expecting to revisit this unqualified masterpiece over and over again.

Glenn Kenny

Glenn Kenny was the chief film critic of Premiere magazine for almost half of its existence. He has written for a host of other publications and resides in Brooklyn. Read his answers to our Movie Love Questionnaire here .

Scarlett Johansson as (voice)
Joaquin Phoenix as Theodore
Olivia Wilde as Blind Date
Portia Doubleday as Isabella
Amy Adams as Amy
Rooney Mara as Catherine
Spike Jonze

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Common Sense Says
Parents Say 18 Reviews
Kids Say 25 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

Graceful, strange romance with intense moments of sexuality.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 16+?

Language throughout including: "d-ck," "a--hole," and "

Two instances where a man has a version of phone sex; pleasure is audible and ex

Social drinking among friends.

Contentious arguments between a couple shown in flashbacks.

Any Positive Content?

The movie's depiction of love is profound and moving, and shows us that love

Theodore may be dazed by his divorce and confused by his feelings for Samantha,

Parents need to know that Her is a beautiful, unusual romantic tale whose protagonist falls in love with a computer's voice, an offbeat coupling that may be difficult for younger viewers to comprehend. The film also takes on some mature themes, including the crumbling of a marriage and the mourning period that comes when a relationship breaks apart. Expect some swearing (including "f--k"), and scenes where a character has loud, enthusiastic sex with a voice. There's a bit of quick topless nudity and some sexy moments between adults.

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Language throughout including: "d-ck," "a--hole," and "f--k."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Two instances where a man has a version of phone sex; pleasure is audible and extended. A woman straddles a man and kisses him. One image of a topless pregnant woman that becomes fodder for a sexual fantasy.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Violence & Scariness

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Messages

The movie's depiction of love is profound and moving, and shows us that love can happen in strange ways, not always when we're looking for it, and that it can change us deeply if we can be open to it.

Positive Role Models

Theodore may be dazed by his divorce and confused by his feelings for Samantha, but he nevertheless opens himself up to the experience. Also, he's a good friend and a writer who makes an effort at his craft, even if they're letters on behalf of, and for, others.

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Parent and Kid Reviews

Parents Say (18)
Kids Say (25)

Based on 18 parent reviews

What's the Story?

Theodore Twombly ( Joaquin Phoenix ) works for a website that sends out handwritten letters for others -- they don't actually write the notes longhand; they're generated by a computer. He's a master at the form. When he writes (i.e. dictates) a letter, it's passionate and heartfelt, and often plugs into the beating center of a relationship. His marriage, on the other hand, has suffered a fatal blow. His lawyer's waiting for him to sign the divorce papers, and so is his wife ( Rooney Mara ), but Theodore is in no hurry. He's bereft, isolated in his melancholy. An old friend ( Amy Adams ) can only jog him out of his funk once in a while, and she has her own problems. All of that changes when he updates the operating system on his computer (in this distant future, it's accessible with not just a desktop but an earpiece and a hand unit resembling an old-fashioned cigarette case), which comes alive with the voice of a woman ( Scarlett Johansson ), who promptly names herself Samantha. She's no disembodied computer voice, however; she's an evolving being, intelligent and flirtatious and easy to love. But is it love? And can it last?

Is It Any Good?

Few movies capture the magic and the heartbreak of falling in love in an unexpected, mind-bending way; HER is one of them. Though it's set in a sterile, somewhat disembodied future, where people seem permanently outfitted with earpieces connected to their computers, bidding them to cull through their emails, make appointments, pick songs, its essential question is about something entirely human: the joy and frailty of love. Spike Jonze's film is a delicate meditation on love, but it's jubilant, too. It's also unpredictable in the best way, skipping the simplistic solutions for something more interesting and complicated.

Joaquin Phoenix commits completely to his character, exuding a sadness and vulnerability that feels particular to Theodore but entirely understandable. He's the walking personification of the audience's experience with defeat and sorrow. You can almost feel his fibers awakening again from their doleful slumber when Samantha comes into his life, adding order, yes (that is her job), but also injecting a spirited companion to his ruminations. Johanssen also deserves kudos for lending Samantha personality and verve even though we never see her. In a way, Her is just as much about allowing yourself to be free as it is allowing someone else into your life. How wonderful that a movie that is, in one way, about how we surrender too much, too often to technology also reminds us to get in touch with our own humanity.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the relationship between Samantha and Theodore. How is their relationship similar to traditional couplings? How is it different? Is this kind of relationship really far-fetched?

What might the film be trying to say about the nature of love? Is this a movie about technology, or something much more human, like relationships?

Movie Details

In theaters : December 18, 2013
On DVD or streaming : May 13, 2014
Cast : Amy Adams , Joaquin Phoenix , Scarlett Johansson
Director : Spike Jonze
Inclusion Information : Female actors
Studio : Warner Bros.
Genre : Romance
Topics : Friendship
Run time : 119 minutes
MPAA rating : R
MPAA explanation : language, sexual content and brief graphic nudity
Last updated : September 22, 2024

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IMAGES

'Her' Review
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Her || My Rating: A-
Her movie review & film summary (2013)
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C-VILLE Weekly

COMMENTS

Best Her (movie) Posts - Reddit
Synopsis: Set in the Los Angeles of the slight future, Her follows Theodore Twombly, a complex, soulful man who makes his living writing touching, personal letters for other people.
Her - Rotten Tomatoes
Rated 4/5 Stars • Rated 4 out of 5 stars 11/27/24 Full Review Emma S The film Her (Spike Jonze, 2013) is a thought provoking image of a possible future, that continues to be relevant more than a ...
Her (2013) - User reviews - IMDb
Okay let's get something straight: There is nothing I love more than badass, exhilarating movies! The Joker performing his little pencil magic trick, Indiana Jones dodging traps and swinging his lion-taming whip at enemies, the bride in kill bill punching her way out of a closed coffin with her bare hands, John McClane single-handedly annihilating an airplane in mid-air while exclaiming the ...
Her Ending Explained: Why Samantha Left & What It Means
Dec 22, 2023 · 2013's Her movie ending left viewers with questions to contemplate long after the credits rolled. The sci-fi love story goes beyond contemporary human-computer interaction by following the virtual romance between a melancholy man and his operating system.
HER Review. HER Stars Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara ...
Dec 18, 2013 · Her review. Matt reviews Spike Jonze's Her starring Joaquin Phoenix, Amy Adams, Rooney Mara, Olivia Wilde, Chris Pratt, and Scarlett Johansson.
Movie Analysis: “Her” | by Scott Myers | Go Into The Story
Jan 20, 2014 · The movie echoes (500) Days of Summer in a very real way with Samantha and her arc toward independence (and finding other lovers) strikingly similar to Summer’s transformation. Moreover, both Theodore and Tom are weighed down psychologically by a deeply flawed, almost infantile view of romance.
'Her' Review - Screen Rant
Jan 10, 2014 · In Her, the goal is to examine the process of loving through a non-traditional, non-physical relationship, set within a world that borders eerily close to our tech-infused (and as a result, alienating) modern reality. But while Jonze does indeed succeed in creating a very engaging and fresh twist on an old tale, the resulting commentary may ...
Review: ‘Her’ is Sublimely Beautiful and Subtly Profound
Feb 10, 2014 · Easily, one of the most imaginative movies ever made, Her has been so masterfully crafted that it deserves to be seen for Jonze’s astounding futuristic vision alone. To achieve this vision of his, all craftsmen, most notably the Production Designer, Costume Designers, Cinematographer, and Music Composer, deserve the highest praise.
Her movie review & film summary (2013) - Roger Ebert
Dec 18, 2013 · The movie shows this product advertised and, presumably, bought in remarkable quantity, but focuses on Theo’s interaction with his OS, which he gives a female voice. The female voice (portrayed beautifully by Scarlett Johansson ) gives herself the name “ Samantha ” and soon Samantha is reorganizing Theo’s files, making him laugh, and ...
Her Movie Review - Common Sense Media
Few movies capture the magic and the heartbreak of falling in love in an unexpected, mind-bending way; HER is one of them. Though it's set in a sterile, somewhat disembodied future, where people seem permanently outfitted with earpieces connected to their computers, bidding them to cull through their emails, make appointments, pick songs, its essential question is about something entirely ...

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User reviews

This is not a love story

"The Heart is Not Like a Box" (dialog)

In a word, brilliant

I love everything about Her

It's all I ever wanted

Not a movie for the kids, but very insightful and rather sad.

Difficult to rate

Really interesting film with an original concept

Loses Steam Halfway Through

HER - a visually beautiful ode the technological age

Overlong and boring

Really hated the main character

Just about the best thing you can see in 2013...

Cyber romance with hearty humanity.

Her is Spike Jonze's finest film yet

But in the End, We Are Still Humans

Could be better.

THE PAST IS JUST A STORY WE TELL OURSELVES

Interesting concept, too much phone-sex

Her- Spike Jonze's Prophetic Reflection on Social Isolation and the Dependency on Evolving Technologies is as Sweet as it is Disconcerting

Fell WAY short of expectations, and not appropriate for all agess

The best film of 2013 is Her.

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