January 17, 2014 -- I finally got to see “Her,” subject of many year end awards. Released to a handful of theaters in 2013, it actually didn't show up in most of the country until 2014. As expected for such an acclaimed film, it is extremely well-written and well acted. It is a wonderful love story. But computer sex? I couldn't quite buy it. Trust me fellas, the computer is faking it.

The story takes place in the not-too-distant future when humans can interact intimately with computer systems which have artificial intelligence and are self-aware. Some people, including philosopher Hubert Dreyfus and mathematician Roger Penrose, argue that artificial intelligence of this sort is impossible.

I have not examined these arguments, but my gut feeling is that artificial intelligence, and self-ware computer systems, are possible. The level of artificial intelligence shown in this film, though, is light years beyond anything now known. Computer science is currently advancing so fast, it at least seems remotely possible on the horizon, so I'm willing to go with it.

The main character in this film is Theodore Twombly (played by Joaquin Phoenix of “The Master”). This lonely writer is going through a divorce, but he can't bring himself to sign the papers finalizing the divorce. He's a sensitive soul who writes beautiful letters for other people, but has no love in his own life.

His best friend, Amy (played by Amy Adams of “American Hustle”) sets him up with a beautiful woman, (played by Olivia Wilde of “Rush”) who seems great at first, but wants a marriage-like commitment before the second date, which explains why such a hot chick is still single. The date turns into a disaster. He tries phone sex, which also turns bizarre when the woman on the other end of the call brings up dead cat strangling fantasies. Nothing like a dead cat to take the magic out of the moment.

Theodore tries a new computer service which promises him a computer companion, a personalized, remotely accessible computer program with a female voice he can communicate with via a small, two-way ear piece. The computer can also “see” him and his surroundings with a small camera phone device. The computer's sexy voice is provided by Scarlet Johansson, who, sadly, is never seen in this movie.

Theodore falls in love with the computer, who calls herself Samantha. Since Samantha can't inhabit a body, like an android or robot, and this movie does not get into virtual reality simulations, Samantha can't actually inhabit the real world. That means the relationship between Theodore and Samantha can only go so far. It goes about as far as it can with computer sex, which is like phone sex. There is also an attempt to have sex with a human surrogate substituting for Samantha, but that doesn't work either.

I was with this story right up to the point where it comes to sex between Theodore and Samantha. I felt that Johansson was laying it on too thick. It made me very uncomfortably aware that the computer was faking it, and maybe that is the point of this exercise. The point is that Theodore needs to grow up and move on with his life. The affair with Samantha is an emotional dead end.

At this point, writer-director Spike Jonze appears to write himself into a corner. There is nowhere for this relationship to go, but darned if Jonze doesn't come up with a Houdini-like exit strategy that works very well. It is quite unexpected and touching. This is a fine film with great acting, clever writing, and it looks great too. It rates a B+.

Click here for links to places to buy or rent this movie in digital formats, or to buy the soundtrack, posters, books, even used videos, games, electronics and lots of other stuff. I suggest you shop at least two of these places before buying anything. Prices seem to vary continuously. For more information on this film, click on this link to The Internet Movie Database. Type in the name of the movie in the search box and press enter. You will be able to find background information on the film, the actors, and links to much more information.

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