Jack Quaid and Sophie Thatcher are becoming somewhat big names in the film industry this year, with both of them coming off of major roles in “The Boys” and “Yellowjackets” to star in “Companion”, a highly anticipated thriller/comedy. However, taking into consideration how much this movie was promoted on social media, I was left somewhat disappointed. 

The movie, directed by Drew Hancock, starts with a meet-cute between the main characters, Josh (Jack Quaid) and Iris (Sophie Thatcher), attempting to give the viewer an idea of their seemingly perfect relationship. However, when the pair visit an isolated lakehouse with Josh’s friends, the narrative quickly takes a much darker turn when it is revealed that Iris is an android built exclusively to serve Josh.

While that may be a spoiler, it is not the main twist of the movie. In fact, the android “twist” was so badly hidden in trailers, press, and even the synopsis of the movie that almost everyone who went to see it already knew that Iris’ subservient personality was linked to robotics.

Companion explores themes of misogyny and pokes fun at tradwife ideologies, meshing well with Jack Quaid’s experience playing whiny, “nice guy” Hughie Campbell in “The Boys”, and Sophie Thatcher’s killer ability to portray silent suffering with just her eyes. The actors’ performances were the best part of this movie, making everything feel real and causing really visceral hate towards Quaid’s character, which always means that they’re doing something right. Even though the film is not going to win any Oscars, I thoroughly enjoyed the satire, setting, and characters created for the world of “Companion”, and would definitely consider watching it again without a critical mindset.

Months before this movie was actually released in theaters, almost every ad that came up on my TikTok or YouTube was a promo for Companion. This ended up being more annoying than helpful, but it did get me to go see the movie, so props to the persistent marketing team. It was sold to the public as a thriller/comedy, hinting at a climbing kill count, beautiful forest imagery, a great wardrobe, and promising laughs. It did deliver on that note but came off as more of a cash grab than a meaningful social statement. 

While trying to be original and appeal to people with a darker sense of humor, it fell somewhat short of its intended purpose. The idea of Iris being created specifically for Josh is interesting, but unfortunately, it is not as original as the filmmakers wanted it to be. The “homemaker wife” trope has been explored many times throughout the history of film and television, and even the robot spouse has been done before in “The Umbrella Academy” and Netflix’s “Wifelike”. Companion decided not to explore the impact, dangers, and real-life problems that go along with the stereotypical male desire for dominance. This choice makes the movie seem more of a comedy poking fun at male grievance than the advertised “good for her” feminist manifesto. 

Overall, if you’re looking to watch a movie that would look good on your pretentious Letterboxd, Companion might not be the best movie for you. However, if you’re looking for a movie that will make you laugh and keep you entertained for an hour and thirty-seven minutes, I highly recommend it. As much as I disliked the playful disregard of an important social commentary, Drew Hancock seemed to draw experience from one of his only other directorial jobs, “Fred 3”, to create a factually lacking but playful movie.