The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist Review
At first, I was planning to skip this one because I'm rather well-versed in the field of AI. Also, unfortunately, many people skip documentaries, and I felt like nobody would be interested in discussing this film with me, so it was a harder sell. However, the cute poster and title kept hooking me in, so I decided to do a double feature with this and my Monday secret screening. So, did The AI Doc end up being mediocre as I was originally expecting, or did it cut through like the convincing promotional material? That's what I'll be exploring in today's Reel Ranker review. Thank you so much for joining me, and I hope you enjoy your time here!
I typically start with the negatives, and, yup, we're being typical today. The first couple of minutes, where they explain what AI is, were probably a little too dumbed down and unnecessary, judging that people uninterested in AI probably won't be showing up. The only other minor thing is that, while the call to action was completely appropriate and helpful, it was a little too vague. However, I will applaud the film for being a rare instance where dropping a QR code and all that felt earned, justified, and necessary. This isn't one of those Angel films that have one for who-knows-why... as good as some of those films can be, those codes usually feel overly commercial for people who've already paid for a ticket.
Anyway, there isn't much bad about this film, so let's get into the good! Firstly, this film does a fantastic job of presenting its information in a unique style. With funny jokes, unique narration, a cute AI cube that keeps popping up, and some awesome sketched-out art and calligraphy, it's not at all boring. For some reason, documentaries often get a bad rap when it comes to entertainment value, which I just don't get, since this was one of the most entertaining experiences I've had in the theater this year. Even if you aren't all that interested in AI, there's still plenty to latch onto here. If you are interested in AI theory, you'll absolutely eat this one up.
The film also consistently offers every viewpoint on the spectrum, wittingly not choosing a side, yet covering every viewpoint equally. And, at the end, there's a satisfying call-to-action that calls for safety and not for polarity, leaving everyone in the theater feeling unified by the end credits: a rarity for films like this, and a rarity in our world in general. People of all ages left the screening smiling and empowered to try to make a difference. From 19-year-old me to the kindly older gentleman behind me, likely approaching 80, everyone was satisfied here.
The Reel Ranker Verdict
Reel or Unreel? - Reel
The Reel Ranker Score: 82%
Letter Score: A
Star Ranking: 4 out of 5
The AI Doc: Or How I Became an Apocaloptimist is a film that empowers and sparks unity in the realm of AI. With impeccable style, humorous moments, a holistic perspective, and a tight script, this is a film I wish everyone of all ages would go see—it's got a major chance to become a new staple in the documentary genre!
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Brighton Nelson
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