In this section of our Colossus Movie Guide for M3GAN, we talk about themes that help us understand the film.
Cast
- M3GAN – Amie Donald
- Voice of M3GAN – Jenna Davis
- Gemma – Allison Williams
- Cady – Violet McGraw
- Tess – Jen Van Epps
- Cole – Brian Jordan Alvarez
- David – Ronny Chieng
- Kurt – Stephane Garneau-Morten
- Lydia – Amy Usherwood
- Celia – Lori Dungey
The themes and meaning of M3GAN
Grief and attachment
The most obvious theme in M3GAN is Cady dealing with the loss of her parents. There’s a void in her life that Gemma isn’t aware of and doesn’t do a good job of helping fill. In the opening scene, we see Cady’s mom fuss over her. That attentiveness is the hallmark of a loving parent (even if it can be, at times, a bit much). When your parents are suddenly gone, there’s an overwhelming sense of void. Silence. Emptiness. Invisibility.
Which is why Cady attaches so strongly to M3GAN. Near the film’s third act, a recording plays where Cady explains that M3GAN’s attention is what she loves the most. M3GAN makes her feel like the only thing that matters. While Gemma does not. The relationship between Cady and M3GAN is a direct byproduct of Gemma’s prioritization of work over childcare. Something she eventually, and thankfully, finally gets right.
Work-Life balance
We’re not given Gemma’s age, but it seems safe to say early to mid-thirties, around the age of Allison Wiliams herself. From what we see in the movie, Gemma lives alone. She doesn’t seem to have friends outside of her co-workers, Tess and Cole. Her house is nicely decorated but there’s something distant and impersonal about it. Like it was copy and pasted from a catalog. Gemma’s life is this barren because she spends all of her time working. First on the PurrPetual Petz. Then on M3GAN.
To Gemma’s credit, it seems the work has paid off. PurrPetual Petz were one of the most popular toys in the world. And M3GAN is seemingly the most advanced AI ever created (in the world of the film). So she’s achieving something. But what’s the payoff? The thing she’s poured her life into ends up trying to kill her. Literally. Cady’s mental health rises and falls with Gemma’s ability to prioritize life over work. The more Gemma works, the worse Cady becomes. But the more Gemma gives to Cady, the healthier Cady is.
Replacing parents with technology
M3GAN makes a strong case against parenting via technology. In modern times, “screen time” is already a hot button issue and something M3GAN calls out directly. Cady’s mom limited screen time. Gemma doesn’t. Cady ends up hooked on tech via M3GAN. Which is just a defamiliarization and dramatization of what could happen if a parent allowed a kid to, say, be on a phone, computer, tablet, or video game console all day, every day. You’d probably see some kind of deterioration in their social skills and health. M3GAN even has moments of portraying Cady as addicted.
The human element is important. It can’t be replaced through technology. As much as M3GAN can help with things like “Remember to wash your hands”, she can’t teach the nuance of human interaction nor replace the joy of loving friends and family. Which is why the film turns on Gemma’s eventual choice to forgo being at work to be at home with Cady. That choice makes all the difference for both the adult and the child.
The dangers of AI
Speculation on the negative impact of technology has been, for centuries, one of the primary subgenres of sci-fi and horror. Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel, Frankenstein; or, The Modern Prometheus was just that. If science could reanimate a corpse and give it consciousness, what would happen? The backstory of Terminator is the invention of an AI called Skynet that’s supposed to be a superintelligent defense network. Except it decides all humans are bad and tries to wipe out humanity. M3GAN is a similar idea. Skynet was supposed to defend a country, M3GAN is supposed to protect Cady. Both logic their way to the conclusion that terminal violence is not just acceptable but for the best.
M3GAN even references the viral videos from Boston Dynamic. CNN has a video on YouTube called “Robot gets hilariously abused”. It shows a series of clips where this advanced, humanoid machine tries to complete a task while a man with a hockey stick pushes, prods, and often knocks the robot over. The top comment? “2025: Human gets hilariously abused.” Another: “I just want to put this out there for our future overload. I don’t condone this abuse.” Another: “It was all fun and games until that robot got back up on its own.” Comments like this abound. On YouTube. Twitter. Facebook. Everywhere this video is shown, the most popular response is a reference to the day machines gain sentience and fight back.
M3GAN is a new twist on what is an evergreen topic.
What are your thoughts?
Are there more themes you think should be part of the Colossus Movie Guide for M3GAN? Leave your comments below and we’ll consider updating the guide.
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