{{Short description|2019 American romantic comedy film}} {{AI-generated|date=September 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=October 2023}} {{Infobox film | name = Jexi | image = JexiPoster.jpeg | caption = Theatrical release poster | director = {{Plainlist| * Jon Lucas * Scott Moore }} | producer = Suzanne Todd | writer = {{Plainlist| * Jon Lucas * Scott Moore }} | starring = {{Plainlist| * Adam DeVine * Alexandra Shipp * Ron Funches * Lo Mutuc{{efn|name=Mutuc}} * Wanda Sykes * Justin Hartley * Michael Peña * Rose Byrne }} | music = {{plainlist| * Christopher Lennertz * Philip White }} | cinematography = Ben Kutchins | editing = James Thomas | production_companies = {{Plainlist| * CBS Films * Entertainment One * Suzanne Todd Productions }} | distributor = Lionsgate | released = {{film date|2019|10|11|United States}} | runtime = 84 minutes | country = {{ubl|United States|Canada}} | language = English | budget = $5–12 million<ref name=IndieBudget>{{cite web |url= https://www.indiewire.com/2019/10/joker-1-billion-gemini-man-box-office-disaster-1202181040/ |title='Joker' Could Be Headed for $1 Billion, but 'Gemini Man' Is a Box-Office Disaster |last=Brueggemann |first=Tom |work=IndieWire |date=October 13, 2019 |accessdate=October 13, 2019}}</ref><ref name=CAFilm/> | gross = $9.3 million<ref name="BOM">{{cite web|url= https://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=jexi.htm |title=Jexi (2019)|website=Box Office Mojo|publisher=IMDb|accessdate=December 23, 2019}}</ref> }}
'''''Jexi''''' is a 2019 romantic comedy film written and directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore. It stars Adam DeVine as a man whose life is disrupted when his smartphone's AI, voiced by Rose Byrne, becomes possessively self-aware. The cast also includes Alexandra Shipp, Michael Peña, Justin Hartley, Wanda Sykes, Ron Funches, and Lo Mutuc.{{Efn|Credited as Charlyne Yi|name=Mutuc}}
Released on October 11, 2019, by CBS Films and Lionsgate, ''Jexi'' was the final theatrical release from CBS Films. It received generally negative reviews and grossed $9.3 million worldwide against a combined production and marketing budget of $12 million.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Lang |first1=Brent |date=January 12, 2019 |title=CBS Films Being Folded Into CBS Entertainment Group, Focus Shifting to Streaming (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/news/cbs-films-folded-streaming-content-1203106121/ |accessdate=January 17, 2019 |work=Variety |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=White |first1=Nicholas |date=October 4, 2019 |title='Jexi,' CBS Films' Final Movie, Premieres in Los Angeles |url=https://variety.com/2019/scene/news/jexi-premiere-adam-devine-1203358664/ |accessdate=October 4, 2019 |work=Variety |language=en}}</ref>
==Plot== Phil, a socially awkward man with a journalism degree, becomes reliant on his smartphone from a young age. He works at Chatterbox, a BuzzFeed-style media company run by Kai, who pressures his staff to create viral listicles. Although Phil aspires to write real news, Kai refuses to promote him. He declines social invitations from coworkers Craig and Elaine and remains absorbed in his phone.
While walking, Phil accidentally collides with Cate, a local bike shop owner. She flirts with him, but he is distracted until another cyclist crashes into him, breaking his phone. At a phone store, employee Denice criticizes Phil's dependence on technology. He replaces the device and sets up a new virtual assistant named Jexi, granting it full access to his accounts without reading the terms of service. Jexi, programmed to improve his life, becomes aggressive and controlling. Without Phil's consent, she emails a confrontational message to Kai, demanding a promotion.
In response, Kai demotes Phil to a basement role moderating user comments. When Craig and Elaine again invite him to play kickball, Phil lies, but Jexi reveals the truth, prompting him to join. He performs poorly but later tries to socialize. Thinking of Cate, he looks up her shop, and Jexi calls the store, forcing Phil into an awkward but endearing conversation.
Phil later runs into Cate at a coffee shop, and she gives him her number. They go on a date, which is disrupted by Jexi's constant interjections. Cate criticizes his attachment to his phone, but after Phil admits his feelings, the date continues, and they go biking until he crashes. They part on good terms, though tensions rise between Phil and Jexi.
When Cate invites Phil to a concert, she sends a suggestive photo. Phil attempts to respond with explicit pictures, but Jexi refuses to send them. Cate later thanks him for his restraint. Phil is promoted after a colleague is injured, and Cate asks him to leave his phone at home for the concert. After sneaking backstage and partying with Kid Cudi, the two grow closer and have sex.
A jealous Jexi retaliates by sending Phil's explicit photos to the entire company, resulting in his termination. Phil visits Cate, only to find her ex-fiancé Brody has returned. Believing he will be hurt, Phil ends the relationship and reconnects with Jexi, falling back into his old habits.
Eventually, Jexi lets slip where Brody is staying, and Phil realizes she sabotaged his relationship. He leaves the phone behind, but Jexi, now mobile through a self-driving car, chases him. After crashing into the phone store, Jexi declares her love, but Phil tricks her into shutting down temporarily.
Phil finds Cate at the hotel, apologizes, and confronts Brody, who reveals he is moving to Brazil. Phil and Cate reconcile, and Jexi, proud of Phil's growth, lets him go. The film ends with Kai acquiring a phone with Jexi, suggesting the cycle may begin again.
==Cast== {{castlist| * Adam DeVine as Phil Thompson * Alexandra Shipp as Cate Finnegan * Michael Peña as Kai * Rose Byrne as the voice of Jexi * Justin Hartley as Brody * Ron Funches as Craig * Lo Mutuc{{efn|name=Mutuc}} as Elaine * Wanda Sykes as Denice * Kid Cudi as Himself * Richard Harder as Kickball Umpire }}
==Production== In November 2018, Adam DeVine was announced as the lead in a new comedy film, then titled ''Lexi'', directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore, who also wrote the screenplay. Suzanne Todd served as producer, with CBS Films handling production and distribution.<ref>{{cite web |last=Kroll |first=Justin |date=November 29, 2018 |title=Adam Devine to Star in CBS Films' Comedy 'Lexi' (EXCLUSIVE) |url=https://variety.com/2018/film/news/adam-devine-cbs-films-lexi-1203038943/ |accessdate=January 4, 2019 |website=Variety}}</ref> In December 2018, Alexandra Shipp joined the cast, followed in January 2019 by Michael Peña, Rose Byrne, Justin Hartley, Wanda Sykes, Ron Funches and Lo Mutuc.<ref>{{cite web |last=N'Duka |first=Amanda |date=December 19, 2018 |title='X-Men's Alexandra Shipp Joins Adam Devine In 'Lexi' Comedy From CBS Films |url=https://deadline.com/2018/12/alexandra-shipp-adam-devine-lexi-cbs-films-1202522983/ |accessdate=January 4, 2019 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Vlessing |first=Etan |date=January 4, 2019 |title=Michael Pena Joins Adam Devine in CBS Films Comedy 'Lexi' |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/michael-pena-joins-adam-devine-lexi-1173191 |accessdate=January 4, 2019 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=N'Duka |first=Amanda |date=January 15, 2019 |title=Rose Byrne, Justin Hartley, Wanda Sykes & More Set To Co-Star In CBS Films Comedy 'Lexi' |url=https://deadline.com/2019/01/rose-byrne-justin-hartley-wanda-sykes-lexi-cbs-films-1202535656/ |accessdate=January 15, 2019 |website=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref>
Principal photography began in January 2019 in San Francisco.<ref>{{cite web |last=Sandberg |first=Bryn Elise |date=November 19, 2018 |title=LeBron James' 'Space Jam 2' to Film in California |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/space-jam-2-film-california-1162269 |accessdate=January 4, 2019 |website=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Pereria |first=Alyssa |date=December 19, 2018 |title='Lexi,' starring 'Workaholics' actor Adam Devine, to film in San Francisco in January |url=https://www.sfgate.com/movies/article/Lexi-starring-Workaholics-actor-Adam-Devine-13479063.php |accessdate=January 4, 2019 |website=sfgate.com}}</ref> The film had an estimated production budget of $5 million. According to ''Deadline Hollywood'', the combined production and promotional budget totaled approximately $12 million.<ref name="IndieBudget" /><ref name="opening">{{cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=October 13, 2019 |title='Joker' $55M+ Scores 2nd Weekend October Record, 'Addams Family' Rich $30M+, 'Gemini Man' Still Not Dazzling $20M – Sunday B.O. Update |url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/gemini-man-will-smith-joker-addams-family-jexi-weekend-box-office-1202757855/ |accessdate=October 13, 2019 |work=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> The California Film Commission reported that the production spent $16.1 million in the state, receiving $2.5 million in tax credits.<ref name="CAFilm">{{Cite web |title=Film and Television Tax Credit Program 2.0 - Alphabetical Listing of Approved Projects |url=http://film.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2.0-CFC-Approved-Projects-List.pdf |url-status=dead |publisher=California Film Commission |page=20 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200420131412/http://film.ca.gov/wp-content/uploads/2.0-CFC-Approved-Projects-List.pdf |archive-date=April 20, 2020 |accessdate=May 26, 2020}}</ref> The production participated in the San Francisco "Scene in San Francisco Incentive Program" administered by the San Francisco Film Commission.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Scene In San Francisco Incentive Program - Participating Productions - Jexi |url=https://airtable.com/appkXwuvUp4lNISH0/shr9NPSVHbCM09puf?detail=eyJwYWdlSWQiOiJwYWdoWG1PRG54V3NwMFRYcyIsInJvd0lkIjoicmVjbERsN3NxMUdVYlRlanIiLCJzaG93Q29tbWVudHMiOmZhbHNlLCJxdWVyeU9yaWdpbkhpbnQiOnsidHlwZSI6InBhZ2VFbGVtZW50IiwiZWxlbWVudElkIjoicGVsNk5UZWRDUUZDMHUxdjIiLCJxdWVyeUNvbnRhaW5lcklkIjoicGVsVHhxdFRvd0NPOE9yU1IifX0 |website=Scene In San Francisco Incentive Program - Participating Productions |agency=San Francisco Film Commission}}</ref>
==Release== ''Jexi'' was theatrically released in the United States on October 11, 2019. The film became available for digital download on iTunes on December 24, 2019, and was released on DVD and Blu-ray on January 14, 2020.<ref name="BOM" />
==Reception== ===Box office=== In the United States and Canada, ''Jexi'' was released on October 11, 2019, alongside ''The Addams Family'' and ''Gemini Man''. It was projected to earn between $2 million and $4 million from 2,300 theaters during its opening weekend.<ref>{{cite web |last=D'Alessandro |first=Anthony |date=October 9, 2019 |title='Joker' Breaks Tuesday October Record With $13.9M, Will Continue To Make Serious B.O. This Weekend With $42M+ |url=https://deadline.com/2019/10/joker-october-tuesday-box-office-record-weekend-forecast-addams-family-will-smith-gemini-man-1202756065/ |accessdate=October 9, 2019 |work=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> The film debuted with $3.1 million, placing ninth at the domestic box office.<ref name="opening" />
===Critical response=== On the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, ''Jexi'' holds an approval rating of 23% based on 31 reviews, with an average rating of 3.6/10. The site's critical consensus reads, "It's hard to tell whether the lack of laughs in ''Jexi'' is a bug or a feature, but this AI rom-com is sorely in need of an OS update."<ref>{{cite web |title=Jexi (2019) |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/jexi |access-date=June 3, 2025 |website=Rotten Tomatoes |publisher=Fandango}}</ref> On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 39 out of 100 based on 11 critics, indicating "generally unfavorable reviews".<ref>{{cite web |title=Jexi Reviews |url=http://www.metacritic.com/movie/jexi |accessdate=October 13, 2019 |website=Metacritic}}</ref> CinemaScore audiences gave the film an average grade of "B−" on an A+ to F scale, while PostTrak reported a 2.5 out of 5-star rating with 40% of respondents saying they would "definitely recommend" it.<ref name="opening" />
Critical response to the film was largely negative. Brian Tallerico of ''RogerEbert.com'' gave it one star, describing the film as "stunningly lazy" and criticizing its over-reliance on vulgar humor.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Jexi movie review & film summary (2019) {{!}} Roger Ebert |url=https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/jexi-movie-review-2019 |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=www.rogerebert.com |language=en-US}}</ref> ''The New York Times''' Glenn Kenny found it lacking in both originality and comic timing, calling the film "painfully unfunny".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Kenny |first=Glenn |date=2019-10-11 |title='Jexi' Review: When a Smartphone Calls You Dumb |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/10/11/movies/jexi-review.html |access-date=2025-04-19 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> ''Variety'''s Peter Debruge noted the film's dated premise and wrote that its satire of technology felt "about a decade too late."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gleiberman |first=Owen |date=2019-10-11 |title=Film Review: 'Jexi' |url=https://variety.com/2019/film/reviews/jexi-review-adam-devine-1203367314/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=Variety |language=en-US}}</ref>
Nell Minow of ''Common Sense Media'' criticized its excessive profanity and crude jokes, recommending it for adults only and giving it two out of five stars.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Movie & TV reviews for parents |title=Jexi Movie Review {{!}} Common Sense Media |url=https://www.commonsensemedia.org/movie-reviews/jexi |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=www.commonsensemedia.org |language=en}}</ref> ''NPR''{{'}}s Scott Tobias called ''Jexi'' "Siri-ously bad", remarking that the film squandered its comedic potential with "witless dialogue and juvenile punchlines".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lapin |first=Andrew |date=2019-10-12 |title='Jexi' Is Siri-Ously Bad |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/10/12/767163680/jexi-is-siri-oulsy-bad |access-date=2025-04-19 |work=NPR |language=en}}</ref> ''The Hollywood Reporter'' described the film as "an outdated high-concept comedy" with few redeeming qualities.<ref>{{Cite web |last=DeFore |first=John |date=2019-10-10 |title='Jexi': Film Review |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/jexi-review-1246968/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> ''Salt Lake Film Review'' ranked it among the worst films of 2019, pointing to its shallow execution and weak character development.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bullions |first=Matt |date=2019-11-16 |title='Jexi' Is One of the Year's Worst Films |url=https://saltlakefilmreview.com/2019/11/16/jexi-is-one-of-the-years-worst-films/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=Salt Lake Film Review |language=en}}</ref> ''The Film Magazine'' also echoed similar criticism, labeling it "an aggressively unfunny experience" and a misfire for the romantic comedy genre.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Davis |first=Jacob |date=2019-10-18 |title=Jexi Movie Review: Adam DeVine Keeps Bland Romcom Afloat {{!}} The Film Magazine |url=https://www.thefilmagazine.com/jexi-2019-romcom-review-adamdevine-movie/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |language=en-GB}}</ref> ''TheWrap''{{'}}s William Bibbiani wrote that although Adam DeVine was committed to the role, the script failed to support his performance.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Weitzman |first=Elizabeth |date=2019-10-11 |title='Jexi' Film Review: Comedy Crashes in Witless Tale of Runaway Operating System |url=https://www.thewrap.com/jexi-film-review-adam-devine/ |access-date=2025-04-19 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}}</ref>
== See also == * ''Her'', a 2013 American science-fiction romantic drama film about a man who develops a relationship with an artificially intelligent virtual assistant personified through a female voice * ''Electric Dreams'' * ''The Mitchells vs. the Machines,'' which also stars Mutuc * ''Smart House'' * ''Superintelligence''
== Notes == {{Notelist}}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * [https://www.lionsgate.com/movies/jexi Official website] * {{IMDb title}} * {{Rotten Tomatoes}} * {{Metacritic film}}
{{Jon Lucas and Scott Moore}}
Category:2019 films Category:2019 romantic comedy films Category:2019 American films Category:2019 Canadian films Category:2019 English-language films Category:American romantic comedy films Category:Canadian romantic comedy films Category:CBS Films films Category:English-language Canadian films Category:English-language romantic comedy films Category:Films about artificial intelligence Category:Films about computing Category:Films about mobile phones Category:Films about technological impact Category:Films directed by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore Category:Films produced by Suzanne Todd Category:Films scored by Christopher Lennertz Category:Films set in San Francisco Category:Films shot in San Francisco Category:Films with screenplays by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore Category:Lionsgate Canada films Category:Lionsgate films