Movie Review: On Robots

Ah, robots! Lovable things, aren’t they? They never tell you what to do. They get you the mail. They clean up the stain on the rug. But when you touch their cold plastic shells, doesn’t it send a strange chill down your back? No problem. With the power of Computer Graphic Imagery any metallic imitation of organic life can seem responsive to real human emotion. Hey, they did it with Toy Story, didn’t they? MAN, I loved that film.
Well, the Ice Age boys are at it again and they’ve managed to fit enough punch into a ninety-minute “family” film to rival Star Wars Episode I. In this case, “family” is in quotes because, while most film advertisers will target the family, they rarely can rely on entertaining mature audiences. Most “family” films are really movies for junior and mom, but while junior enjoys it, mom slowly lolls her head back, lets her tongue hang, and falls to sleep.
However, once we adjust to the disfiguration in the eyes of the toon robots and the deep CG world and the fact that they are robots with human emotions and aspirations (gross!), we can definitely enjoy this film. The cast for this film is exceptional. We’re talking Halle Berry, Mel Brooks, Robin Williams, Ewan McGregor, and Greg Kinnear. Holy plumber, why does everyone want to be a robot all of a sudden? Even people like Jay Leno and James Earl Jones came in for cameo spots. Maybe it’s better for their resume: “I did it for the kids, you know?”
Enough Sarcasm. “Robots” is a movie that has taken some big leaps for this genre. The graphics are stunning and original. The makers of this film spent a lot of time working out the shine, grime, or scratch on the shells of the metallic beings. The robots look fantastic and the action scenes are explosive. After awhile you will find yourself entering the world of screws, bolts and plugs.
The Protagonist Rodney Copperbottom ever wanted was to meet Mr. Bigweld and show him his invention. Mr. Bigweld is the greatest robot in the world, the role model of all models even though his model is turning out-moded. He provides inspiration for robots everywhere – a bot
of vision, invention, and kindness. When Rodney Copperbottom (Ewan McGregor) leaves his home for the big city, he finds disaster at Bigweld industries. An executive at the company has taken over and closed the front gates permanently – that means no more fresh ideas, no more new inventions. The dubious executive named Ratchet has big plans to open a line of shiny new robot parts which most robot folks won’t be able to afford. That means if your headpiece breaks, your neck gets unscrewed, your elbow becomes loose, or your bottom gets rusty there won’t be any available parts for your model. Thus, you become an out-mode – outdated and expendable. Where has Mr. Bigweld gone? How could he sit back and let all this happen? Rodney knows he must find the old inventor if there’s any hope of saving half of robotkind from becoming scrap metal. And so, with the help of some comic relief, young Rodney sets out. Most of the vocal stylists in this group are great achievers. Some left me wanting more. All around, however, this is an enjoyable film. Take your younger sister along.