Robots

Reviewed by Rich Drees

     Early in the new computer animated feature Robots, Rodney Copperbottom, voiced by Ewan McGregor, is given the advice “You can shine, no matter what you’re made of.” Inspiring words, and fitting as Robots is certainly a shiny, attractive looking movie. Unfortunately, the glossy veneer does little to disguise a rusty, dilapidated and ultimately disappointing interior.

     Bright-eyed Rodney Copperbottom, inspired by the words of Bigweld (voiced by Mel Brooks), decides to journey from his small town life to the metropolis of Robot City to seek his fortune as an inventor. When he is rebuffed at the front gate of Bigweld Industries, Rodney discovers that the company his been taken over by the profit motivated Ratchet (Greg Kinnear), who plans on letting older model robots head the way of the scrapheap if they can’t afford his new line of expensive and shiny upgrades. Together with the help of some nearly obsolete robots, lead by Fender (Robin Williams) and Cappy (Halle Berry), Rodney sets out to find out what has happened to Bigweld and stop Ratchet’s evil plan.

     The production design of Robots is stunning, owing much to the 1930’s neo-futurism filtered through the mind of Rube Goldberg. The cross-town transportation involves strapping into a giant metal ball that is catapulted through the sky into a series of ramps and chutes to one’s destination. The denizens of Robot City are all unique, their design often revealing aspects of their character. Robot City itself looks like a cover science-fiction pulp magazine cover rendered in three dimensions, gleaming metal and glass deco spires piercing the sky.

     However, for all of the visual dazzle Robots offer, its story is hollow, limp and uninspired. While there is always room for a new take on the “Naïve-character-heads-to-big-city-to-seek-fortune” story, this particular installment brings nothing new or interesting to the formula. As a comedy, Robots equally disappoints, filled as it is with easy robot puns and pop cultural references that will date the movie fairly quickly. The moment in the finale where one robot breaks into a dance riff from a Britney Spears song already feels dated.

     The vocal performances here are as un-engaging as the plot, with the cast giving uniformly listless deliveries. McGregor, normally a charming sounding actor, comes off bored in places. He never really conveys a sense of wide-eyed wonder upon his arrival in Robot City or the sense of innocent determination to make things better the character of Rodney needs. Much has been hyped about Robin William’s return to animation following his astounding turn in 1992’s Aladdin. Unfortunately, William’s work here feels more desperate that manic, franticly searching for a laugh when the material offers none. Ultimately, these shiny tin men have no hearts.