Movie Review: I, Robot

I, Robot

I knew going in that I, Robot wasn't on onscreen version of the classic Isaac Asimov science fiction stories (in fact, the movie is so loosely based on Asimov's ideas that it's not even "based on" or "inspired by," but rather listed as "suggested by" Asimov's writings in the credits). I just love Isaac Asimov, but I also like science fiction in general as well as Will Smith's summer movies, so I thought it well worth my while to buy a ticket anyway. I suppose it turned out that it was, but I confess to some disappointment never-the-less.

I, Robot takes place 30 years from now in the city of Chicago. Det. Del Spooner (Will Smith) is a homicide detective in the city who has, for personal reasons of his own, serious issues with technology in general and robots in specific. In fact, his prejudices against robots are well known - and just as well ridiculed by most others who see robots as being the ultimate servants. Spooner's boss, Lt. John Bergin (Chi McBride) is a longtime friend and inclined to give Spooner a little leeway, but even his patience is sorely tried when Spooner insists that a suicide is really a murder committed by a robot, a patently ridiculous accusation since no robot in history has ever committed any kind of crime.

Dr. Alfred Lanner (James Cromwell) has jumped to his death from his office at US Robotics, the company he helped create, and Spooner is called in to answer a holographic message left for him by the doctor. Despite the evidence, Spooner maintans that Lanner was killed by one of his own robots and, when he finally captures the particular NS-5 model robot in question, he is sure he's got his "man." After exhibiting unusual behavior for a robot (he says his name is "Sonny," for example, and seems to show a level of emotion other robots can't claim), a few others begin to wonder if Spooner might not be right. But US Robotics is just about to send out a widespread shipment of its new NS-5 model, and there's no way the company wants a rumor of a defective machine to get out.

Company Chairman Lawrence Robertson (Bruce Greenwood) does his best to be patient with Spooner's suspicions, but Dr. Susan Calvin (Bridget Moynahan) - a robot psychologist - is openly contemptuous. Assigned by Robertson to help Spooner, she does, but is none too pleased with her temporary chores. Spooner is never quite convinced that the "Three Laws of Robotics" (directly from the Asimov stories, and intended to ensure human safety in the presence of the super-strong machines) are entirely effective, but he's nearly persuaded to give the benefit of the doubt until more oddities convince him he's either crazy - or the only man who's sane.

The script for I, Robot is actually a combination of Asimov's ideas and another story optioned by the studio some years before (called Hardwire, it told the tale of a robot accused of murder). In the movie, Asimov's Three Laws remain sacrosanct as does the Dr. Susan Calvin character, but those are just about the only recognizable things that remain from his classic writings (although Asimov did write several robot-related mysteries, including some involving murders). While the entire concept of I, Robot is a good one, the script was largely far too predictable as well as, in many areas, oddly flat. Smith and Moynahan are both nearly as one-dimensional as the script (Smith is better when he plays comedic roles than when he attempts serious onscreen anguish, while Moynahan can be excused as she is merely attempting to portray Calvin's innate emotional handicaps). James Cromwell is quite good in a limited role, and Bruce Greenwood is okay. Chi McBride, unfortunately, seems incapable of anything beyond wrinkling his brow and looking pained, which is pretty much all he does in the TV series that made him famous (Boston Public, in case you were wondering). Alan Tudyk has a face you'll never see onscreen in this film, but it's his voice and his actions you'll come to know as the robot, Sonny, and it's his performance that's ironically one of the best in the movie.

The sets are quite good, and the CGI used to enhance skylines and freeways to project them into the future about 30 years is almost imperceptable (the freeways and automobiles - which Audi helped build for the movie - are particularly impressive). It's the CGI work on the robots, though, that's truly superlative. Digital Domain is largely responsible for most of the robots, including Sonny, and the work is seamless. It's an absolute joy to watch. WETA, the special effects house that so brilliantly handled the Lord of the Rings movies, took care of some of the sweeping views of the landscapes as well as large-scale fight scenes involving robots and humans. Their reputation is solidly intact with the terrific job they did here.

The bottom line: I, Robot is okay as summer movie entertainment, but I'm sorry to say okay is as good as it gets (with, of course, the exception of the special effects). If it's a rainy afternoon (it was in my town the day I saw it, and the theatre was packed accordingly), you could do worse. If it's a sunny day, go play and save this movie for when you don't have anything else better on your list of things to do.

POLITICAL NOTES: There is a good deal in I, Robot of "but it's for your own good" and "for your own safety," and many people are horrified by the notion. That's a good thing. Unfortunately, when "but it's for your own good" comes off the big screen and out of the mouth of the government, all too many people are inclined to lap it up. That's not so good.

FAMILY SUITABILTY: I, Robot is rated PG-13 for "intense stylized action" and "brief partial nudity." Some of the action really is probably too intense for younger kids, particularly since they'll tend to anthropomorphize the robots even more than those of us who "buy" the concept do. The partial nudity isn't in any way offensive (and gives Will Smith the chance to show off what he earned from all of his work-outs for his starring role in Ali) and doesn't pose a problem; the storyline, however, is also fairly adult in its complexity. (Predictable? Yes. Simple? Not so much.) While the things that garnered the movie its rating are, I don't believe, any problem for those age 10 and up, the script ratchets the age limit up to, perhaps, 12 and up.