I just watched I, Robot and boy was it better than I thought it was going to be. I assumed it was going to just be another uber-Hollywood CG fest with no soul. However, there is a pretty decent film lying under all that green screen. Mixing some of the basics from Isaac Asimov’s collection of stories and Will Smith’s “bling ’em” attitude, director Alex Proyas (The Crow) does an admirable job.
The effects, while ever present, are good enough so as to not induce epilepsy. I even really liked how the robots looked. Just not quite human. But, they could emote. And they weren’t very loud, which I liked. Also noteworthy is that the other lead, Bridget Moynahan, is extremely attractive. I liked that, too.
Basically, the robots have three rules or laws that govern them. And yes, I’m paraphrasing:
I. Through action or inaction, a robot may not harm a human being.
II. Robots must follow all instruction given by humans unless it
countermands law one.III. A robot may function autonomously as long as it does not
countermand laws one and two.
There’s this big brain robot named VIKI that realizes humans are killing themselves through the usual ills of war, pollution, etc. So, it looks to law one, specifically the part about robot inaction and decides to take action–saving humans from themselves. Which may lead to some loss of human life, but it is going for the greater human good. The movie terms it as, “the created protecting the creator.” Of course you don’t
learn any of this until the very end, so I spoiled another one for you! I, rule! And fine, I’m pretty drunk.
Smith is Detective Spooner, a “loose cannon” type of cop who totally hates robots for some reason. Like, he’s the only person in all of Chicago who mistrusts them. He spends a lot of time saying, “Oh, hell no.” But, there is a certain charm that Smith can bring to a
character that is fun for the viewer. I’m thinking of him in Enemy of the State, not Men in Black 2, which is death for the viewer. Detective Spooner is investigating the apparent suicide of Dr. Alfred Lanning (James Cromwell), but he suspects foul play on account of the fact that he hates robots so damn much. He gets paired up with his polar opposite, Dr. Susan Calvin (Moynahan), who totally loves robots. It is implied that she even has a
robot boyfriend. If you were wondering, no, there is no romance between the two as Hollywood is still too squeamish/lame to show a black man kissing a white woman in a summer blockbuster.
Think Terrell Owens/moron from Desperate Housewives uproar. There’s even a
scene where she’s rubbing his surprisingly buff chest and practically creams herself when she finds out he’s half robot (oops! Another spolier. Get fucked) and still no kissing. The lack of any kissing and/or fisting is doubly lame as the movie is set in 2035.
Anyhow, the two of them are trying to figure out just what the hell is going on because Spooner has a very personal connection to Dr. Lanning, and the late, good doctor thought of Calvin as a daughter. Enter Sonny. Sonny is a one off robot built by Dr. Lanning to not only have emotions, but to be able to keep secrets and dream. He’s also got “denser alloys” than the other robots. Spooner of course hates his guts cause, well, he’s a robot. Noticeably absent from the film is the ironic prejudice that a black man shows towards another, uh, species. But no matter. Turns out that Sonny was built for a very specific purpose that slowly becomes more and more clear to Spooner.
I gots to mention the Stupid Chief played by Chi McBride (Boston Public). At one point, after the worst CG part of the film (the car chase where 9,000 robots jump on Smith’s car and the same car starts spinning in headache inducing circles at 125 mph), the Stupid Chief asks Spooner where his gun is. Turns out one of the robots took it. Immediately the Stupid Chief asks for Spooner’s badge. Ha!
Against all odds (and the Stupid Chief), Spooner and Calvin and Sonny defeat the mega-computer gone bad (VIKI), prove that robots can be dangerous and… you know, typing this I am wondering why I liked this film as much as I did. Oh yeah, cause it is pretty good and the underlying “message” is fairly thought provoking. Unfortunately
the screenwriters wussed out and went with a formulaic ending. The one in which nanotechnology and machine guns are used to defeat thousands of crazed robots. What would have been cool is when VIKI explains how she is saving humans from themselves, Spooner would have been like, “Shit. That makes sense. We’re a fucking near-failure as a species. How can I be of service?” But like, you know that’s not going to happen. Ever. Still, I, Robot was a good looking sci-fi/action flick that made me laugh a lot, think a little and almost cry at one point. Stupid beer.
Special Ruthless Ratings:
- What was that one really cool line Sonny said: Oh yeah, “I think my
father wanted me to kill you.” And it was said in a really spooky,
deadpan way. - How drunk are you: Uh, tomorrow’s a holiday.
- Do you ever get depressed that you drink so much, alone, and then jump on the computer and review movies: Never.
- Really: I’m going to cry again.
- What was the part where you almost cried: Spooner was
explaining why he hates robots so much. Turns out that a robot saved
his life, but as a result a 12-year-old girl was killed. It was a
really good scene. - Really: Shut up
- Didn’t the near-constant product placements for Audi and
Converse bother you: No, not really. Spooner’s Audi was cool. Except
for the spinning thing. - You’re getting soft, Rummy: Shut up.