I, Robot (2004, VHS)

After the trailers and TV interview with lead actor Will Smith, I, Robot was quickly placed on my, "too see" list. From the previews this filmed looked like an action junkies dream with enough sci-fi to keep the imagination dazzled. One could only hope the cinematography would be as rich and alluring as what's shown at the films website.


This murderous sci-fi inspired by Isaac Asimov headlines the dashing Will Smith a detective in the year 2035 that s a bit skeptical about the modern advances made by science especially when it comes to robots. The action takes place in the city of Chicago where super cars cruise the streets and gas driven vehicles are almost a thing of the past, except for the detectives motorcycle.


Smith plays the role of Chicago Police Detective Del Spooner who has been summoned via holographic image to investigate the graphic murder of Dr. Miles Hogenmiller, one of the lead scientists at U.S. Robotics. The company s robots have been melded into society doing everything from daily household chores to picking up the trash. The robots prime directives are more precisely the three laws of Robotics: One: A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm. Two: A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law. Three: A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.


In this film it s these three, simple Laws of Robotics, which keep the plot spinning as the three laws are shown at the beginning of the film and are stated several times throughout the movie. It s the divorced Detective Spooner who refuses to join the coalition of the willing refusing to trust robots winning the award as the most paranoid detective on the force. Detective Spooner s escort around the corporate offices of U.S. Robotics is the lovely psychologist Dr. Susan Calvin. This film's protagonist initially appears to be a robot that goes by the name of Sonny but changes to Lawrence Robertson, the head of U.S. Robotics and eventually V.I.K.I the posatronic brain that controls all the robots.


The film carries a PG-13 rating due to its violence, and brief partial nude scene of Detective Spooner taking a shower. I'm not sure why this scene is even in the film except to show that actor Will Smith has been hitting the weights and keeping his membership at the local gym active. The action scenes were good and fortunately nothing was to gory or over the top. In my opinion it's okay for teenagers but is probably too intense for the kiddies.


This films cerebral creepiness hints of the same motif as other robot movies such as A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001). At the center of the movie is an idea that machines can be more than gigapets, they can learn, love and have a soul. Sonny the robot reminds me of Pinocchio only deadlier why Detective Spooner is a make shift Robocop. I don't want to give the plot away but it's here where I, Robot, journeys into its most imaginative and problematical material, in spectacular scenes set in a robotic Chicago. No plot spoilers from me, but at one point Detective Spooner tells the reason why he distrust robots, and becomes teary eyed, its not that I don't have a heart, but it simply wasn't convincing.


The movie is extremely stimulating, but the story seems to skew against its natural grain as it tosses in the theme of Hansel and Grettel. Detective Spooner, and Dr. Calvin despite having eyes for one another are slow to pick up on the trails of breadcrumbs. The film bets its emotional capital on Sonny the blue-eyed robot with a soul, but it's the old lost Scarecrow theme, not the Wizard of Oz, who is the poignant figure here.


The acting in the film is fantastic as the flexible and talented Will Smith embodies a cool, authentic masculine appeal that only he can deliver, while Bridget Moynahan s role as the attractive psychologist allows her intelligent, unyielding corporate proficiency to dictate her characters class. My hats off to Bruce Greenwood's protagonist role as the money hungry Lawrence Robertson, the head of U.S. Robotics.


Final Thoughts:

I, Robot, is audacious, technically masterful, and serves up a hearty portion of death defying stunts and action to quench the thirst of any true action junky. What holds it back from greatness is a failure to really engage dig deeper into the mystery behind the robot with a soul. Despite the films borrowing Star Trek's terminology it's an immensely clever sci-fi adventure, combining the usual elements: villains and heroes, special effects and spectacular stunts, chasses and explosions, and a hint of romance. Overall, I really enjoyed this film as it lives up to its hype. I didn't mind paying the matinee price today and although I probably won't rent it when it comes out on video/DVD, I definetly will be in line for the sequel.