Impressive Animation Doesn't Make-up for Rusty Writing

Mon, 21 Mar 2005 14:20:00 GMT

By Daniel Orkin

Ewan MacGregor voices Rodney Copperbottom in the mediocre "Robots."

What sets Robots apart from the plethora of computer-animated films to recently released is the sheer magnitude of the animation. Better than any of its predecessors, Robots exists in a world independent of humans that filmmakers Chris Wedge and Carlos Saldanha, who previously made 2002’s Ice Age, have created with meticulous detail and breathtaking beauty. What the film lacks is an inspired story and developed characters to compliment the detailed setting. It doesn’t have the captivating emotion of Finding Nemo, nor the satirical edge of The Incredibles. The scale of the production, however, for the most part fills the void leftover from the uninteresting plot and writing making Robots one that kids will love, and others will tolerate. The formulaic story begins in the small Rivet Town, where a young inventor named Rodney Copperbottom (Ewan McGregor) dreams of making it in the big city. He sets off for Robot City leaving behind his mom and dishwasher dad to fulfill his dreams of meeting his boyhood hero: industrialist Big Weld (Mel Brooks) to whom he will show his mechanical ideas. Upon arrival, he meets a rundown robot named Fender voiced by Robin Williams, who moves with a dynamic energy that matches William’s frenetic comic style. Rodney’s idealistic expectations are soon crushed. Big Weld is in retirement, and his company has been taken over by the dastardly Ratchet, who cares nothing of the common robot and thinks only of profits. With his mother (Jim Broadbent) by his side, Ratchet ends production of replacement parts which (pardon the pun) screws older outdated robots. In one of the movie’s most visually impressive sequences, Rodney and Fender travel on the city’s public transportation system which is comprised of an intricate network of ramps and balls like you might find in a giant pinball machine. In fast paced elements like this the animation impresses and the movie is enjoyable. In between the fast action eye candy, when a story attempts to develop, the film lags. The characters are one dimensional, even for an animated film, and the voice acting pales in comparison to some of the wonderful performances delivered in other computer animated movies such as Ellen DeGeneres in Finding Nemo or Antonio Banderas in Shrek 2. Similar to the style of Shrek, there are scattered adult-themed lines and suggestive jokes to entertain those who go with the whole family. In the movie’s opening Rodney’s parents are thrilled when he is delivered. He just happens to be delivered in a cardboard box to which his mother comments its making the baby that’s the fun part. So while it’s not as poignant as a Pixar film or as clever as something from DreamWorks, Robots still offers enough to entertain. There’s enough fun to be had in Blue Sky’s world of nuts and bolts for kids to cherish, and adults to sit through.

The Pitch

Impressive Animation Doesn't Make-up for Rusty Writing