Shining tale of rollicking robots
Robots is an uplifting tale of a young robot who follows his dream and fights against an evil tyrant for common good.
Rodney Copperbottom (voiced by Ewan McGregor) is an enthusiastic robot who travels to Robot City to realise his dream as an inventor. There, he meets a group of robotic misfits including Fender (Robin Williams) and his sister Piper (Amanda Bynes).
Fender and his friends face the threat of being sent to the scrap-heap because the Bigweld Company, run by greedy chief executive Ratchet (Greg Kinnear), has a ruthless plan to stop producing replacement parts for older robots so that he can sell expensive upgrades.
With the help of Cappy (Halle Berry), a kind-hearted robot who works at Bigweld, Rodney and a gang of underprivileged robots fight for their right to survive.
The film has a message about the need to be ourselves against the false images fostered by advertisers and greedy corporations (The Bigweld company motto is 'Why be you when you can be new?'). It reminds us that we don't need every latest gadget or have superficial good looks to lead a good life.
Moral lessons aside, the film is a fun animation for all ages. Children will love the visual jokes and animated thrills while their parents will enjoy the intelligent humour.
Director Chris Wedge has improved his storytelling since making Ice Age and the film is downright entertaining from start to finish.
The opening sequence in which Mr and Mrs Copperbottom labour over a box of mechanical parts to assemble a baby Rodney will put a smile on parents' faces while the delightful finale, which features catchy music and dancing and singing robots, is great fun to watch.
With so many mega-budget films about superheroes and horror stories appearing on movie screens this summer, Robots is a pleasant alternative that offers plenty of laughs and fun action.
Robots opens on July 28
VERDICT: WE LOVE IT
