Review of Robots

I watched Robots wondering whether I was going to love it or hate it. In the end, I liked it, but I couldn't help feeling disappointed too. The computer animation was definitely the best element to the movie, it was stunning with plenty of colourful, advanced and inventive visuals. I also thought the soundtrack was more than decent, I liked the premise and there are some characters that are endearing. The film does have a good message about following your heart. Not to mention a great voice cast, with Ewan MacGregor his usual charming and earnest self as Rodney, Greg Kinnear a nice surprise as Ratchet and Robin Williams wonderfully electric(and funny). There are some heart warming moments with Rodney and his family.

However, as Bigweld Mel Brooks did disappoint; surprisingly there wasn't much to his character and Brooks sadly couldn't do anything with what he was given. While it was an enjoyable film technically, the story while constantly inventive and original takes a while to get going, and there is little character development. Also I got more the impression that Ratchet's mother Madame Gasket was more the villain than him. Speaking of Madame Gasket, I couldn't believe Jim Broadbent voiced her, totally unrecognisable and quite possibly the biggest casting surprise of the movie. The biggest flaw though was the script. I will admit I did laugh a few times, but that wasn't enough. Robin Williams did a great job and some of what he said was funny. However, the in-jokes weren't as funny as they should have been. It could have done with more wit and irreverence perhaps.

All in all, I liked the movie. It is nice to look at and technically accomplished, and the voice cast in general do well, but the script wasn't sophisticated enough. 6/10 Bethany Cox