I, Robot seemed no more than just another CGI-driven summer blockbuster wannabe when I first heard of it, and even after I saw the first teaser trailer my interest still wasn’t peaked, but as the trailers got better my opinion on the film grew and now that I have seen it I must tell you that this is the sleeper hit of the summer.
Based on the short stories of Isaac Asimov, whom I have heard about but never read a word of his stories, I, Robot takes you into the high-tech world of Chicago in the year 2035, a year that looks a lot like the world we were introduced to in Minority Report, the only difference being instead of driving Lexus we are now driving pimped out Audis, my how the times change.
Well, maybe not the only difference is the cars, the major attraction has to be the robots, which have been integrated into everyday life and act as servants to humans, servants that are all structured around three very strict rules making them “3 Laws Safe.” A robot cannot hurt a human being or allow a human being to come to harm; a robot must obey a human being’s orders unless the orders conflict with the first law; a robot must protect its own existence as long as it doesn’t conflict with the first or second law.
Needless to say, detective Del Spooner (Smith) isn’t exactly trusting of these so-called goody-goody robots that haven’t ever hurt anyone, and once Dr. Alfred Lanning (Cromwell), the lead scientist behind the evolution of the robots, apparently commits suicide Spooner smells foul play and his assumptions may turn out to be more real than anyone expected. His assuming mind soon leads him to Sonny (Tudyk) a “special” robot who may be more than he seems, whether he be Lanning’s killer or not.
I went into this film expecting a Matrix prequel, and while there are a couple of corny Matrix-y slo-mo shots and one motorcycle jump that garnered some audience chuckles, this is a story all of its own.
I was extremely pleased that the Will Smith one-liners were kept to a minimum and despite the PG-13 rating there is a TON of sci-fi action, and since we are killing robots, the blood rule is not in effect and it is every machine for itself.
Director Alex Proyas certainly brought in some of the feel of his earlier helming venture, the dark and moody Dark City, and went balls out in an action packed finale that includes 360 degree camera shots daring you to keep up with the action.
I, Robot has got to be the front-runner for Visual Effects Oscar. There has never been a movie that matched the CGI work this film employs. The robots seem so much a part of the landscape that you never question their reality. With relentless action and dialogue that strays from the corny one-liners we have been forced to endure in so many of the recent action flicks I, Robot is a definite theater must see.
