Science
fiction has crept into independent filmmaking in a big way these last few
years, from visions of the apocalypse to space discovery. By comparison, Robot
& Frank seems nearly grounded in reality, aside from the fact that a
co-star is a robot. It is a comedy which just happens to utilize some of the
benefits of science fiction, though no amount of special effects could detract
from Frank Langella’s performance. Fortunately, the director doesn’t even try,
knowing that the simplicity of the film is what makes it work. Not ever science
fiction film needs to have a special effects budget that is larger than the
cost of the cast.
Langella
stars as Frank, a retired cat burglar whose aging has begun to worry his
children (James Marsden and Liv Tyler). Their only solution is to buy their
father a robotic caretaker, to cook him healthy meals and clean the house. The
robot becomes something of a friend to Frank, as well as a useful tool when the
retired thief decides to get back into the game. Between Frank’s experience and
the robot’s mechanical abilities, they are able to pull off near impossible
thefts together.
The
main reason that Frank finds to come out of retirement is a friendly librarian
(Susan Sarandon), whose kindness gives Frank reason to find ways to repay her
the only way he knows how. Realizing that the robot has no moral programming
for theft, it makes him the perfect partner. The only danger is the recorded
programming which threatens to give away their crimes together, and erasing the
memory would mean erasing the friend he has adopted in the robot as well.
The
DVD includes a commentary track with screenwriter Christopher Ford and director
Jake Schreier, as well as a robot poster campaign feature.
No comments:
Post a Comment