In a not-so-distant future where advanced robotics have become an integral part of everyday life, Robots attempts to explore the possibilities and consequences of using lifelike androids as substitutes for human interaction. Directed by Anthony Hines and Casper Christensen, the film features Shailene Woodley and Jack Whitehall as the central couple, Elaine and Charles, who utilize android doubles to bypass the complexities of dating. However, what follows is a convoluted story that fails to deliver on its potential.
The performances by Woodley and Whitehall can be best described as average. While they are competent actors in their own right, they seem somewhat miscast in their roles. Their chemistry onscreen is disappointingly lacklustre, which is a significant setback for a film that heavily relies on the romantic relationship between its leads. The emotional connection between Elaine and Charles never truly materializes, leaving the audience detached from their journey.
The humor in Robots is also quite the mixed bag, unfortunately. Some jokes manage to hit the mark, eliciting genuine laughter and a smile. However, for every successful comedic beat, there are several eye-rolling moments when the film’s attempts at humor fall flat. The script often resorts to juvenile gags and predictable punchlines, failing to capitalize on the potential wit and charm that could have elevated the comedy to a more satisfying level.
One of the major shortcomings of this feature is its insistence on making numerous political statements throughout the narrative. While exploring social themes can be a valuable aspect of filmmaking, the movie’s execution feels forced and heavy-handed. The constant injection of political commentary detracts from the core story, diluting its potential impact. The film would have benefited from a more focused approach, prioritizing the central romantic plotline and allowing the themes to emerge naturally within that framework.
In addition, Robots suffers from a lack of narrative coherence. The plot meanders, making it difficult to fully invest in the characters and their predicaments. The story becomes increasingly convoluted as Elaine and Charles’s android counterparts steal their identities, leading to a haphazard and disjointed series of events. The pacing feels uneven, with moments of unnecessary exposition bogging down the overall flow of the film.
Visually, the film is a mixed bag. The production design and special effects are commendable, effectively creating a believable world inhabited by androids. The sleek and futuristic aesthetic adds to the film’s overall ambiance. However, the cinematography feels unremarkable, lacking the creative flair that could have elevated the visual experience.
All in all, Robots falls short of its potential due to various shortcomings. Shailene Woodley and Jack Whitehall’s performances, while adequate, fail to establish a convincing connection between their characters. The humor ranges from enjoyable to cringe-worthy, lacking consistency throughout. The film’s attempts at making political statements feel forced, detracting from the central romantic plotline.
The narrative suffers from a lack of coherence, making it difficult to fully engage with the story. While the visual aspects are noteworthy, they are not enough to salvage an overall mediocre experience. All things considered, Robots fails to rise above its flaws and falls flat as a memorable or impactful film. It could’ve been an impressively funny story of two robots falling in love and how different their romance is from a human being’s romance, but too many things got in the way of that story coming into fruition.
It’s one of those movies where you may end up putting it on in the background while you’re doing some household chores such as vacuuming the living room or tidying up the kitchen, and that’s not a good thing, especially for a movie that’s desperately trying to prove it’s not as artificially manufactured as it sadly ended up being.
Robots is currently playing in select theaters courtesy of Neon. The film is also available On Demand.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-QlB-CCozc]
All in all, Robots falls short of its potential due to various shortcomings. Shailene Woodley and Jack Whitehall's performances, while adequate, fail to establish a convincing connection between their characters.
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