“I, Robot” (2004)

I, Robot

Grade: B-

I Robot is built on interesting concepts and ideas, but only bothers to explore them on a surface level. It’s an action film pretending to be a thought-provoking drama, opting for big-budget spectacle rather than cerebral sci-fi. Even though there are enough cheap thrills here to satisfy fans of director Alex Proyas and actor Will Smith, I, Robot is as artificial as its title, which was probably inspired by Steve Jobs rather than Isaac Asimov.

Directing:

In 1998, Alex Proyas directed Dark City, one of the most original and thought-provoking science-fiction films ever made. But that’s both a blessing and a curse: none of his following endeavors have ever lived up to it. At times, I, Robot has the glossy look and feel of Steven Spielberg’s A.I. Artificial Intelligence (2001) and Minority Report (2002), a clean and bright sense of style that positions Proyas as the sci-fi visionary he should’ve been. Elsewhere, however, the film echoes Disney’s Haunted Mansion (1998), with cheesy production values that chart a different career trajectory.

Nevertheless, I won’t say I, Robot is a total failure, at least on a technical level. Even if the futuristic setting isn’t all that imaginative and the robot designs are laughably crude, the film’s action sequences are well put together. If nothing else, Proyas knows how to craft chilling suspense. His preternatural talent still shines through.

Acting:

Will Smith is one-note as Detective Spooner. In fact, the performance is so one-note that I originally thought that he was going to be revealed as a robot himself. But since I, Robot favors Independence Day (1996) over Blade Runner (1982), don’t expect any emotional nuance. Smith brings his trademark swagger to the role, but Proyas is unable to prop him up with any element of romance or comedy. It’s a mismatch of acting/directing.

Ironically, the best character is Sonny the robot, voiced by Alan Tudyk (of Steve “The Pirate” fame), who imbues real soul into a cheap-looking hunk of metal. If only this film had a heart.

Writing:

Based on the works of Isaac Asimov, I, Robot touches on themes of freewill and the nature of humanity, but never delves deep into these thought-provoking concepts. That’s a shame, as I was hoping the film would explore philosophical questions instead of focusing all its energy on a manufactured murder mystery. I, Robot lacks feeling, which means the characters aren’t relatable, which in turn means the mystery is rendered moot. The plot offers occasional fun in the moment but is entirely forgettable once the credits roll.

Music:

Marco Beltrami’s orchestral score — full of fast-paced ostinatos and pulsating brass blasts — fits in well with the chase scenes and choreographed fights, but that’s just another indictment on Proyas’ cinematic vision. It’s a good soundtrack that underlies what I, Robot unfortunately is: an action movie masquerading as an intellectual one.

Ending (SPOILERS):

I had trouble following the murder mystery storyline at times, so I had to rewatch a couple scenes until I fully understood what was going on. What I gathered was this: I, Robot is a film with no “real” antagonist; the Operating System itself was the actual “bad guy.” In a sense, this removes all stakes from the film and most of its rewatch value. Is it pro- or anti-technology? I, Robot is surprisingly limited in scope.

At the very least, the prophetic final shot of Sonny standing on a hill, filled with purpose, is quite poetic. It implies that he is more than just a robot after all. He deserves a happy ending, as he’s the only character who possesses any real emotion. As for the rest of the characters, who gives a shit.

“Technically I was never alive, but I appreciate your concern.” – Sonny

Why I, Robot gets a B-

Forgettable, mediocre, generic sci-fi à la Kosinski’s Oblivion (2013), Blomkamp’s Elysium (2013) and Wiseman’s Total Recall remake (2012).

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