ROBOTS

2005, Twentieth Century Fox

Animated

Rating: G

Approx. 91 mins.

THE STORY:

Rodney Copperbottom (Ewan McGregor) is a young robot with the will and talent to be an inventor. He leaves his small town and loving family to join the firm of his hero, Bigweld (Mel Brooks), whose doors are always open to ideas. When Rodney arrives, however, Bigweld is nowhere to be found and, under the directorship of the callous Ratchet (Greg Kinnear), Bigweld Industries has become entirely profit-driven. Rodney is befriended by a motley band of robots (Robin Williams, Drew Carey, Amanda Bynes, Jennifer Coolidge) and ends up becoming a much needed robot repair man. Following some entertaining adventures, the group restores order to Bigweld Industries and all robots.

QUESTIONABLE LANGUAGE: 

• fart
• fanny
• idiot
• crap

VIOLENCE:

• some inter-robot fighting, nothing notable

TEACHING POINTS:

• The best gifts you can give are not material
• You don’t have to change/ be new to be better, you just have to be the best you

THE UPSHOT:

Robots pits the idea that “You can shine, no matter what you’re made of” against the suggestion, “Why be you when you can be new?” This is a very relevant theme given current cultural trends. In addition, although the story is unapologetically moralistic, the delivery is not cloying and does not overshadow the entertainment aspect.

Visually, the world these robots inhabit is stunningly imaginative and beautiful. The animation is flawless and the voices are a perfect fit. On top of that, the dialogue is clever and funny, and the parent-friendly cultural references are plentiful. The “Aunt Fanny’s Tour of Booty” mini movie included in the extras was also a hit. Highly recommended.

4/5