Review of I, Robot (2004) by Shawn S — 17 Dec 2013

I, Robot was one of those films my school played repeatedly throughout the years on days when they couldn't be bothered educating students. Either that or it would play out in every TV store to show the impressive visual qualities of the televisions on the market. Either way I never actually made it all the way through I, Robot and I figured it was time to try again.

I, Robot consists of a problematic plot, which I remember being one of the reasons I could never sit through it. It deviates far from its source material and becomes a complicated story with a lot of improbable dynamics, particularly the ending which is all heavily focused on referencing Hansel and Gretel so much that it completely ignores the logical improbabilities of its story. That, and the way the story keeps on asking questions but doesn't answer enough of them. I, Robot is more about making viewers have a viewing experience than a thinking one, but the fact that it keeps raising questions makes it misleadingly seem like it's going to be a lot more intelligent than it is. If it was really intelligent it would know to answer questions instead of just asking them, but unlike Bruce Campbell I, Robot does not have all the answers. Just all the questions.

I, Robot also capitalises on Will Smith's heroic fame and comedic tendencies, but it doesn't really supply him with a script that has anything more than flat jokes and half-assed attempts at intelligent dialogue which only ever comes to life because of Will Smith's natural charisma as an actor. Coming from everyone else, the dialogue is bland and lifeless, and none of them have tenacity as actors. They all just kneel in Will Smith's shadow.

Lastly, I, Robot sets up a lot of plot dynamics which it never really does anything with, such as a huge battle between humanity and robots which happens for a few seconds and is the completely over and forgotten. Since that was never intended to happen in the plot, why the filmmakers would tease us with a scene foreshadowing that it would befuddles and disappoints me.

And although the action scenes are entertaining, they're practically routine for science fiction action films of the modern day. There isn't much creativity in them, and with all the visual effects on board and used to excess in the action scenes as well as the chase scene, I, Robot has the action of a video game. Although it's somewhat appealing and better video game grade action than the standard film, it's still unimpressive. It seems like by this point director Alex Troya who could have created a Blade Runner-esq piece made just another Will Smith vehicle, and it's not much of an impressive one at all. There isn't any mystery or thrills, just action and a lot of pretty looking visuals. He just doesn't really do much at all to the story, and so what it has to boast only really comes on a technical level.

But it does have some strong technicals. It's visual effects are impressive, as is it's convincing production design which assist in building the image-based science fiction atmosphere that the story develops from, even though it doesn't develop far or bring anything new to the table. But it's action is mostly entertaining, even though it could have used more and could have been filmed better.

And of course, Will Smith is a powerful lead. Building on his brilliance for comedic timing and talent for delivering lines that really feel like they're coming from a real character, Will Smith has all the necessary charisma to pass as a strong lead. Even though it feels routine by this point, Will Smith's performance and genial presence prove to be a benefit to I, Robot as he fits the context of the hero perfectly.

But aside from dazzling visuals and Will Smith, I, Robot brings nothing new to the table because it spends more time asking questions than it does answering them.