Review of Robot & Frank (2012) by The Movie W — 06 Feb 2013

Frank (Langella) is an aging burglar suffering the onset of senility. Worried about him being left alone, his son (Marsden) presents him with a robot to help with household chores and look after Frank's general health. When Frank discovers the robot hasn't been programmed with any sort of moral code, he realizes it may be the ideal partner in crime to rejuvenate his criminal career.

If it were 1986, the plot of 'Robot & Frank' wouldn't seem remotely out of place. In 2013, however, cinema tends to take itself far too seriously for a movie which plays like a melding of 'Short Circuit' and 'On Golden Pond'. Well too bad on 2013 because we need more movies with the simple charm of this one. Despite the ridiculousness of the plot, Langella is a good enough actor to sell it. The scenes between himself and his robotic companion (voiced by Sarsgaard) have a genuine warmth. It may be set in the near future, but 'Robot & Frank' recalls the near past of the eighties with its innocent charm.