Review of Robot & Frank (2012) by Timo E — 20 Aug 2016

One of those films whereby you only realise how clever and touching this storyline was after it has ended. At the time, it's quite a slow moving tale involving just Frank and the robot, with limited interaction with others (even if they are stars like Susan Sarandon and Liv Tyler).

Frank is an older man suffering from memory loss, loneliness and also a degree of stubbornness, refusing to accept that he is becoming weaker, and physically less able to do the things he used to. With his family too busy to care for him full time due to their high profile careers, they enlist the help of a multi-purpose robot who is capable of performing all household chores as well as possessing the intellectual capacity to guide Frank into living a more healthier lifestyle.

With no concept of morals or legal obligations, Frank soon establishes that the robot can be used to aid him in his former addiction to cat burglary, and the two soon form a grand partnership in petty crime.

Before too long though, the strangely warming relationship between the two becomes unbreakable with Frank eventually having to make a tough decision that will change his life forever. The concluding scenes give an added twist to this that contrary to my beliefs at the start of this film, delivers a strong emotional message, that for some, could bear a striking resemblance to everyday family life.

It is the perfect blend of comedy and tragedy that combine together to give a well constructed film about reality. This will undoubtedly be appreciated more by some than others given its sense of direction, but despite not being the typical spectacle I would normally go for, I came away fully respectful of the 90 minutes entertainment I had witnessed.