Review of Robot & Frank (2012) by Anna B — 05 May 2013

It's a good looking movie, and I was interested in how technology can help the elderly in the future, as well as a family dealing with Alzheimer's/dementia. My main issue with the film was Frank himself.

Not the actor, he was fine, but the character. He's manipulative, he lies, he steals. It doesn't help that the person he steals from is Straw Man Yuppy Scum whom we're supposed to hate. I just never bought that Frank was delivering any sort of justice, though to be fair I don't think the movie was trying to say that.

It was just trying to soften the blow by saying: look, they're despicable, so it's OK to steal their stuff. Also, I don't feel that the film resolves the theft issue at all. Yes, the father goes to a home where he can be looked after.

Yes, technology is helpful. Yes, his family can now spend more time together with him and he's getting the help he needs. But the fact that the diamonds are buried in the garden isn't cute. The fact that he tells his kids where the diamonds are isn't quirky.

To me his actions just mean that he has no regrets, and since he's probably not mentally fit to stand trial, there will be no consequences. His disease does complicate matters -- how much is this behavior exacerbated by his deteriorating memory is hard to say.

The movie takes a small step in that direction by revealing his wife and mentioning the fact that he keeps thinking his son is still in college. This could mean that Frank has reverted to the thief mindset, but it could be completely irrelevant.

I feel like this movie could've used maybe 10 more minutes exploring that aspect of the story.