Back in 1950, novelist Isaac Asimov wrote a seminal sci-fi work, "I, Robot." It consisted of a series of short stories detailing a world where humans and robots coexisted and the latter operated under a preset series of laws that prevented them from harming or allowing harm to occur to their human counterparts.
A heady, intelligent and acclaimed, cautionary tale, it still stands up rather well in today's more heavily automated world. Not surprisingly, it drew the attention of Hollywood that's finally gotten around to making a big summer movie attraction of it, the appropriately titled, "I, Robot."
Those looking for a literal adaptation of the work may just be disappointed in this big budget, special-effects laden blockbuster. Yet at least the third film of 2004 to use the title of a well-known work but jettison and/or replace much of the substance, this film only offers bits and pieces of Asimov's original work and thinking.
That said and aside, the question that remains is whether the film works as is. While the answer will likely vary among viewers, I found that most of it did, sometimes spectacularly so. And that's thanks to a decent if altered premise, terrific special effects and superb production design, plenty of well-executed action and, more importantly, the presence of and performance by one Will Smith.
While the part isn't much of a stretch for him by any sense of the imagination -- as he's done the physical action meets sardonic cop bit before -- he works terrifically in it. Portraying equal parts toughness, frustration, suspicion, vulnerability, humor and can-do perseverance, Smith (the "Bad Boys" and "Men in Black" films) is positively magnetic on the screen and easily carries the film on his buff and surprisingly pumped up shoulders (those who may have missed his recent films and only remember him as the lanky Fresh Prince will be quite shocked).
In short, the film is a basic cop investigates suspicious death story, albeit one set in the future where the chief suspect is a robot with a surprising and some may say troubling sense of self-being. The underlying elements -- the loner cop that nobody believes, the perturbed boss who has to take his badge, the female sidekick, etc. -- obviously aren't novel as they've populated many a cop-based drama/action flick over the years.
And with the cautionary elements regarding the "relationship" between humans and robots pre-dating but coming after the likes of "A.I.," the "Terminator" films, "2001," "Blade Runner" and more at the cinema, even that angle won't seem particularly original to viewers.
Yet, there's just something about the way writers Jeff Vintar ("Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within") and Akiva Goldsman ("A Beautiful Mind," "Lost in Space") have adapted Asimov's work, director Alex Proyas ("Dark City," "The Crow") has envisioned it and the way the cast plays their characters that brings it all together and makes it feel somewhat fresh. It's certainly action-packed, funny at times, thought-provoking at others, and overall quite entertaining to behold.
Joining Smith is Bridget Moynahan ("The Recruit," "The Sum of All Fears") who plays the insider/sidekick part and does her absolute best at imitating Sandra Bullock in similar parts in the past. I say that in the nicest way as she's otherwise fine in the part (but you'll swear you're watching Bullock's younger sister).
Chi McBride ("The Terminal," "Undercover Brother") plays the standard-issue cop boss and Bruce Greenwood ("The Core," "Thirteen Days") embodies the obligatory CEO villain, while James Cromwell ("The Sum of All Fears," "Babe") can't do much as his character is operating -- in a preprogrammed fashion -- from beyond the grave.
Kudos should go to Alan Tudyk ("Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story," "A Knight's Tale") who voices Sonny the robot and whose body was used to pattern the robot's body movements. While the character purposefully isn't as fleshed out as Andy Serkis' Gollum in the "Lord of the Rings" films, it's still a fascinating and captivating creation.
Of course, much of that also due to the splendid special effects work that populates and occasionally dominates the offering. It isn't effects overkill, although you can't help but imagine the programming geeks sitting around and grinning from ear to ear about what they've created.
While the film isn't perfect -- due to too many familiar and/or recycled elements -- and will likely disappoint Asimov purists, "I Robot" otherwise delivers the right combination of elements to make it a rather entertaining and occasionally enthralling experience. It rates as a 7 out of 10.
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