Movie Review – Robot & Frank

A fair new world

One of the biggest let downs of a Sci-Fi movie, especially the ones which deals with the robots are, it trying to humanize them. It’s as if like it’s a compulsion like how characters interchange in a double action film. What ‘Robot & Frank’ does exceedingly well is that it doesn’t fall into that trap. The Robot remains robot and humans are human. It’s a world where they both coexist and the Robots look part of environment. That’s the most organic way of making a Sci-Fi movie, where nothing looks superficial. With just that one thing done right, the film feels, for the sake of better word ‘proper’.

The initial vibes of the film were like that of ‘Android Kunjappan Ver 5.25’ so I was ready to be disappointed. It’s always the first film which you watch works. Plus as it was an Indian film, we obviously would connect with it better but ‘Robot & Frank’ took me by surprise. Except for the fact that both the films had a robot and an old man, there wasn’t anything in common. In case if ‘Android Kunjappan Ver 5.25’ had really been inspired from ‘Robot & Frank’, it had to be appreciated for taking an idea and superbly making it rooted.

‘Robot & Frank’ starts with an irritable old man Frank Weld (Frank Langella) with losing memory trying to live life his way. His son who wants to “help” him, gives a robot. Initially they don’t gel well but he understands that the Robot doesn’t have any feelings and that makes them a team. The dehumanizing part that I talked about earlier, it was taken so seriously that even the robot doesn’t have a name and how often does it happen. Even the title which I found to be quite ordinary, was actually an intelligent one because it talks about two individuals who are like equals and nothing special about anyone. That was classic.

Another beautiful thing about the film was that the characters were so real and not really lovable. They’re humans with varied emotions. A sort of disoriented family but that doesn’t really spurt out as something odd. They’re not judged for what they are. That’s how true the writing was. Even the twist when he knows about his wife, works. It takes you by surprise but there is no grandeur to it. In fact, it’s how the entire movie evolves.

For a movie like this, eventually it’s the chemistry between the lead characters or the bromance, is what really matters. It was not overdone and feels just about right. There were a couple of scenes in the movie where the Robot takes advantage. First, trying to guilt trip him and the final one where it tries to make him erase his memory. Even though the Robot was not humanized, it makes you fall for it. You can’t help but get attached to it. Finally when the Frank switches off the robot, it ends up in a hugging position, oh what a great moment it was.

Even though Frank doesn’t really come out as a nice guy. He appears to be an original. Someone whom we vouch for despite knowing the fact that he’s not morally right. Its characters like these who feel real. He doesn’t shy away from shooing off his daughter, who wants to again “help” him like his brother. Normally in any other film, this self-love would have been either glorified or showcased as something villainous, here it’s happens matter of factly.

Also he being a burglar or may be a kleptomaniac, he plays the tricks well and makes his character lovable. It’s not a traditional Anthony Hopkins type of movie which gives you a great high but something which you want to shout out loud but you can’t, because of the way it was treated. There was a specific scene where the police comes to check on him due to the burglary and he acts so cool. That could have been easily made a mass scene with a strong BGM but it doesn’t, it appears to be so casual and ends up being uber cool.