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by Willie Waffle

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Robots

Every commercial and trailer for Robots made me and my friends think the movie would be stupid and juvenile. It turns out only Robin Williams is stupid and juvenile. The rest of Robots is a cute, funny, heartwarming movie with great visual effects.

In a world inhabited by robots, Ewan McGregor stars as Rodney Copperbottom - a young, idealistic inventor who wants to go to Robot City and work for his hero, Bigweld (Mel Brooks). However, the slick, evil Phineas T. Ratchet (Greg Kinnear) has taken over the company, driven Bigweld away, and has implemented a dastardly plan to make even more money. He has ordered the company to stop making replacement parts, so only expensive upgrades will be available. If a robot can't afford an upgrade, they're off to the scrap iron plant run by Phineas' mother, Madame Gasket (Jim Broadbent).

Can Rodney and his new friends find Bigweld and stop Phineas and his mother?

Before the Robin Williams fan club starts sending me nasty e-mails, you have to understand I think Williams is doing his job in Robots. Director Chris Wedge obviously wants Williams to do the wacky, childish humor that will make kids and most adults laugh, and he's great at that. Not every joke hits the mark, but 90% do because Williams is one of the great comedic talents of our time combined with amazing acting ability. However, while Williams' intentionally childish antics will get people into the theater, what you see on the screen, combined with the story's theme, is what makes Robots special.

Writers Babaloo Mandel and Lowell Ganz infuse Robots with the belief we all count. In a world dominated by beauty and money, Mandel, Ganz and Wedge repeatedly use this movie to show how the outcasts, the poor, the nerds and more all make a contribution and have the ability to do something important whether it be as obvious as saving the world to as quiet as being a good and inspirational parent. On top of the great message, they bring us plenty of hilarious jokes about robots acting like humans, with a twist. We see the young Copperbottom putting on his training wheels (to learn how to walk, not ride a bike), dealing with embarrassing hand me downs (robot parts that don't quite fit right, and are not in style), and many other examples that will have you laughing in recognition of moments from your youth.

Mandel, Ganz and Wedge don't spend much time analyzing characters, parental influences or motivations, so the story is fairly simple, but what do you expect from a movie trying to get small children into the theater? Robots sacrifices some depth, but makes up for it by becoming a visually engaging movie. You will see some amazing visual effects including the travels and chases through a detailed futuristic-like city that make you feel like you're flying through the air with the characters. Rodney, Ratchet, Bigweld, Cappy (Halle Berry) and the rest of the robots come to life with great animated features and diverse personalities, which plays into the idea these robots are alive. Of course, the actors help make that happen.

With all of the big name talent (McGregor, Berry, Williams, Kinnear, Paul Giamatti), it's Stanley Tucci who gives the best performance. As Rodney's father, Herb, Tucci brings great warmth and caring in his voice, like a real father. This helps cement the central relationship between Rodney and Herb, which drives every aspect of the movie.

Robots further establishes 20th Century Fox as a major player in the animated film genre.

3 ½ Waffles (Out of 4)

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