Starring: Frank Langella, James Marsden, Liv Tyler, Susan Sarandon
Director: Jake Schreier
Running time: 89 minutes
Released by: Momentum Pictures
Out: 8th March.
There used to be a time when you couldn't enter a cinema or multiplex without tripping over films positively salivating over the teenage demographic. That's still relatively true, however one can't but notice the likes of several recent films that have un-apologetically aimed at the older audience. Last year's The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was a mature ensemble delight and we've recently had Song for Marion, the Oscar-nominated Amour - none of which will take nearly as much money as Die Hard, but are infinitely better.
Now we're given the charming story of Robot & Frank, which one might argue also falls into the science-fiction category - but only in the pure sense that small drops of fantasy sometimes go a long way to flavouring what are actually parables about everyday life.
Set around two decades in the future, Langella is Frank, an irascible octogenarian who likes living alone in his rural home, partly through his own choice. Unlike the new owners of a nearby library building that is soon to be torn down, down-sized and turned into a download, he cares little for the 'modern' conveniences that put pragmatism in the way of capable old-school charm. But like the books that will soon be gone, the world has less and less time for him. His daughter Madison ( Liv Tyler) is off travelling the world, philanthropically helping the less fortunate and hugging trees. His son Hunter (James Marsden) is a busy businessman with a more fast-lane lifestyle. Both of Frank's kids love him from afar as he keeps them at a tolerant arms length. However both have begun to notice that their father is becoming forgetful, disorientated and whether he wants help or not, he may be getting to the point where he needs it. So Hunter makes what he knows will be an unwelcome compromise and turns up with a new companion for Frank...'Robot', a small mechanical 'man' who can help around the house and keep Frank on the straight and narrow. Naturally, this doesn't meet with Frank's approval but he has little choice - it's this or a nursing home. But if Robot is going to prove himself REALLY useful, then Frank decides hell utilise all the benefits that his new companion has to offer - including its analytical mind. After all, why shouldn't a retired cat-burglar use this new tool for one last job? Or maybe two?
This bittersweet story of friendship, relationships and subversion is an absolute delight for most of its running time. A subtle tale that puts the 'AI' in a reversed Driving Miss Daisy-esque outing, it is both grounded in reality by the core of its subject-matter, but given wings by a whimsical script and excellent performances - giving it a touch of tempered wish-fulfillment as well as genuine pathos.
Robot is infused with a tolerant 'personality', but one that never strays into a too-human variety or Short Circuit/C3PO territory. Though wonderfully voiced by Peter Sarsgaard and excellently performed by Rachael Ma, there's no denying this is an artificial construct, in many ways no more 'alive' than an expensive Christmas toy and only one step removed from the Japanese advancements you see on today's science-programs. Yet it's place in Frank's life seems all too human and there's a real delight in its modern logic being subverted into becoming a sidekick to Frank's dubious plans.
Langella has always been a great actor raising even minor roles to greater heights and here he gets to play an understated role but one for which he immediately gets under the skin - a man who's had a colourful life and afraid of losing those pigments too soon. Susan Sarandon, as Jennifer, the woman who runs the soon-to-be-downsized library is also excellent, especially as her character's involvement develops towards the end of the film. Jeremy Sisto as the trying-to-be-tolerant local cop and Jeremy Strong as Frank's almost begging-to-be-burgled, vapid hipster-yuppy neighbour are also fun.
With many films, you can guess the 'third act' or see the preceding story ruined by a bad ending. The nice thing about the film is that there are some genuine surprises to be had along the way and that though you begin to enjoy the 'caper' side of the story as much as the various relationships and friendships that permeate the tale, you're not sure how you want it all to end. Frank is a wonderfully weathered underdog for whom you can't help rooting throughout, but equally his children's concerns are honest, well-intentioned and valid. The question is not so much what will happen, but what IS the best outcome?
A story of mechanics and melancholia, fate and fickleness, this is the anti-Terminator. It may not be flawless - some may consider it lightweight, though I'd argue it's got more weight than expected - but it is also quite charming, different and for a film about the passing of time, ironically somewhat perfectly-timed to echo past its compact 89 minute running length...
9/10
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