Cast: Will Smith, Bridget Moynahan, Alan Tudyk, Chi McBride
Director: Alex Proyas

Frighteningly Realistic Robot Revolution

By Mary-Ann Russon • UrbanWire

"The Three Laws of Robotics"

1. A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm.

2. A robot must obey orders given it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law.

3. A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

- I, Robot by Isaac Asimov, 1939

It is the year 2035, and mass-produced robots have become indispensable. We trust them with everything - domestic tasks, the care of our children, even our lives. Such physical power and responsibility would be threatening, if not for the 3 Laws of Robotics being hardwired into every robot's brain, to give us the illusion of being in a circle of protection.

However, 1 man has always been suspicious of robots. Detective Del Spooner (Will Smith) lives in the past. In a world where everything is automated, Spooner would rather drive his own car, wear vintage clothing more than 30 years out of style, and avoid over-dependence on technology. This makes him the perfect detective for the job when an old friend Dr Alfred Lanning (James Cromwell), the technical genius of U.S. Robotics, dies under suspicious circumstances.

U.S. Robotics is just about to embark on a massive distribution of their latest robot model - the NS-5 Automated Domestic Assistant - which will triple the number of robots in the United States so that there will soon be 1 robot to every 5 humans. As this distribution will make U.S. Robotics the most powerful company in the world, the corporate head of U.S. Robotics, Lawrence Robertson (Bruce Greenwood), would rather the matter be cleared up quickly. Although the police accept Dr Lanning's death as a suicide, Spooner is certain Dr Lanning has been murdered by 1 of his own robots, especially when he discovers an NS-5 hiding at the scene of the crime.

However, no one is willing to believe that Spooner might be right. Dr Susan Calvin (Bridget Moynahan), a robot psychologist working at U.S. Robotics, assures Spooner that all NS-5s are "3 Laws Safe" - and hence above suspicion. Even Spooner's boss Lt John Bergin (Chi McBride) ignores the truth although a series of near-fatal "accidents" keep happening to Spooner.

But when things increasingly do not add up, with the NS-5 accused exhibiting unusual behaviour completely unheard of in a robot, Dr Calvin reluctantly joins forces with Spooner. Sonny (yes, he even has a name!), played by Alan Tudyk, experiences real emotions and dreams, and is unable to understand whether he is a robot or a human.

Following a trail of clues left by Dr Lanning, Calvin and Spooner discover that there is something bigger afoot than his murder, and that the robot Sonny holds the key to the mystery.

Inspired by a short story written by science fiction genius Isaac Asimov as many as 65 years ago, I, Robot is a timeless gem not only because of the visionary genius of Asimov, but because it focuses on the core ethical question arising from artificial intelligence - if you create a being that can function as well as a human being, with motor skills, logic and reasoning (basically a brain), what position should this being hold in society? Who is to say that an artificially intelligent being should not have the same rights that humans have?

If you think the 3 Laws of Robotics sounds familiar, you'd be right. The theory was also mentioned in Chris Columbus' 1999 film Bicentennial Man (also based on a book by Isaac Asimov), which starred Robin Williams as a robot who asks that same question and in answering it, makes the transition from machine to man in 200 years. Other films have also addressed this question, the most recent being Steven Spielberg's 2001 film A.I. Artificial Intelligence, which was overly-sappy, and consisted of messy, mixed up themes and a seemingly endless storyline.

Set only 31 years from now, I Robot is a frighteningly realistic example of what could happen to us if we are to place too much reliance on artificial technology. A good deal less sappy than Bicentennial Man (which tugged a lot of heartstrings), this fast-paced, thrilling murder mystery cum futuristic action movie is likely to appeal to viewers on many different levels, thanks to The Crow director Alex Proyas.

Although the period in which the film is set is slightly unrealistic, as the world will not have changed as much as seems to have in 31 years, I, Robot has many elements that make for a great movie - an intriguing, well-paced mystery that has a terrific twist and plenty of narrow-escape action. This shouldn't come as too much of a surprise since it was scripted by Akiva Goldsman, who won an Oscar for writing A Beautiful Mind, and Jeff Vintar. And of course, there is lots of room for product placement in this film. Will Smith wears "Vintage Converse 2004" sneakers, listens to a top-of-the-line JVC stereo system and drives a speedy Audi.

The characters in this film are very strong too. Will Smith (Bad Boys II, Independence Day, Men In Black) is perfect as the sceptical homicide detective, with his incredibly funny, well-timed wit, shown particularly in the memorable line, "I'm allergic to bullshit", that he uses when the head of U.S. Robotics tries to convince him that there is no conspiracy going on. Alan Tudyk (Ice Age, Hearts In Atlantis) pulls off a touching performance as the naive Sonny, who though outwardly seems like a sterile machine, emanates a gentle strength and intelligence, making him very likable. Bridget Moynahan's (The Sum of All Fears, The Recruit) cool logic is the perfect contrast to Will Smith's gung-ho "let's get 'em" persona, and coincidentally, this trait of hers and her looks result in a strong resemblance to Embeth Davidtz, the leading lady of Bicentennial Man.

The special effects in this film are also spectacular, and no wonder, as 1 of the firms hired to produce I, Robot's CG is none other than Weta Digital, New Zealand director Peter Jackson's company, which was behind The Lord Of The Rings trilogy. However, although the action sequences in this film are well choreographed and dazzling to watch, there are a couple of sequences which seem to be completely ripped off from The Matrix trilogy, for example the sequence when Neo jumps into the air from his motorcycle and fires straight ahead with 2 pistols.

All in all a most enjoyable film, I, Robot takes you on a thrilling ride to a future that seems so unlike our own, yet bears so many scary similarities.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars