Legacy intact, animation solid as anything from this period and, sincerely, adapting well to the nostalgia trip it injects, Robots is a masterpiece. Truly. It is as incredibly fun and lucid an experience as the all-time greats of animated works. Director Chris Wedge surely did not set out to make a long-lasting piece of entertainment, drawing up the fine line between enjoyable for youngsters and interesting for parents. But here it is. Robots is a masterpiece. There is far too much for Robots to consider what it actively and passively hopes to muse on. A wry smile is inevitable when suggesting that this Ewan McGregor-starring piece is a well-rounded commentary on class division and the pursuit of happiness in the face of the rat race.
Ominous fear from the Chop Shop, outmoded robots fighting for survival against sweepers out on the prowl for those deemed enemies of higher-up corporations. Robots’ genuine commitment to that as a storyline and in making it accessible to youngsters needing a shot of optimism is incredible. Perseverance in the face of undeniable odds. Robots’ storyline relies on its impressive ensemble, from the villainously brilliant pairing of Jim Broadbent and Greg Kinnear to the range of talents brought to the vocal arena by Robin Williams. Leading man Ewan McGregor moulds that post-Star Wars fame to his advantage. Robots crams far too much into its running time, the gluttony of set pieces and assorted big action moments run through with a thick and fast brilliance that utilises the animation well.
Every moment feels big and active. Some moments are a little weaker, but they are the brief strokes that lack detail in the foreground. Comparing the realism of Bigweld (Mel Brooks) with the big ideas that are severed from reality, the “foolish trade” gifted to Rodney Copperbottom (McGregor), is a great example for impressionable audiences. Truly amazing how emotionally drawn and developed a feature consisting solely of metallic clangers is touching. Stanley Tucci’s supporting role as a father encouraging his son to fight against the tide of a fading dream is wonderful. Robots relies on some excellent writing that patches up the sometimes poor quality jokes. McGregor and Brooks mark some excellent work together, a pair of performances that understand not just the importance of strong role models, but the continuing belief in those that mean the most to inspired individuals.
Sneaking in one of the few successful fart jokes into a feature where Terry Wogan plays the role of Kinnear’s father, only spotted in scenes before and after a Britney Spears dance number, Robots is a fever dream come to life. In a good way, too. There is a sincerity to it that few children’s features that followed ever managed to grasp. Entertaining, consistently flawless and wholeheartedly perfect. Dastardly plans, a fleshed-out world for characters and however much of that is blinded by nostalgia is inconsequential to the feeling of a feature film. Emotional attachment comes to the strangest and most blindsided of features, and the beautifully scored, powerful work found in Robots is no exception to that rule. Far smarter, much better, and way stronger than most of the animated genre this century.
