Robots
Year: 2005
Rating: PG
Length: 91 minutes / 1.52 hours
There’s something about movies like Robots (2005) that still holds true over twenty years later. I am of course referring to corporations trying to squeeze as much money out of people as possible being the clear villains of the story. Like A Bug’s Life (1998) before it, the rag-tag group of underdogs can come together to defeat those who are extracting immense value from the lower half of society. Unfortunately, as movies like this are aimed at children, you have to put up with tons of fart jokes before you can get to their revolutionary message.
While Robots never gained the extended franchise like Ice Age (2002) did (gee, I wonder why?), its message is something that kids need to hear. It highlights the innovative spirit and lets them know we shouldn’t “throw out” people from society because they might be a little weird or different. Additionally, the earlier they can learn about how companies use planned obsolescence and subscription models to pull money regularly from those who need it the most, the better chance they might have to stand up against it when they reach adulthood.
The only problem with Robots in these modern times mostly has to do with how the gender-based jokes don’t land well anymore—if they even landed well in 2005. As was standard for animated films, it’s chock-full of celebrities trying to be voice actors. It works for some (like Robin Williams, as per usual), but others are just kind of there, reciting their lines. On the plus side, the details on these robots stand up well as the animators paid attention to all the little bits moving together and the wear and tear that extended use would make on exteriors.
A fantastic lesson for children about corporate greed with too many fart jokes, I give Robots 3.5 stars out of 5.
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