I saw trailers for Robot
& Frank close to a year ago and the movie was released in America
last August but only arrived on our shores this month. I saw it on a recent
flight the same week it came out in UK cinemas. I was intrigued by the
premise and have a thing for Science Fiction movies set in the near future. I
was also annoyed at having to wait such a long time to see the movie when there
seems no reason for such a long delay between US and UK release dates. Now I’ve finally
seen the movie all my excitement was unnecessary. While occasionally
interesting and often funny, the movie loses its way by the half way mark and I
lost interest soon after.
The plot revolves around a retired jewel thief called Frank
(Frank Langella) who is suffering from the early stages of dementia. His days
are filled with pottering about his house and involve daily trips to his ageing
library in which he is pretty much the only patron. It is at the library that
he maintains his one and only friendship with Librarian Jennifer (Susan
Sarandon). Frank receives weekly visits from his successful son Hunter (James
Marsden) who decides to buy his father a robot butler/companion to ease his
chores and help to keep his memory in check. Frank initially rejects the robot
but soon learns it might help him pull off one final job.
