Big names don't necessarily make a big blockbuster.
"Robots" is the newest "children's cartoon that is fun for adults," due in theaters Friday.
Besides a few funny moments from Robin Williams (which were all revealed in the trailers), "Robots" is the usual storyline that has been seen a hundred times.
Director Chris Wedge offers a lot of big names -- including Williams, Halle Berry and Ewan McGregor -- but that's about it.
With actors of this caliber, I would expect a great film with a healthy mix of comedy, action and a little robot-on-robot action, but the comedy is immature, the action is in sparse and the robot-on-robot goes no further than a hug.
Even Drew Carey and Mel Brooks didn't spice things up.
The story takes place in Rivet Town, a small robot city that doesn't see much excitement. It begins with Herb Copperbottom (Stanley Tucci), a dishwasher robot expecting a son ... meaning he and his wife have just ordered one through the mail.
Just like humans, the robots age, but are upgraded mechanically -- no acne or voice changes involved.
As little Rodney Copperbottom (Ewan McGregor) grows, much of his learning is done in front of the television. Herb and Rodney enjoy watching an invention program that features a big round robot named Big Weld (Mel Brooks). This interests Rodney and he begins inventing different things that can be useful in everyday life.
When Rodney is old enough, he is faced with the reality that his family is falling apart (literally). To save his father, whose parts are getting old, Rodney decides to go to Robot City and make something of himself through his inventions.
When he arrives, he finds that Big Weld has been kicked out of his company by Ratchet (Greg Kinnear), who is trying to eliminate extra parts in a scheme to make all old robots have to buy expensive upgrades to survive.
After running into Fender (Robin Williams) and his gang of friends, Rodney decides to help Big Weld take back the company and get rid of the evil Ratchet before his father and friends are made into scrap metal.
"Robots" had a few moments that made me laugh (not out loud, but to myself), but overall I could have simply seen the trailers and that would have satisfied me.
The one scene that stuck out involved Rodney with his newfound friends making farting noises with their armpits. During everyone's good clean fun, Aunt Fanny (Jennifer Coolidge) lets one rip that literally shakes the house and ends up killing a passing robot. Of course, you're probably thinking the same thing I did: "How does a robot fart?" You'll have to see for yourself.
You could take a kid to see this movie and he would like it, but I probably will never see it again. All in all, I give "Robots" two and a half pitchforks out of five.
Reach the reporter at Brian.Kirshman@asu.edu.
