Robot and Frank (2012) – In the “near future”, a retired burglar faces two unpleasant realities. The steady encroachment of technology and his declining mental status. When his son gives him a medical attendant robot, it seems his two worst nightmares have merged. Instead, it gives him a new lease on his old life.
Directed by Jake Schreier Starring Frank Langella, Susan Sarandon, Liv Tyler
Peter Sarsgaard, James Marsden
Why I Liked It – A thoughtful story of age, family, memory, and a robot. Langella is brilliant and the supporting cast does a great job. A story that is funny and sad. With robots.
Nothing makes me happier as a movie fan than stumbling on a wonderful movie that is unknown to me. This one appears to have been in limited release only in 2012. No doubt because it doesn’t fit any of the convenient genres. It IS a science fiction movie, but it ISN’T a big-budget epic. It IS a love story, but not one with lots of hearts and flowers headed to a happy sigh at the end. At the center of the movie is the question of growing older and diminishing capacity, but it is a long way from “On Golden Pond”.
So what kind of movie is it?
A good one, as it turns out.
I appreciate that it chooses to take science fiction a single, logical step into our world, rather than insisting that the genre can only be light sabers and trans light starship drives. The robot is here to aid a man whose mind has begun to slip away from him. It is a story from a future that is very near indeed. The story moves from the comic to the serious, the uplifting to the tragic. The mixture creates a movie that is similar to many others while being its own unique creation. I’ve seen some criticism because it isn’t a clear cut “genre” movie. Give “Robot and Frank” to be itself and I think you will find yourself well rewarded.
The relationship between Robot (never given a name, voiced by Peter Sarsgaard) and Frank (Langella) makes up the vast majority of the story. The supporting cast adds a touch here and there but could be anyone. Susan Sarandon does a nice job as Frank’s village flirtation, Marsden is fine as the son who brings Robot into his father’s life. If there is a weak link, it’s Liv Tyler’s boring, one-note daughter. The character adds almost nothing to the story, especially once she arrives at her father’s house.
Langella is great. The story brushes the topic of the place of robots in our future. Nice surprise too. If I had to come up with a complaint, what would it be? Bad Title? Really, it’s hard to come up with much. There are some quibbles but overall the movie works.
In the end, a wonderful surprise!
Rating – **** Recommended
Stories Are My Life 
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