Robots

Even if Pixar seem to have the animation market tied up, Fox Studios prepare their response with Robots, a technically proficient but dramatically lumpy affair which never manages to find a consistent groove. Set in a society where humans seem to have been eased out of existence and intelligent, emotionally responsive, machines are top of the food chain, Robots charts the adventures of Rodney Copperbottom (voiced by Ewan McGregor). The only child of the not-so-well off Herb (Stanley Tucci) and Mrs Copperbottom (Diane Wiest), young Rodney grows up dreaming of a brighter future for himself. His wish is to work for Big Weld (Mel Brooks), a technological genius, so he heads off to Robot City, full of hopes and dreams. It's only when he gets to Big Weld's HQ that Rodney realises his hero has been displaced in a boardroom coup by ambitious young rival, Phineas T. Ratchet (Greg Kinnear), whose nefarious plans sees him wanting to stop the sale of spare parts and phase out all older robots. Determined to see Big Weld re-instated, Rodney enlists the aid of a group of robotic misfits, led by Fender (Robin Williams) and Piper Pinwheeler (Amanda Bynes) to try and restore balance.

Although Robots works off the same broad thematic template that the likes of The Incredibles used to such good effect, it lacks the same attention to detail when it comes to the sharpness of humour and narrative dexterity. Of course the animation is of a very high standard, but Robots - a few decent Robin Williams gags notwithstanding - never really clicks, laying on its message far too literally and thickly to appeal to a mature audience. Still, if the screening I attended was any indicator, younger kids will love it.