I, Robot

Based on an Isaac Asimov book, I, Robot is an action thriller set in 2035 Chicago where technology has advanced to a level that robots are being mass produced and freely roam the streets in service to humans.

There are "Three Laws" that govern the robots actions, the #1 law being that a robot can't injure a human being. Will Smith stars as a Police Detective, Del Spooner, who appears to be the only one who thinks that a robot may harm a human in spite of their own laws. Det. Spooner has a secretive past that may shed some light on why he mistrusts robots, we learn the full story along the way through a series of flashbacks.

U.S. Robotics, the company that produces the robots, is the site of an apparent suicide assigned to Det. Spooner to investigate. The victim is Dr. Alfred Lanning (played by James Cromwell) who is the inventor of the "Three Laws" as well as founder of U.S. Robotics. Det. Spooner begins investigating the crime scene more thoroughly, uncovering a robot named Sonny. Upon questioning, Sonny arouses suspicion by impressively fleeing the room. Sonny is chased, caught, and then quarantined at U.S. Robotics for further testing.

Dr. Susan Calvin (played by Bridget Moynahan) is Det. Spooner's contact at U.S. Robotics and plays an emotionally challenged scientist who ironically is in charge of making the robots seem more human. Through a series of events, it begins to occur to Det. Spooner that Sonny may be the key to cryptic messages that Dr. Lanning left through his own staged death to warn Det. Spooner of what he was not able to tell him in any other way. Dr. Calvin helps Det. Spooner along his quest and when the climax of the movie comes around these two appear to be the last hope for the human race.

The special effects in the obligatory chase and fighting scenes were above average, and the dialogue had its moments. However, the main weakness of the movie is its lack of a great storyline. It gets us from start to finish but leaves a bit to be desired.

I seriously doubt we will have robots running wild and hover cars 30 years from now, but I suppose that remains to be seen. Overall, the movie kept my attention and was enjoyable to watch, but left me slightly unsatisfied.