I, Robot

Directed by Alex Proyas, I, Robot follows futuristic cop Del Spooner (Will Smith) as he attempts to solve a death that may or may not have been caused by a wayward robot (Alan Tudyk’s Sonny). Filmmaker Proyas, armed with Jeff Vintar and Akiva Goldsman’s screenplay, delivers a briskly-paced yet somewhat erratic blockbuster that benefits from Smith’s predictably charming performance and an ongoing emphasis on larger-than-life action set-pieces, including an exciting sequence wherein Del is attacked by legions of robots on an empty highway, and although the picture suffers from an often excessively slick atmosphere stemming from its overuse of glossy, unconvincing computer-generated effects, I, Robot‘s admittedly irresistible premise and futuristic landscape prove compelling enough to carry it through a less-than-streamlined midsection that contains its fair share of lulls. It’s clear, too, that the picture’s watchable vibe is perpetuated by the efforts of a pleasantly eclectic supporting cast, as the movie boasts expectedly solid work from such periphery players as James Cromwell, Bridget Moynahan, and Bruce Greenwood. (Tudyk’s standout turn as the sympathetic Sonny remains a highlight, to be sure.) By the the time the satsifying, action-packed final stretch rolls around, I, Robot has cemented its place as a decent endeavor that could’ve used a bit of trimming within its investigation-heavy, far-from-consistent second act.

*** out of ****