Another family movie with a tin man who has a testimonial.
It’s obvious that the Jennifer Lopez AI movie “Atlas” would be Netflix’s most popular new movie last weekend, because if it’s a new movie with a big star, then it must be Number 1. That leaves me wondering why from time to time, the streaming service would set a review embargo the night before, if they know the film will be popular. If you saw my review, you would know that I was bored by the CGI effects, wall-to-wall action, and typical formulas.
And it’s obvious that “The Garfield Movie” would be popular with kids, nearly taking the top spot at the opening weekend box office, because the character has been popular since the late 70s, Chris Pratt has the star power, and commercialism is consuming the minds of today’s youth, as far as I’m concerned. And if you saw my review of this one, you would know that I liked the supporting voice cast, but it doesn’t resonate with the comic strips.
“Robot Dreams” is an independent animated film that requires no dialogue, like in the 2007 comic, but requires the qualities and difficulties in life. About love and loss. Old friends and new friends. Time after time. It’s a movie that requires no CGI to present how cartoons can be free from the ordinary laws of time and space, but could also serve as a reflection on how life doesn’t require a screenplay to tell a story. Writer/director Pablo Berger (“Torremolinos 73,” “Blancanieves”) paints this movie with an ambiance that brings tears to your eyes.
We travel back to the 1980s in Manhattan, where a lonely dog named Dog sees a televised ad about a homemade robot set. He gets to work, and the robot named Robot comes to life. He learns the middle finger from a group of street punks, the joys of Earth Wind & Fire’s “September,” and the consequences of swimming in the ocean. Robot rusts in place, and Dog is unable to help him, due to his weight and the beach closing for the season.
Dog tries to move on, but with no luck, while Robot deals with jerks and a delightful “Wizard of Oz” dream sequence. In fact, both characters are fooled by their own dreams, which may sound mean-spirited, but could also be an example of escapism. If you were trapped in a certain place, you’d probably need your imagination to escape from your reality. Plus, I’d take that dream sequence over “Legends of Oz: Dorothy’s Return” any day.
I still think kids are going to be more interested in “The Garfield Movie” than they would with “Robot Dreams,” because of commercialism, and I think this one is targeted for people who actually care about independent movies. I try my best to spread the word about the fresh ones as much as possible, and when they do become popular with audiences, it’s a miracle. But if adults do find this movie in the trailers or at their local art house theater, they should take their kids to see it. So they can acknowledge that CGI doesn’t have complete power over traditional animation. That it doesn’t need obvious jokes or star-studded voice talents to tell an animated story. And that neither the Pink Panther nor Gromit need words to express their emotions.
In Select Theaters This Friday