Quick Film Review: Robot & Frank - Senility and Technology Collide

Robot and Frank

Frank is an old man. Frank is a felon. Frank is either growing senile or at the stage where he legitimately doesn't care. He has everyone around him worrying about his well being. He doesn't seem too concerned. That's the joy in this film.

A robot is employed by Frank's son to keep him, well functioning because apparently stale old milk and children's cereal isn't appropriate for a man of age. The robot cooks, cleans, and helps Frank with his day to day requirements.

Frank's daughter doesn't like this idea. She is some sort of robot-libertarian, and doesn't like the idea of robot labour making people 'lazier'. There's an interesting dichotomy between Frank's children.

_{Frank, Robot, and daughter; learning to live together. Frank is clearly thrilled.}

Eventually, we discover that Frank is a former felon, and he and his robot helper start to put together a plan. Long story short; Frank starts to mentor the robot into being a thief.

An interesting dynamic builds out between an old man's desire to do what he wants with his remaining days, and a robot that is programmed to ensure that routine, home duties, health and the regular social norm is maintained.

The norm, from the outside looking in, appears to be the regular, rigid societal rubbish that everyone pretends to care about. Frank's a free spirit, calculating, and wanting to start stealing things just for the thrill of it.

Robot & Frank is a well-written tale about how one man spends his twilight years and the strike of modernity on age old institutions. The way in which Frank subverts his robot helper to suit his needs is funny, engaging and at times, ludicrous.

The Robot, while initially wanting to ensure that Frank remains healthy, both physically and mentally, starts to see the healthiness and mental engagement that comes along with planning a heist. It plays along, and an entertaining, heart warming film plays out. There's a few plot holes, but they do nothing major to destroy the narrative of the film. It could have been longer to fully flesh these out.

Robot & Frank is an under-rated film, with no major issues. Quality cinema. Worth a watch.