While Ice Age was irreverent, witty and tasteful, this follow up by the same team of animators lacks the same qualities. Where did they go wrong? The film was cooked from the same recipe – simple story, technical wizardry and a gag a minute – but unlike its predecessor, Robots isn’t nearly innovative enough for an adult audience. Children, however, will find enough bits and bolts to chew on as evidenced by the film’s box office success – a respectable USD 36.5 million in its opening weekend (though still short of Ice Age’s record breaking USD 46.3 million). The plot is simple enough – robot Rodney Copperbottom leaves Rivettown to make it big in Robot City, but will the evil Ratchet put a spanner in his works (or a ratchet perhaps)? Expensive production and all-star cast providing the voices (Ewan McGregor, Robin Williams, Halle Berry et al.) add up to cheap divertissement.
Blue Sky/Fox Animation Studios

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Chief editor: Steven Crane
November 2005 issue



Guanzhou Chief editor: Christopher Cottrell
November 2005 issue