Robots (2005)

I really enjoy animated films. Robots is a very cute film about believing in yourself and making dreams come true. I originally wanted to see it based on the cast. Ewan McGregor, Mel Brooks, Stanley Tucci, Dianne Wiest, Robin Williams, Greg Kinnear, Paul Giamatti, Jennifer Coolidge, James Earl Jones, Jay Leno, Al Roker, Natasha Lyonne, Drew Carey, Amanda Bynes, Jim Broadbent, and even Paula Abdul!

The film is in a world of robots. Rivet Town is where Rodney Copperbottom, Ewan McGregor, is "built" not born, into a middle class type family. The father, Stanley Tucci, is a dish washer at a restaurant. His idea is that it may not be a glamorous job but it pays the bills. The mother, Dianne Wiest, is a loving mother to her only son. As Rodney grows bigger he receives hand-me-down parts from relatives. He even has to wear "female" parts because it's all the family could get him. But he didn't argue, he wore them knowing his parents are doing the best they can.

Bigweld, played by Mel Brooks, is a Walt Disney sort of character who has a tv show encouraging young inventors to come visit him. Bigweld says he never turns down a visit with an inventor, he wants to listen to all of the new ideas. Rodney grows up watching the show and idolizes Bigweld. And he wastes no time preparing to invent something amazing! He creates Wonderbot, a helper for his Dad at work. His Dad is in need of new parts, and is beginning to slow down, so Rodney puts Wonderbot to work in the restaurant kitchen. It doesn't go as well as planned, and Rodney is told to leave. Embarassed, he takes Wonderbot with him to the train station and says he will present Wonderbot to Bigweld himself. Rodney felt it was the next step in achieving success. So Rodney, with his parents' blessing, takes off for Robot City. Once there, he meets all sorts of interesting characters and finds out that Bigweld has been absent for a while. Rodney finds out that robots are suffering, not getting replacement parts as needed. The company Bigweld represents stopped making replacement parts and instead wants to make upgrades that cost too much. From here, Rodney goes on a mission to find Bigweld and help the robots.

This film was made after the Star Wars films, so there is at least one main reference to Ewan being in this film. There are also a lot of pop culture references to what was popular in 2005. Very funny, and very entertaining family film.

This is generally a feel good movie. If it's a rainy day outside and no one knows what to do, put this movie in and make some popcorn. You'll be laughing at the humor, and admiring the creative animation and story. The atmosphere is supposed to be their interpretation of our human world but adapted for robots. It's very creative with great attention to detail. You will not be disappointed with this movie!

This is from the makers of ICE AGE, so you know it's good!