Robot & Frank (2012) | Film Review

(Originally published on Letterboxd) - Frank (Frank Langella) is a former cat burglar in the twilight of his life. His kids treat him like a child, his memory comes and goes--for all intents and purposes, he's lost the flame. Now, content with living in a pigsty, and shoplifting soap from a shop that replaced the eatery he used to frequent, all hope for reclaiming his former self seems lost. 

Then one day Frank's son (James Marsden) drops off a robot. It's intended to assist Frank, keep him on a schedule, and hopefully prevent him from becoming a danger to himself. At first, Frank wants nothing to do with it, but over time he begins to warm up, especially after recognizing certain attributes the robot has that he might find useful for his former line of work.

Robot & Frank is a cute buddy film between a man who can't remember, and a robot that can't forget...unless you erase it's memory that is. Frank Langella's performance is wonderfully nuanced, and the chemistry he manages to create between he and an object that's barely more an inanimate is a reminder of just how good he is. On the other side, while the robot has a bland design, and Peter Sarsgaard's voice remains relatively monotone throughout, there is just enough of an audible smirk that'll keep you believing there is something more going on underneath that featureless white exterior.

While many facets of the story feel more convenient than natural--Frank's daughter (Liv Tyler), a globe trotting robophobe, shows up out of the blue just in time to get in the way of Frank and robot's budding friendship; Frank's repeated trips to the local library leads to him being mocked for no reason by the new hip young library owner who just so happens to be so rich, he owns millions of dollars worth of jewelry...and lives right down the street from Frank--the film manages to maintain a big enough heart to keep you entertained. 

Robot & Frank is a quiet little film that gives Frank Langella a much deserved spotlight to shine. While it would have been

nice to remove all of the failed family aspects and focus completely on the relationship between the titular characters, there is still enough going on that makes this flick worth a look.