Robots (2023 film)

Last updated

Robots
Robots 2023 film.png
Theatrical release poster
Directed by
Screenplay by
  • Ant Hines
  • Casper Christensen
Based on"The Robot Who Looked Like Me"
by Robert Sheckley
Produced by
  • Bernd Wintersperger
  • Sascha Krnajac
  • Lars Sylvest
  • Thorsten Schumacher
  • Stephen Hamel
  • Julian Favre
  • Cassian Elwes
Starring
Cinematography Luke Geissbühler
Edited byMatthew Freund
Music by Magnus Fiennes
Production
companies
  • Robots Filmproduktion GmbH & Co. KG
  • Company Films
  • Road Film
  • Rocket Science
  • Elevated Films
Distributed by Neon
Release date
  • May 19, 2023 (2023-05-19)(United States)
Running time
93 minutes
CountryUnited States
LanguageEnglish
Box office$200,105 [1]

Robots is a 2023 American science fiction romantic comedy film written and directed by Ant Hines and Casper Christensen. It is based on the 1973 short story "The Robot Who Looked Like Me" by Robert Sheckley. [2] The film stars Shailene Woodley and Jack Whitehall. [3] [4]

Contents

Robots was released in the United States by Neon on May 19, 2023.

Plot

In 2032, after advanced robotics enabled humanity to use lifelike androids as servants and manual laborers, affluent suburbanites Elaine and Charles illegally use android doubles of themselves to avoid the time constraints of dating and the strain of work. Charle's C2 not only does his job, but also 'primes' women so the womanizer can have sex with them. Elaine's E2 dates 12 men at once, having sex with them so the gold digger can get money and expensive gifts.

Through a mix up with the addresses, Charles walks into an informal board meeting in a private house talking dirty, as he believes he's seducing Elaine. Whereas the androids end up having relations, C2 for the first time, and stay away all night.

In the morning, as C2 stayed out all night, Charles goes to Elaine's to track him down. Elaine returns home at the same time, seeking E2. They simultaneously get calls from their respective androids, who have shared who they are with each other and realize that they are falling in love.

Elaine and Charles are forced to team up to get their lives back. Going to Zach, who created both of the androids, they enlist his help. He is able to track them using their GPS tracks, but he reminds the humans they will not be able to have them back as they are humanising.

Before the trio go to track down C2 and E2, Charles secretly contacts his friend and former soldier Ashley or 'Fat Ninja' to help. The trio finds the androids in a motel, incapacitating them with tasers and throwing them into the trunk just as Ashley arrives to kidnap the androids.

Meanwhile, C2 and E2 come to and take off with the car, soon thereafter stealing their owners Elaine and Charles' identities. First tricking each, pretending to be their human counterparts, to get their cars and credit cards then try to trick them into believing they have robbed a place at gunpoint. They suggest they escape to Mexico.

Charles drives them to his stepfather's small cabin in the woods. Initially bickering, once he breaks out a bottle of bourbon they share it, eventually falling asleep together in the armchair near the fire. The next morning, before heading to Mexico, Elaine rewatches the video which supposedly frames them. Realising it was a ploy to take over their lives after seeing them on social media, they seek them out at Charles' stepdad's.

Charles and Elaine jump two servant androids to take their masks to sneak into the celebration. Realising E2 and C2 plan to wed there, they find their window to taser them and throw C2 over a cliff. Before they can throw over E2, they both wake. Able to retaser E2, they go to Zach's to force him to loan them E3, his sex slave. Videocalling C2, they convince him that E2 is back with Charles.

When the irate C2 comes, two police officers follow him into the house. Taking the seemingly two pairs of identical twins into custody, when fingerprinting them produces identical sets of prints, so they determine they have illegal robot clones.

After contacting the federal authorities, the sheriff goes home to spruce up for his anticipated TV appearance. Charles using his phone call to get Ashley to get them out. Heading to the Mexican border, the identical retinas mean only two can cross. So Charles urges C2 to join E2 in Mexico, where androids share equal rights.

Although expecting to be imprisoned for having clone robots, the feds can't prosecute as Ashley has blown up the police station and evidence. As C2 and E2 convinced Charles and Elaine to be less cynical, they kiss, then take C2 and E2's place in the wedding.

Cast

Production

Emma Roberts was originally cast in June 2020, until Shailene Woodley replaced her in June of the following year. [7] [8] [9]

Filming occurred in New Mexico in August 2021. [10]

Release

In April 2023, Neon acquired US and Caribbean rights to Robots. [11] The film had a simultaneous theatrical and on-demand release in the United States on May 19, 2023. [12] [13] It was also released in Lithuania on June 6, 2023 [1] and in Russia on June 29, 2023. [13] [1]

Reception

Box office

Robots grossed $200,105 in Russia and Lithuania. [1]

Critical response

On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes , 20% of 10 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 3.8/10. [14] Lisa Nystrom of FilmInk said, "There are no real laugh-out-loud moments, no emotionally moving denouement, just a bland but good-natured outing you can safely forget the moment it’s over." [15]

Related Research Articles

A robot is a virtual or mechanical artificial agent, usually an electro-mechanical machine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shailene Woodley</span> American actress and activist (born 1991)

Shailene Diann Woodley is an American actress. Born in San Bernardino, California, she was raised in Simi Valley, and started modeling at the age of five and began acting professionally in minor television roles. She first gained prominence for her starring role as Amy Juergens in the ABC Family teen drama series The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008–2013). She subsequently starred in the films The Descendants (2011) and The Spectacular Now (2013), receiving a nomination for her first Golden Globe Award for the former.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Whitehall</span> English comedian, actor, presenter and writer

Jack Peter Benedict Whitehall is an English comedian, actor, writer, and television personality. He is known for his roles as JP in the comedy-drama series Fresh Meat (2011–2016) and as Alfie Wickers in the sitcom Bad Education also co-writing the latter and its film adaptation, The Bad Education Movie (2015).

<i>Divergent</i> (film) 2014 American dystopian science fiction action film directed by Neil Burger

Divergent is a 2014 American dystopian science fiction action film directed by Neil Burger, based on the 2011 novel of the same name by Veronica Roth. The film is the first installment in The Divergent Series and was produced by Douglas Wick, Lucy Fisher, and Pouya Shahbazian, with a screenplay by Evan Daugherty and Vanessa Taylor. It stars Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Ashley Judd, Jai Courtney, Ray Stevenson, Zoë Kravitz, Miles Teller, Tony Goldwyn, Ansel Elgort, and Maggie Q. The story takes place in a dystopian and post-apocalyptic Chicago where people are divided into distinct factions based on human virtues. Beatrice Prior is warned that she is Divergent and thus will never fit into any one of the factions. She soon learns that a sinister plot is brewing in the seemingly perfect society.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">2009 Teen Choice Awards</span>

The 2009 Teen Choice Awards ceremony was held on August 9, 2009, at the Gibson Amphitheatre, Universal City, California. The event was hosted by the Jonas Brothers, Nick, Kevin and Joe, who also performed. Twilight took home most awards with the total of 10 wins out of 11 nominations, including Robert Pattinson winning Choice Male Hottie. Miley Cyrus presented Britney Spears with the Ultimate Choice Award.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ben Volavola</span> Rugby player

Ben Volavola is a Fijian Australian international rugby union player who plays for Agen in the French Pro D2 competition. He has previously played for Super Rugby clubs such as the Waratahs, Crusaders, and most recently the Rebels. Volavola typically plays as either a fly-half or full back.

Blumhouse Productions, LLC, doing business as Blumhouse is an American film and television production company founded in 2000 by Jason Blum and Amy Israel.

<i>The Fault in Our Stars</i> (film) 2014 romantic drama film

The Fault in Our Stars is a 2014 American coming-of-age romance film directed by Josh Boone from a screenplay by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber, based on the 2012 novel of the same name by John Green. The film stars Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort, with Laura Dern, Sam Trammell, Nat Wolff, and Willem Dafoe in supporting roles. The story centers on a sixteen-year-old cancer patient, played by Woodley, forced by her parents to attend a support group, where she meets and subsequently falls in love with another cancer patient, played by Elgort.

The Divergent Series is a feature film series based on the Divergent novels by the American author Veronica Roth. Distributed by Summit Entertainment and Lionsgate Films, the series consists of three science fiction action films set in a dystopian society: Divergent, Insurgent, and Allegiant. They have been produced by Lucy Fisher, Pouya Shabazian, and Douglas Wick.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Callum Turner</span> British actor (born 1990)

Callum Robilliard Turner is a British actor. After beginning a career as a fashion model, he began working in film and television. He had lead roles in the drama film Queen and Country (2014) and the mystery miniseries Glue (2014), and played Theseus, the brother of Newt Scamander, in the fantasy films Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018) and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore (2022).

<i>The Divergent Series: Insurgent</i> 2015 film by Robert Schwentke

The Divergent Series: Insurgent is a 2015 American dystopian science fiction action film directed by Robert Schwentke, based on the 2012 novel Insurgent, the second book in the Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth. It is the sequel to the 2014 film Divergent and the second installment in The Divergent Series, produced by Lucy Fisher, Pouya Shabazian and Douglas Wick, with a screenplay by Brian Duffield, Akiva Goldsman and Mark Bomback. Schwentke took over from Neil Burger as director, with Burger serving as the executive producer of the film. Along with the first film's returning cast, led by Shailene Woodley and Theo James, the sequel features supporting actors Octavia Spencer, Naomi Watts, Suki Waterhouse, Rosa Salazar, Daniel Dae Kim, Jonny Weston, Emjay Anthony, and Keiynan Lonsdale.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Alwyn</span> English actor (born 1991)

Joseph Matthew Alwyn is an English actor. Alwyn made his feature film debut as the titular character in Ang Lee's 2016 war drama, Billy Lynn's Long Halftime Walk, and has since played roles in films such as The Favourite (2018), Boy Erased (2018), Mary Queen of Scots (2018), and Harriet (2019).

<i>Adrift</i> (2018 film) 2018 film by Baltasar Kormákur

Adrift is a 2018 survival drama film produced and directed by Baltasar Kormákur and written by David Branson Smith, Aaron Kandell, and Jordan Kandell. The film is based on the 2002 book Red Sky in Mourning by Tami Oldham Ashcraft, a true story set during the events of Hurricane Raymond in 1983. The film stars Shailene Woodley and Sam Claflin as a couple who are adrift in the middle of the Pacific Ocean after a hurricane, and must find their way to Hawaii with a damaged boat and no radio.

Grace Mana Morrell Palmer is a New Zealand actress, best known for her role as Lucy Rickman on the prime-time soap opera Shortland Street.

<i>Endings, Beginnings</i> 2019 romantic drama film by Drake Doremus

Endings, Beginnings is a 2019 romantic drama film, directed by Drake Doremus, from a screenplay he wrote alongside Jardine Libaire. The film is semi-improvised and loosely based on the screenplay. It stars Shailene Woodley, Jamie Dornan, Sebastian Stan and Matthew Gray Gubler.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Topic Studios</span> American film production company

Topic Studios is an American film production company owned by First Look Media. The company is known for producing films Leave No Trace (2018), Luce (2019), The Climb (2019), The Mauritanian (2021). The company also produces television shows including Love Fraud (2020) and 100 Foot Wave (2021).

<i>The Last Letter from Your Lover</i> 2021 British film

The Last Letter from Your Lover is a 2021 British romantic drama film directed by Augustine Frizzell and written by Nick Payne and Esta Spalding, based on Jojo Moyes' 2011 novel of the same name. It stars Felicity Jones, Callum Turner, Joe Alwyn, Nabhaan Rizwan and Shailene Woodley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Maria Bakalova</span> Bulgarian actress (born 1996)

Maria Valcheva Bakalova is a Bulgarian actress. She is the recipient of various accolades, including a Critics' Choice Award, in addition to nominations for an Academy Award, a British Academy Film Award, a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

<i>To Catch a Killer</i> (2023 film) American film by Damián Szifron

To Catch a Killer is a 2023 American crime thriller film directed by Damián Szifron and written by Szifron and Jonathan Wakeham. It stars Shailene Woodley, Ben Mendelsohn, Jovan Adepo and Ralph Ineson. In the film, a talented but troubled young Baltimore cop is recruited by the FBI to help profile and track down a murderer. The film marks Szifron's English-language debut.

Three Women is an American television series based on the 2019 book of the same name by Lisa Taddeo that was initially set to premiere on Showtime. On January 30, 2023, Deadline reported that Showtime had decided not to air the completed series. Starz picked up the series a week later.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Robots (2023)". Box Office Mojo . IMDb . Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  2. ↑ VanHoose, Benjamin (April 25, 2023). "Shailene Woodley and Jack Whitehall Chase Down Their Runaway Clones in Trailer for Rom-Com Robots". People . Retrieved April 26, 2023.
  3. ↑ Barsanti, Sam (June 21, 2021). "Shailene Woodley to hunt robot Shailene Woodley in new comedy from Borat writer Anthony Hines". The A.V. Club . Archived from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  4. ↑ Grater, Tom (June 21, 2021). "Shailene Woodley To Star With Jack Whitehall In Comedy 'Robots' – Cannes Market". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on June 24, 2021. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  5. ↑ Lang, Brent (June 21, 2021). "Shailene Woodley Starring in 'Robots,' New Comedy From 'Borat' Writer". Variety . Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  6. ↑ Ritman, Alex (June 21, 2021). "Cannes: Shailene Woodley Joins 'Robots' Comedy From 'Borat' Writer Anthony Hines". The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  7. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (June 23, 2020). "Emma Roberts & Jack Whitehall To Star In 'Robots' Movie – Cannes". Deadline Hollywood . Archived from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  8. ↑ McNary, Dave (June 23, 2020). "Emma Roberts, Jack Whitehall Starring in Sci-Fi Comedy 'Robots'". Variety. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  9. ↑ Houghton, Rianne (June 22, 2021). "Divergent's Shailene Woodley replaces Emma Roberts in new comedy from Borat writer". Digital Spy . Archived from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  10. ↑ Gomez, Adrian (August 16, 2021). "Shailene Woodley, Jack Whitehall are leads in 'Robots'". Albuquerque Journal . Archived from the original on March 9, 2023. Retrieved December 10, 2021.
  11. ↑ Kay, Jeremy (April 3, 2023). "Neon picks up Shailene Woodley, Jack Whitehall sci-fi comedy 'Robots' (exclusive)" . Screen Daily . Archived from the original on April 23, 2023. Retrieved May 31, 2023.
  12. ↑ Lawrence, Daniel David (April 25, 2023). "Shailene Woodley and Jack Whitehall Are the Perfect Couple in Robots Trailer". Collider . Archived from the original on May 6, 2023. Retrieved April 25, 2023.
  13. 1 2 "Robots (2023) - Financial Information". The Numbers . Nash Information Services, LLC. Retrieved July 29, 2023.
  14. ↑ "Robots". Rotten Tomatoes . Fandango Media . Retrieved July 22, 2023.
  15. ↑ Nystrom, Lisa (July 5, 2023). "Robots". FilmInk . Retrieved July 5, 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.