Plot Summary: In 1980s NYC, a lonely dog buys a robot for companionship. After an accident separates them, both embark on journeys of longing, growth, and self-discovery, leading to an emotional conclusion.
Director: Pablo Berger
Producer: Arcadia Motion Pictures, Noodles Production, Les Films du Worso
Screenplay: Pablo Berger (based on the graphic novel by Sara Varon)
Starring:
No voice cast (dialogue-free film)
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⚠️ SPOILER ALERT ⚠️
A Robot, A Dog, and a Lot of Feelings
Another Sunday, another animated movie, this time, the critically acclaimed Robot Dreams, an adaptation of the book by Sara Varon. Right off the bat, this animation stands out with its slick flat-color style and complete lack of dialogue. It creates a beautifully detailed world where there’s always something to miss on the first watch. Set in a vibrant 1980s New York City populated by hundreds of colorful animals, it oozes nostalgia and charm. And now, I kinda want a robot friend. I'm feeling a bit down today... But wait... do I, though? Wouldn't that be weird? Is this just a trend now? Yesterday was The Wild Robot, today it’s Robot Dreams. Apparently, we’re all supposed to get emotionally invested in human-animal-robot friendships. And, judging by the reviews, it’s working! But for me... it's a goddamn robot! Are people secretly craving a friend they can fully control, or are we just collectively afraid of ChatGPT gaining sentience? What is happening?!
No Dialogue, Just Vibes (And a Bit of Snoozing)
The first half of the movie is a visual and musical delight. The soundtrack perfectly carries the mood, the colors are mesmerizing, and everything just feels good. It really pulls you into its world. But somewhere around the halfway mark, after one too many “it was just a dream” sequences, I started getting drowsy. Maybe I shouldn’t have been watching this lying down. The lack of dialogue, while artistic and bold, also made it a bit of a tiresome watch for me. I get the emotional weight of a bond between a dog and, say, Richard Gere (Hachi, anyone?), but a dog and a robot? Harder to connect with. Robots don’t really do feelings for me. Maybe I’m broken. Maybe I need a firmware update.
Final Thoughts: Cute, Thought-Provoking, and a Little Weird
Despite my reservations, there’s a lot to enjoy here, and I have to give credit where it’s due. The ending was great. My daughter, however, didn’t love it and was pretty confused, which, in hindsight, means the movie did its job: it made her think. My favorite scenes? The one with the rabbits (hilarious) and the moment the robot breaks the fourth wall. It genuinely looked like it was trying to escape my TV. (Make sure you check those 2 clips in this review) Overall, I enjoyed this about as much as The Wild Robot, so I’d definitely recommend it for a family movie afternoon.
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