Robot & Frank (2012)

Directed by Jake Schreier; produced by Lance Acord, Sam Bisbee, Jackie Kelman-Bisbee, Galt Niederhoffer

In the near future, Frank Weld (Frank Langella) is a former convict, a retired cat-burglar, who is suffering from increasing dementia. His son Hunter (James Marsden) buys a therapy robot (voice of Peter Sarsgaard) to help him, especially in housekeeping and memory-enhancing exercises. At first resentful of the robot, Frank’s attitude changes when he realises his new companion has no moral guide, and thus can break the law, if it helps Frank. The latter therefore renews his criminal activities, this time with the robot’s help, even as his memory continues to diminish.

Labelled as a science fiction comedy-drama, Robot & Frank’s connection to science fiction is tenuous. The only element of the movie that could be so called is the inclusion of the robot. But this is not a fault. Rather, the science fictional aspect of the film is - whether this was the intention of its makers or not - a means of discussing through a story the themes of memory and friendship.

Initially, the two qualities are treated separately. As Frank’s memory disintegrates, the robot’s is retained, in a way, for Frank. The story questions, albeit gently, what part memory plays in making us. Are we the same person without our memories? Interestingly, what occurs to the robot shows how vital recollections are, and how they determine the personality of the remembrancer. Later, memory is hinted as being significant to friendship; recollections of shared activities, remembered facts about someone: these constitute something important in friendship. When the memories are lost, something of the relationship is lost, as well. The movie’s final image of Frank suggests this strongly.

Though several other actors, including Susan Sarandon, figure prominently, it is Langella who is at the centre of the film. Though a leading man in the early part of his movie career, he has excelled in supporting roles (though, as is often the case with actors, he has found greater scope on stage). Nonetheless, he still has the talent to headline a movie. Sarsgaard’s performance should also be noted. Though the robot has no face, and no emotion in his voice, the actor manages to convey meaning and the vaguest touch of feeling in his words.

The direction is good, as is the writing, though neither particularly complements the acting. The script includes one particularly obnoxious character (Jeremy Strong), who fills the role of villain, though a villain isn’t really needed. The story may, in truth, have been better without the conflict that he creates. And there is a revelation near the end which is unnecessary.

The aim of the movie may have been, at least originally, to look at how technology is affecting people, or will affect them - the local library in Robot & Frank is being shut down because no one reads books anymore. But right from the start, it appears that technology - as technology - is unimportant. The robot could have been an alien creature, a foreigner unused to North American ways, a time-traveller, or someone otherwise new to society. The results would likely have been the same. And the results are quite good.

Science fiction has often been used as a vehicle for studying humanity, ironically especially when presenting non-humans as a foil or counter. Yet in Robot & Frank, the non-human becomes a subject of study as much as the human, and the two combine to create an entertaining and melancholy treatise on memory and relationships.