'Chappie' A Review

Chappie is a science fiction action movie about a sentient robot. In the not-too-distant future the city of Johannesburg has employed humanoid peacekeeping robots to augment its police force and combat high crime rates. The droids, dubbed 'Scouts', are a resounding success for the city and the company that manufactures them Tetravaal. The programmer behind the Scout robot however is obsessed with pushing the technology further. Against the directive of the CEO he covertly gives a damaged Scout robot consciousness. Unfortunately this coincides with his kidnapping by a group of gangsters hard up for cash who commandeer the recently aware robot for assistance in perpetrating crimes. They dub him Chappie.

Other than the odd yet compelling motion-capture performance by Sharlto Copley as the titular Chappie the majority of the acting is relatively thin. Dev Patel struggles as Deon the computer programmer who grants Chappie life, chugging Red Bulls and telegraphing his obsession. Hugh Jackman comes on full force as the heavy with a mullet, grimacing, maniacally laughing, and stomping around. Sigourney Weaver as the weapons company CEO is so checked out it's almost as if she's not in the movie at all. Some of the failings are certainly a result of a clunky and meandering script devoid of motivation. South African rap duo Die Antwoord, Ninja and Yolandi, as the gangsters who foster Chappie strike an incredibly discordant and bizarre note with the rest of the movie. Their performances more like a prolonged commercial for their music and brand rather than anything resembling character. That said Yolandi is somewhat affecting as a mother figure to Chappie whereas Ninja is totally unbelievable as anything.

Chappie, although entertaining enough, is severely narratively challenged. Big ideas are introduced and not developed, story arcs are begun but not completed, characters are given potential but remain undeveloped. The movie feels more like a sloppy first draft than anything resembling a final product. The same exact issue writer/director Neill Blomkamp had with his sophomore disappointment Elysium.

Themes with no message, characters with no depth, cool robot stuff.

Rent It.