Anthony and Joe Russo (Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Avengers: Infinity War) direct this sci-fi adventure comedy set in a retro-futuristic 1990s alternative reality. After a war between robots and humans (no, not like Terminator … these bots look like they were designed by 1950s Disney imagineers), robots have been banished to the Exclusion Zone, 100 square miles of enclosed wasteland. The bot leader is Mr. Peanut (voiced by Woody Harrelson).
The story focuses on orphaned teen, Michelle (Millie Bobby Brown), who’s travelling with an illegal robot in search of her missing brother, Christopher (Woody Norman). They eventually team up with Keats (Chris Pratt), a smuggler, with his own robot companion.
The heart of the story is a familiar one. Two groups—humans and bots—should be amicable but are pitted against one another, each scapegoated for political expediency. The real enemy is virtual headset manufacturer Sentre, run by Ethan Skate (Stanley Tucci). Their devices essentially anesthetize the human population, but finding Christopher may hold the key to freeing humans and bots.
Critics are slaughtering this visually arresting film (13 percent on Rotten Tomatoes), but listen to the audience score (75 percent). This is a fun romp, and Pratt and Brown shine. (128 min.)
—Glen Starkey
This article appears in Mar 20-30, 2025.