Charlie, I think there's a whole robot in there!

Real Steel

(2011)

One of the stars is for the robot slugfests that are the real attraction here. They're well-staged and dramatically involving. Unfortunately the main plot thread (absent father Hugh Jackman connects with son Dakota Goyo) is appalling mush, compounded by the most annoyingly precocious performance from a child actor in living memory. God knows what Goyo's parents must be like to have raised such a pestilent, cocky little brat. The script encourages the idea that he is some kind of prodigy and gives him the "mature" role in respect of loser Jackman. Utterly abhorrent, gagworthy guff.

Jackman's okay, but he's usually better than his material, and Evangeline Lilly looks cute (and is far more sympathetic than she ever was in Lost). I got the distinct whiff of some kind of subtext promoting the awesomeness of blue collar America overcoming those invasive Nips and Russkies (it can't be a coincidence that the team in charge of the robot that Atom - our heroes' robot - is up against are Japanese and Russian).

I'm rather glad that this didn't do as well as expected since there's a calculated mimicry of the first Rocky in setting up a sequel (the film is equal parts Over the Top, however). The most interesting aspect of the plot - that Atom may be, on some level sentient - is left dangling there, so only the rock 'em, sock 'em robot action remains to enjoy.

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