MOVIE REVIEW | The Wild Robot – The Wild Robot is a heartwarming animated film that explores themes of identity, belonging, and teamwork in a gentle yet meaningful way.
While primarily targeted at children, it offers an underlying message for adults about the power of love and how it can drive us to do extraordinary—or even irrational—things. This thoughtful layer adds depth to what could have been a straightforward family film.
The story follows Roz, a ROZZUM unit 7134, who is shipwrecked on a remote island and must learn to adapt to her new, untamed surroundings. Initially built for efficiency, Roz gradually forms relationships with the island’s animal inhabitants and becomes the adoptive mother to an orphaned gosling. This journey of adaptation and emotional growth is central to the film’s charm, showcasing how even a robot can learn the importance of community and connection.
Structurally, the film feels as though it’s broken into clear sections, almost episodic in nature.
While this doesn’t detract from the overall experience, it does make it feel like it could easily be split into 6 or 7 television episodes. This segmentation is noticeable, but doesn’t diminish the film’s emotional impact or storytelling.
Viewers will likely connect with the film’s various themes in different ways, depending on their own experiences. Whether it’s the sense of feeling disconnected, lost, or like an outsider trying to find your place, The Wild Robot resonates on multiple levels.
Personally, I found myself identifying most with Fink, the fox character, whose arc speaks to the complexities of trust and understanding.
While not a groundbreaking masterpiece, The Wild Robot is neither a failure. It’s a wholesome, feel-good adventure that’s perfect for families, offering light entertainment with just enough emotional depth to leave you smiling and uplifted by the end.
Link to Universal Pictures HERE
MOVIE REVIEW | The Wild Robot
TV Central Movie Reviews HERE
Rating
Aaron: 7 / 10 “enough positive underlying themes to walk away feeling encouraged”
Zak: 8 / 10 “an inward experience. Could I be the real Roz? “
@universalpicsau
Cinema Experience:
Tucked away on the outskirts of Perth’s CBD, The Backlot offers a unique and intimate cinema experience. With just 50 seats, this private screening room provides a cozy yet upscale atmosphere, complete with a stylish lounge and fully stocked bar, making it a standout venue for film lovers.
What sets The Backlot apart is its personalized service. During my visit, the host went the extra mile, even providing glassware and ice with a simple soft drink purchase. Unfortunately no popcorn provided, as per the previous screening at this cinema.
However, the room’s small size can be a drawback. Sitting in the second row (out of just five rows), I found myself too close to the screen, which detracted slightly from the overall experience. Despite this, The Backlot remains a charming spot for those seeking a private, boutique cinema experience.
Viewed at The Backlot, Perth.
The Wild Robot
From DreamWorks Animation comes a new adaptation of a literary sensation, Peter Brown’s beloved, award-winning, #1 New York Times bestseller, The Wild Robot.
The epic adventure follows the journey of a robot—ROZZUM unit 7134, “Roz” for short — that is shipwrecked on an uninhabited island and must learn to adapt to the harsh surroundings, gradually building relationships with the animals on the island and becoming the adoptive parent of an orphaned gosling.
The Wild Robot stars Academy Award® winner Lupita Nyong’o (Us, The Black Panther franchise) as robot Roz; Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Pedro Pascal (The Last of Us, The Mandalorian) as fox Fink; Emmy winner Catherine O’Hara (Schitt’s Creek, Best in Show) as opossum Pinktail; Oscar® nominee Bill Nighy (Living, Love Actually) as goose Longneck; Kit Connor (Heartstopper, Rocketman) as gosling Brightbill and Oscar® nominee Stephanie Hsu (Everything Everywhere All at Once, this summer’s The Fall Guy) as Vontra, a robot that will intersect with Roz’s life on the island.
The film also features the voice talents of Emmy winning pop-culture icon Mark Hamill (Star Wars franchise, The Boy and the Heron), Matt Berry (What We Do in the Shadows, The SpongeBob Movie franchise) and Golden Globe winner and Emmy nominee Ving Rhames (Mission: Impossible films, Pulp Fiction).
A powerful story about the discovery of self, a thrilling examination of the bridge between technology and nature and a moving exploration of what it means to be alive and connected to all living things, The Wild Robot is written and directed by three-time Oscar® nominee Chris Sanders—the writer-director of DreamWorks Animation’s How to Train Your Dragon, The Croods, and Disney’s Lilo & Stitch—and is produced by Jeff Hermann (DreamWorks Animation’s The Boss Baby 2: Family Business; co-producer, Kung Fu Panda franchise).
Peter Brown’s The Wild Robot, an illustrated middle-grade novel first published in 2016, became a phenomenon, rocketing to #1 on the New York Times bestseller list. The book has since inspired a trilogy that now includes The Wild Robot Escapes and The Wild Robot Protects. Brown’s work on the Wild Robot series and his other bestselling books have earned him a Caldecott Honor, a Horn Book Award, two E.B. White Awards, two E.B. White Honors, a Children’s Choice Award for Illustrator of the Year, two Irma Black Honors, a Golden Kite Award and a New York Times Best Illustrated Book Award.
Starring: Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Catherine O’Hara, Bill Nighy, Kit Connor and Stephanie Hsu, with Mark Hamill, Matt Berry and Ving Rhames
Based on: The Wild Robot novel by Peter Brown
Written and directed by: Chris Sanders
Producer: Jeff Hermann
The Wild Robot – 12 September, 2024
