REVIEW - ROBOT & FRANK

Boosted by a more pointed tone than many American indie comedy-dramas of its ilk, Robot & Frank is a formulaic but engrossing diversion. If there is a film for every occasion, this one is one-size-fits-all - perfect for a rainy afternoon, a cold evening or when you need a little cheering up. It's unchallenging, almost to a fault, in fact, as there are thematic depths untroubled by the screenplay, which seems to avoid them each time they threaten to emerge. But if Robot & Frank aims to satisfy your comfort rather than your curiosity as a viewer, it is a most satisfactory film. The fragmented treatment of secondary characters and the arbitrariness of the low-level heist plot might have suggested a narrative reflection of Frank's advancing senility in a more focused film, but that then might have spoiled its carefree nature. As it is, its weaknesses are continually masked by its warmth and affability, and only become clear once it has finished, when one is less likely to care. And isn't it refreshing to see debut filmmakers content to make a modest, simple piece of entertainment, rather than naively rely on overreaching ambition and questionable levels of skill? Perhaps not always, but I think there's space enough in the industry for talents like director Jake Schreier and writer Christopher D. Ford. Leading cast members approach their roles with an absence of pretentiousness, and palpable chemistry, and there's a smart late-game twist that contributes an unexpected emotional component to this experience, which is welcome. This helps to redeem some of the less inspired moments, as does the comedy side of proceedings - this is a stronger comedy than drama, with a handful of terrific one-liners right out of Woody Allen.