In the near future, crime is patrolled by an oppressive mechanized police force. When one police droid, Chappie, is stolen and given new programming, he becomes the first robot with the ability to think and feel for himself.
Neill Blomkamp is a goddamn genius. Neill Blomkamp is also an abysmal filmmaker.
Verdict: Derivative sci-fi.
Coming on at times like District 9.5, Blomkamp’s third movie has just about enough spectacle and quirk to overcome some fairly major flaws, not least of which is an unappealing central trio.
While it doesn’t reach the explosive highs of District 9, sci-fi fans will find plenty to enjoy in Chappie. Copley excels, the VFX are exceptional, but the story needs fine-tuning.
This admirable misfire is often endearing and Chappie is creatively designed and feels real, but an unsophisticated approach to its subject matter combined with the slight characterisations edges it perilously close to the scrapheap.
Blomkamp plays on our emotions but the plot is derivative and messy.
Chappie is a broad, brash picture, which does not allow itself to get bogged down in arguing about whether or not “artificial intelligence” is possible. It has subversive energy and fun.
Chappie is an ambitious futuristic epic that struggles to balance its more philosophical elements with Blomkamp’s cartoonish instinct to blow everything to smithereens. Not exactly subtle but still a watchable guilty pleasure.
Neill Blomkamp’s latest sci-fi romp about a police droid reprogrammed to emote and think fails to convince.
General release. Check local listings for show times.