Review: Chappie Is A Modern Update To A Classic Tale
- May 31, 2017
- 3 min read
Continuing in his tradition of creating a plausible future that not only looks and feels real but one that brings up the usual sci-fi ideas in new ways. This time he's tackling a tale as old as time itself. What is life? Robocop, Short Circuit, Blade Runner and more have tackled the question, but none have done it quite like this.
In the near future Johannesburg sees the implementation of a nearly fully robotic police force. The scouts are tougher, more reliable and completely disposable. Deon Wilson (Dev Patel), the creator of this new mechanised law enforcement, is more interested in developing a true AI, one that can learn, think for itself and, in true genius style, he makes while fuelled by redbull and determination alone. Uploading the program in a broken scout, Chappie (Sharlto Copley) is born. There's just one small problem, Chappie, functionally a fast learning, indestructible child, is in the hands of a team of flamboyant gangsters.
While Chappie's overarching story, one of hat it means to be alive, of the difference between artificial and natural intelligence, is nothing new, placing said AI in the hands of the people least qualified to care for it. Chappie himself is easily the most enjoyable part of the movie, torn between dedication to his creator and loyalty to an incredibly dysfunctional "family". Toss in a villainous Hugh Jackman, a man who doesn't believe AI is the next step forward, instead preferring the idea of a human controlled machine and you've got a recipe for a disastrous amount of fun.
Sharlto Copley once again displays his incredible range. Within the Blomkamp films alone he's gone from bureaucrat to psycho to an unkillable child. He's got all the hyperactive sensibilities of an 8 year old with limitless energy combined with the ability to learn at an accelerated rate and gun down enemies with incredible accuracy. Chappie forms the emotional centre of the film with some scenes standing head and shoulders above far more serious films than this one. He switches from being outrageously funny totally badass with ease. The rest of the cast are nothing special. Dev Patel is pretty boring but thankfully isn't a major focus, the gangsters are ridiculous but not being actual actors, can be a little off at times. Jackman is hands down the best human character but even he is subject to being so ridiculous it's difficult to take him seriously.
Ridiculous is exactly what Chappie is. While District 9 and Elysium were far more serious films, dealing with much more relevant subject matter, Chappie is lighthearted nonsense. It would fit right into the mid 1980's with ease and, if it was indeed released then, it would probably considered a classic. Instead it was released in 2015, a time when people seem to be unable to enjoy a film for what it is. One would think that by the time Chappie is jacking cars with rubber chickens they would have realised that the movie isn't taking itself seriously, and neither should they.
Blomkamp once again brings visually spectacular action, slow motion, gorgeous cinematography and mech battles for his third time around. While he still hasn't surpassed District 9, and probably never will, Chappie is a blast to watch, provided you don't try to get to deep into it.
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