The original RoboCop, released in 1987, wowed moviegoers with its state-of-the-art special effects and hardcore violence all wrapped around a thrilling tale of a police officer who is killed in the line of duty and reborn as part man, part machine, all cop. So when trailers of the RoboCop reboot began appearing on TV, I asked myself the same question many fans of the original did, why reboot such a classic?
Early trailers of RoboCop hinted of a movie filled with action, just enough of Samuel L. Jackson and also featured a classic line from the original, “Dead or alive you’re coming with me.” All that was enough to know that I had to watch this movie.
The RoboCop reboot takes place in 2028, when robotic foot soldiers have become a fundamental part of U.S. foreign policy patrolling war-torn states in the name of freedom. But a Senate bill in the U.S. prevents those same drones from patrolling streets in America because politicians fear robots gaining authority over people. OmniCorp, the world’s leading robot defense company, realizes that Americans want a figure they can rally behind that pledges to “put a man inside a machine.”
Alex Murphy is that guy, an honest cop and family man whose body is badly injured in the early proceeding paving the way for RoboCop. In jet-black body armor, RoboCop is an immediate hit with the public, saving lives, cutting crime, delivering swift and efficient justice.
But where the original movie merely touched on the moral issues of turning man into machine and focused more on RoboCop cleaning up the streets of Detroit, this remake is preoccupied with it. A great deal of the movie is spent by Murphy trying to find his place in the world while OmniCorp tries to control him.
RoboCop is billed as an action movie, but at times it feels like a philosophy lesson. It seems to focus more on drama than action, which gives the movie an underwhelming feeling and just seems to coast along ending with whimper rather than a bang.
Despite this, action scenes look amazing with modern effects allowing RoboCop to move quicker, jump higher and punch harder than ever before. There is also a spectacular robot rumble where the camera is constantly in motion while our hero battles against super aggressive robotic foot soldiers, infusing the scene with energy that the movie should of had. But these action scenes are few and far between.
There are also some very effective nods to the original RoboCop, from the music to the taser gun emerging from his leg. Samuel Jackson also provides a bit of comedic relief playing a motor mouth news host delivering angry monologues that are pro robot and anti-freedom.
But despite the feeling that the movie seemed like a missed opportunity, there’s no denying that what’s there is enjoyable. RoboCop isn’t a rehashed waste of time. Some good performances, great visuals, and a hero that’s easy to get behind, RoboCop was definitely entertaining. Too bad it could’ve been much more.
5 Stars