Bicentennial Man was stung at the 1999 box office, due no doubt in part to poor timing during a backlash against Robin Williams and his treacly performances in two other, then-recent, releases, Jakob the Liar and Patch Adams. But this near-approximation of a science-fiction epic, based on works by Isaac Asimov and directed, with uncharacteristic seriousness of purpose, by Chris Columbus (Mrs Doubtfire), is much better than one would have known from the knee-jerk negativity and box-office indifference.
Williams plays Andrew, a robot programmed for domestic chores and sold to an upper-middle-class family, the Martins, in the year 2005. The family patriarch (Sam Neill) recognizes and encourages Andrew's uncommon characteristics, particularly his artistic streak, sensitivity to beauty, humour and independence of spirit. In so doing, he sets Williams's tin man on a two-century journey to become more human than most human beings.
As adapted by screenwriter Nicholas Kazan, the movie's scale is novelistic, though Columbus isn't the man to embrace with Spielbergian confidence its sweeping possibilities. Instead, the Home Alone director shakes off his familiar tendencies to pander and matures, finally, as a captivating storyteller. But what really makes this film matter is its undercurrent of deep yearning, the passion of Andrew as a convert to the human race and his willingness to sacrifice all to give and take love. Williams rises to an atypical challenge here as a futuristic Everyman, relying, perhaps for the first time, on his considerable iconic value to make the point that becoming human means becoming more like Robin Williams. Nothing wrong with that. -- Tom Keogh, Amazon.com
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Awesome film...simple This is a great film, funny and emotional...the lack of 1 star reviews should tell you something. I'm a grown man and can honestly tell you this film made me cry...just buy it...
Simply Amazing Bicentennial Man is a film which follows a unique and extraordinary robot over a period of approximately two hundred years in his attempt to "...be acknowledged," and become more human. It becomes obvious early after his activation by Richard Martin (Sam Neill) in the family home that `Andrew' is more that just another NDR robot. He develops an interest in classical music, builds a friendship with `little miss' and becomes a skilled craftsman... or craftsbot? The passage of time in Bicentennial Man is... more info
In search of Humanity I was surprised that this was billed as a comedy, instead of a drama. I would also think that most children watching this film will be bored and confused with the subject matter. Although it is a clean family movie, the topics covered (i.e. euthanasia, discrimination, immortality, etc.) are most definitely adult. I very much enjoyed the human story about a robot's search for meaning and humanity. This is a thought provoking and touching drama which contemplates very complex issues in a highly... more info
wow! what a film this film is one of the best robin williams films there is.it is a great gripping film that will keep you glued to the screen.plus its on for a great length of time which makes it great for a night with with a pizza.the film is very different and very funny in its own way.i would buy it if i were you!!
![Bicentennial Man [2000]](http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41B591QPZ9L._SL160_.jpg)
