Review by Kam Williams

It's Chicago in the year 2035, and with virtually every aspect of life fully automated, technology has practically taken over. For instance, automobiles can now drive themselves and, thanks to U.S. Robotics (USR), the ratio of robots to humans is 1 to 5.

For this manufacturer of people-friendly androids has figured out how to program their very sophisticated machines for good. And since none has ever committed a crime, nobody bothers to question whether the robots are trustworthy.

Nobody except cynical Del Spooner (Will Smith). Del, a detective on the city's police force, is a nostalgic throwback who still wears Converse sneakers and who likes to drive his car himself. And the world is lucky that he becomes increasingly curious about the circumstances surrounding the suicide of USR's leading scientist, Dr. Alfred Lanning (James Cromwell), who supposedly leapt to his death inside corporate headquarters.

Given the impending roll out its next generation of robots, the NS-5, the company wants to squelch any rumors circulating which might implicate an automated domestic assistant. So, it assures the authorities that their product is "Three Laws Safe," meaning guaranteed to comply with the three laws of Robotics, namely, 1) A robot may not injure a human being or, through inaction, allow a human being to come to harm; 2) A robot must obey orders given to it by human beings except where such orders would conflict with the First Law; 3) A robot must protect its own existence as long as such protection does not conflict with the First or Second Law.

Though his boss, Lt. John Bergin (Chi McBride), capitulates to the considerable pressure to accept the official explanation, Del alone remains suspicious and refuses to close the case. USR suggests that he work with attractive Dr. Susan Calvin (Bridget Moynahan), who has been ordered to accommodate him in any way possible.

Besides a little flirting, the pair's relationship is basically all business. She is a shrink of sorts whose job is "to make the robots seem human." Together, they embark on an intriguing adventure as they first uncover frightening evidence that Dr. Lanning was, in fact, murdered, and then attempt to get at the root of by whom or what, and why.

This is the fascinating premise behind I, Robot, a movie very loosely based on a collection of sci-fi stories by Isaac Asimov about robots gone wild. This screen version is the most intellectually-intriguing action film of the year, as it raises quite a number of thought-provoking, philosophical questions while simultaneously offering one heck of a wild roller coaster ride with eye-popping special effects.

Expect to witness vintage Will Smith in a familiar, if slightly more serious, role than usual. Instead of wisecracking about aliens, ala Men in Black, here, he's up against automatons in a relatively sinister, "worst that could happen" scenario. Smith's engaging persona, plus the film's impressive, computer-generated imagery is primarily what distinguishes its familiar-sounding plot points (think Paycheck, Minority Report, and Blade Runner) from other similar sci-fi flicks.

Between cracking a few corny jokes about his ex-wife, Spooner's very intent on determining to what extent artificial intelligence might have spiraled out of control. Is it due to a mad scientist, a greedy CEO, or something beyond anyone's control? What has enabled the rebelling robots to think for themselves, to emote and even to behave independently of their programming?

The surprising answers are satisfying, yet designed to leave you scratching your head wondering about humanity’s prospects as you walk up the aisle. That’s quality entertainment!

Excellent (4 stars)

Rated PG-13 for intense sci-fi action and brief nudity.