Gears in ‘Robots’ need oil

“Robots” is the latest animated film squarely aimed at the audience

that loved “Toy Story” and “Shrek.”

It has first-rate 3-D computer graphics that look futuristic and

retro at the same time. It has many famous actors voicing the robot

roles. It features contemporary issues that adults can appreciate,

while entertaining the youngsters with good-natured, lowbrow humor.

Like “Finding Nemo,” it has a central character on a personal

quest. But “Robots” presents sophisticated villains straight from

today’s business headlines.

The bad guys have taken over a giant corporation that makes

low-cost replacement parts for many robot models. The new leaders

eliminate the spare parts business. They seek to force aging robots

to buy their company’s expensive upgrades or die a horrible junkyard

death.

Young robot inventor Rodney Copperbottom (voiced by Ewan McGregor)

oozes integrity as he tries to thwart the evil corporation. His quest

takes him on many head-spinning rides with Fender, a comical sidekick

in need of many replacement parts. Voiced by Robin Williams, this

rapid-fire joker is the heart of the movie’s comedy. A host of

offbeat characters add smiles and life to the story.

“Robots” is not as great as the award-winning films it seeks to

imitate. But it remains a very family-friendly and amusing diversion

in a sea of lesser films that want your kids’ attention.

* JOHN DEPKO is a Costa Mesa resident and a senior investigator

for the Orange County public defender’s office.

OLD ROLES DIE HARD FOR BRUCE WILLIS IN ‘HOSTAGE’

Poor Bruce Willis. Like Stallone, Arnold, etc., he is destined to

be forever defined by the role that made him a star -- in his case,

“Die Hard.”

“Hostage,” directed by Florent Siri, is an interesting thriller

that pays its respects to Willis’ action fame and even manages some

interesting plot twists before it drowns itself in blood and bullets.

Willis is Jeff Talley, a Los Angeles Police Dept. negotiator who

retreats to a job as police chief in a quiet Ventura County town

after a hostage situation goes very, very bad. The angst from that

episode has also soured his relationships with his wife and daughter.

Meanwhile, Walter Smith (Kevin Pollak) is cruising through town

with his family in his Escalade, which catches the eye of three

teens. They follow Smith to his posh hillside home with the idea of

stealing the car. Smith is so busy arguing with sullen teenager

Jennifer (Michelle Horn) that he doesn’t see the security cameras

catching the boys hopping the wall. Before we know it, Smith’s out

cold, and his daughter and son Tommy (Jimmy Bennett) are being held

at gunpoint.

When a police officer is killed, Talley is called in to the

rescue. Or is he?

Once again guilt-ridden over a death he could not prevent, Talley

gladly hands the situation over to the county sheriffs. But suddenly,

we have a second set of hostages, new villains and new demands to

worry about, and Talley puts himself back on the case.

Obviously, the bad guys must not have seen his work in the first,

second or third “Die Hard,” or they wouldn’t be messing with him now.

Little Tommy gets to do some major action too. He enlists Talley’s

help via cellphone, crawls around the spotlessly clean air ducts in

his house and spies on the creeps who are drooling over dad’s

impressive cash stash and his nubile sister, at one point, even

wielding a gun bigger than his head.

Kidnapper Mars (Ben Foster from “Six Feet Under”) proves to be a

psychopath with serious dating issues.

“Today is my best day,” he purrs over Jennifer before tying her

up.

OK, whatever.

Willis is reliable and believable as a heroic cop and father

caught in the middle of a ridiculous action thriller.

So relieved is he at the end of the movie, that he drives off and

leaves a hostage behind. What you talkin’ ‘bout, Willis?

* SUSANNE PEREZ lives in Costa Mesa and is an executive assistant

for a financial services company.