dvd on tap: I, Robot [Alex Proyas]

Will Smith only plays one character, and one character only: smartass. The great thing about it is, he plays it well. Forget his forgettable rap music career, or his attempts to be a romantic-comedy lead (see Hitch) - Mr Smith is at his best when he plays the cool, hip, and wisecracking badass.

Apparently, 30 years from now, Smith still is who he is, as he plays retro-cop Del Spooner in 2035 Chicago. Loosely based on the Asimov book, where he formulated the Three Laws of Robotics, I, Robot is both a murder mystery and a reflection on technology. Smith functions as the audience basically, since he's still rooted in the 21st century while the world around him seemingly advances every second.

Asimov's voice is Alfred Lanning (James Cromwell), who "invented" the 3 Laws and tamed technology to the point that they have robots as assistants in daily living. But then Lanning is murdered, and all signs point to a non-human assassin (yep, they call him 'Sonny'). Techno-phobic Spooner has lot of entanglements with the metalgears before corralling Sonny, and it turns out there may be a greater complicated conspiracy afoot, because who could make Sonny break the Laws?


"One last time, delatas: who among you molested R2D2?"

Alongside the great CGI effects, the cast doesn't embarass itself, with Chi McBride (as Spooner's chief), Bruce Greenwood (the Bill Gates of that time), and of course, the requisite chick, Bridget Moynahan (skeptical scientist turned action heroine). There are a few surprises here and there, though you may have figured out the culprit 20 minutes before it ends. Still, I, Robot is still viewing manna, as any summer movie should be.