Knock, knock. Who's there? An Android. An Android who?
An Android who couldn't save a bland movie with all the replacement parts in China.

Bicentennial Man based on a short story by Isaac Asimov, is the tale of a unique Android named Andrew
(played by Robin Williams) and his desire to transcend machinery and breathe the air of freedom. Andrew arrives on the scene with Sam Neill, or "Sir", a wealthy clock-maker with an extraordinary house and a less than extraordinary family. Mom and "Little Miss", the youngest stand fearful as the crate from Robotics is opened and Andrew enters into their grand living room. The second sister stands defiant and challenging: "So what..everyone has one of these," she says scornfully.

Andrew forms a special bond with Little Miss, played by Embeth Davidtz (who ultimately plays a duel role to compensate for the aging factor in the movie), and gets special tutoring from "Sir" on the areas in which he hasn't received programming, such as The Birds and The Bees, and Humor.

Gooooooood Morning Schtick

Perhaps it's because it *is* Robin Williams, and therefore how can we possibly not expect to hear the tirade of one-liners or bad jokes coming from the Android? Yet when it finally happens I found myself so bored and aggravated that the humor was irritating.

The Premise

"Sometime in the near Future" is the time frame, but with the exception of a few saucer type vehicles in traffic, one never gets the feeling that it is indeed the future.

Realizing how unique "One" or Andrew actually is, Sir brings him back to the company, where the desire is at once to reprogram the Android. Sir spends the next twenty years ensuring that no mad scientist ever gets the opportunity to take the robot away.

Overall

There was little or nothing throughout this film in terms of action, character development or the "feel-good" factor. Direction was ploddy, lines were segmented, supporting staff was flat. One brief moment that had me gasping was a very cruel trick that the older child plays on Andrew in the beginning of the movie. Other than that, it was a challenge to continue on with the rest of the movie.

A saving grace and bit of levity and lightness in a movie bogged down by boring parts was the character played by Oliver Platt. He is the son of the man who first developed the part of the Android industry responsible for facial expressions. The ten minute segment involving refitting Andrew for his human face and parts was interesting and fun. Yet if Andrew was dull as a robot, you can't imagine how much more boring the plot becomes when Robin Williams becomes a human being.

Robin Williams IS a machine-a comic machine. Yet he CAN deliver the poignant and sad and heart-wrenching factor as well as demonstrated in his holocaust role in Jakob The Liar. Somehow a few screws came loose in Bicentennial Man, and the toast never did quite pop.

There was so much potential for more in this film with the premise of machine versus life, Fountain of Youth versus aging, and the elements of how mankind reacts and lives with it's own kind. Yet faulty direction, a boring script and flat performances leave this Man for the Ages movie toasted with boredom.

Recommended:
No

Suitability For Children: Not suitable for Children of any age