Sean Young: Basic Pleasure Model.

Rating: 5/10 (10 October 2009)

Nice romantic, futuristic score by Vangelis and the production design is stunning. But, like salad dressing, it ought to have something worthwhile to go on. I realize this film has a big following and is extremely popular in some circles but I was unable to get with it.
No complaints about the performances or casting. Take Sean Young. If you took a talented sculptor, asked him to close his eyes for a few minutes and dream up the most beautiful woman imaginable, he might come up with someone with Sean Young's features. Well, throw in her unimpeachable body too. You'd have to instruct the sculptor carefully though. None of this "interesting" business, just plain gorgeous, get it? Forget the Mona Lisa or Eakins' wife. Think Betty and Veronica.
You can't sculpt acting talent, lamentably, but in this case it doesn't matter. Anything low normal or above will do. Sean Young is all glossed up in a hyper-Hollywood manner. Her eyes carefully darkened, her lips a deep and shiny cherry red. Even bald, she looks just fine.
Obviously a lot of effort and imagination have gone into this movie, but what, really, is it all about? A government hit man is hired to find and terminate half a dozen evidently violent robots who are developing human traits. But, suppose the hit man, Harrison Ford, and the object of his intentions, Sean Young, feel attracted towards one another? These robots appear to eat and do commit other acts of biological interest although why that was programmed into them is problematic. Interesting question that has been raised often before.
In any case, when the broth is reduced, it's a pretty slow movie. Some suspense and a good deal of romance. I didn't get much out of it, didn't really care about the characters, but don't want to advise anyone to avoid it. If you peaked on Scale 8 of the original Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. Or -- well, you'd have to go to a lot of trouble to find that out. So, to save time, just ask yourself if you have any faith in astrology. If yes, see this flick.