Fun and thoughtful, but still a Hollywood Action/Comedy

Rating: 10/10 (8 February 2008)

This is a great movie. Exclamation point x2. Thanks to the acting, it's one that can be re-watched without getting old. It's good for laughs and the action keeps the science fiction premise from getting boring for those who aren't into sci-fi.
First off, there will be some people who will hate this movie because it does not recreate the short story collection for which it is named. That's just too bad. This movie is not a recreation of an Asimov story, but it does more than just pay lip-service to the writer. "I, Robot" is informed by and explores themes and concepts that Asimov practically invented. I urge any fan of Isaac Asimov to watch this movie for what it was intended to be: an exploration of the theme within the framework of an action movie, and not to expect someone to recreate what Dr. Asimov did in print for the big screen.
Will Smith gives one of his serious performances. If you are not a fan of Will Smith's comedy style, his performance here should not turn you off. His acting is more like his character in Enemy of the State (serious, but with some comedic lines) than his Wild Wild West or Men in Black characters. Personally, I love Will Smith as an actor, and this role exploits his talents to their fullest.
The other actors and the other characters also add to the enjoyability of this movie. I may be the only one who sees this, but I think the character of Alfred Lanning (the father of robotics who dies to kick off the plot in this movie) is a tribute to Isaac Asimov. I take the words of loving memory spoken in praise of the fictional character as praise for Asimov. The character of Susan Calvin is made into an appealing female, but that divergence in character is not unwelcome and she otherwise does not stray unbelievably from her character in the books.
The plot of this movie is a murder mystery and an exploration of secrets and dark dealings in the fictional US Robotics, which is akin to Microsoft in this fictional world, but having the monopoly on robots rather than operating systems. Isaac Asimov's 3 Laws of Robotics and their consequences and interpretation play a pivotal role in the movie, as do questions of the nature of artificial intelligence and prejudice based on experience.
But don't mistake this movie for an intellectual ride. It's an action thriller full of chases and sporadic action with one-liners delivered with the charm of mega-star Will Smith. It's a Hollywood movie made smart by an original concept inspired by Isaac Asimov's ideas.
What gets this movie my ten is not any one element. It's that the movie blends several appealing elements in just the right proportions to place it well above 95% of most movies being made. To counter the claim of another reviewer: Spiderman 2 is a better action movie. Shrek is a better comedy. But I, Robot is a better movie overall that is more enjoyable to repeat watch than either of those two.