Review: Chappie

Neil Blomkamp is a man with no shortage of ideas when it comes to the sci-fi genre. Chappie has dozens of intriguing notion contained within it. These ideas, however, rarely go anywhere or add up to an overall point. Instead of being some kind of message film like his two previous films, District 9 and Elysium, Chappie ends up being oddly empty and unaffecting.

Chappie concerns an overly complicated plot regarding an inventor Deon, played by a solid Dev Patel, trying to make a sentient robot. In this future world of Johanesberg, robots are the new police. Rival inventor Vincent, a miscast Hugh Jackman, is untrusting of robots and does everything to stop Deon. However, Deon succeeds in uploaded consciousness to one robot. Chappie is soon kidnapped by thugs, a horrible double performance by the members of rap/rave group Die Antwoord. They soon teach Chappie how to be the worst human possible in order to get them to assist in robberies. There are other side plots that distract including a silly rival gang straight out of Mad Max.

A large part of the blame of Chappie's failure to achieve anything moving or poignant is due to the design of the lead robot. Without any face, even a robotic one, Chappie feels oddly flat throughout many of the film's scenes. I personally didn't need Chappie to be emotionally rich but the one can feel the screenplay trying hard to pull on heartstrings. The script also feels like it is trying to make a point but what point becomes increasingly unclear as the action ramps up in the final act.

Blomkamp visually sells Chappie very well. The visual magic on display is quite amazing and a few well staged action sequences do get the pulse running. However, the lead characters of Chappie, Ninja and Yo-landi lack any relatability and the acting all around is dismal. The world building is also subpar which is one of Blompkamp's usual strengths. This director has never had a strong hand at pacing but in particular Chappie feels frantic, never resting to let the bigger ideas it touches upon to have time to sink in or for characters to reflect on anything.

Overall Chappie is a creation of the same level as Jar Jar Binks, a wholly unlikeable character. The film feels misaimed at an adult audience. The film feels like Short Circuit and District 9 smashed together, one part silliness and one part heavy handed genre filmmaking. Chappie is a huge misstep. Here's hoping Blompkamp can make a more cohesive film with his upcoming Alien sequel.

1.5/5