Bicentennial Man 1999, Rated PG Buena Vista Home Entertainment

Buy it from

Starring Robin Williams, et al. Released to DVD on June 13, 2000.

When critiquing an actor's portrayal of any given character, writing that the thespian's performance is wooden or robotic is just about the worst thing a reviewer can write. Audiences want to be able to relate and identify with the lead characters. It is for precisely this reason that there aren't too many leads that are made of wood or robots, Pinnochio being the obvious exception. Not allowing this slight bit of common sense to stand in his way, director Chris Columbus forged ahead and did his best to transform Isaac Asimov's science fiction short story, Bicentennial Man into Disney's latest warm, fuzzy, family blockbuster starring Robin Williams. However, Columbus' best wasn't good enough to turn this film into anything but another Williams flop ala Flubber. Set in the near future, Williams stars as Andrew, a robot man servant that is programmed to obey every instruction he is given by his owners--including should a 12 year old girl instruct him to jump out of a second story window. What follows next is a cursory look at the 200 years of the robot's life span, as Andrew develops emotions, feelings and, eventually, something kind of like skin that allows Williams to act sans costume.