CHAPPIE: THE ESSENCE OF LIFE

Count me among the fans of the film CHAPPIE. I saw this film when it first hit theaters and enjoyed it at the time. Having just finished watching it on DVD I can say that the movie got better the second time around. It touched me in so many ways, was never boring and was good enough that I look forward to watching it again and again.

The story takes place in the near future in Johannesburg, South Africa. Crime has increased beyond belief and to assist the police there robots have been designed to take the brunt of the damage and flying bullets leaving the real police to come in and clean up/help afterwards. Tetravaal, the company responsible for the robots has had a huge success rate with them and the police have just placed an order for 100 more robots.

All of this is good news for Deon (Dev Patel), the designer of the robots but bad news for Vincent Moore (Hugh Jackman), the creator of a different robot he hoped would be more sought after. Where Deon’s robots are more human like in structure Vincent’s is more akin to the ED-209 combat robots found in the film ROBOCOP, hulking monstrosities that instill fear in those who see them before it would launch the humongous amount of firepower it contains on suspects. Vincent becomes the catalyst for much of the problems that happen as the film unfolds.

Deon, dripping with success, ask the head of the company (Sigourney Weaver) if he can use a damaged robot to test his newest program, a program that will create a true AI (artificial intelligence) in the robots basically making them living creations who would be able to think, to grow, to learn and be more human than the current batch. Denied the chance to do so Deon steals the damaged robot with the intention of doing the test on his own.

Before that can happen though Deon is kidnapped by a trio of thieves intent on making some big money. Ninja, Yolandi and Amerika are in debt big time to the major crime boss and have just seven days to make the money he requires from them for a lost shipment of drugs they were responsible for. Thinking Deon can flip a switch and turn off all the robots they discover the robots aren’t controlled that way. Their thinking then turns to using this robot to aid them in a heist and allow Deon to program and wake the robot.

The robot wakes with the mind of a child, something Ninja doesn’t understand nor has time for. Yolandi grows attached to the robot, naming him Chappie, and sets out do as Deon says and teach him. As the film progresses all three members teach Chappie various things, everything from walking cool to cursing to shooting a gun. But Chappie has promised not to commit crimes. An angry Ninja turns Chappie loose in a bad part of town where he is attacked by thugs in the area, damaged and then captured by Vincent who is looking for the single programming key used by Tetravaal to program all robots.

Making his way home, feelings hurt (this is a sentient being now due to Deon’s programming), Ninja apologizes to Chappie and Yolandi while Amerika helps rebuild the robot. Finding a way to maneuver around the promise Chappie made he and Amerika train Chappie to aid them in various crimes with lies. While this is going on, Deon tries to find a way to retrieve Chappie to help him grow.

All of that is tossed aside when Vincent, now in possession of the programming key, shuts down every robot in operation and tries to delete their programming. With no robots around crime runs rampant. Vincent doesn’t see the downside but plays this up as a way to test out his battle ready robot. The question is will it be as effective or will Chappie have to save the day when push comes to shove.

What makes this movie work is Chappie himself. Not only do the special effects used to bring this robot to life amaze while watching, the humor and subtle movements of Chappie make for both touching and hilarious moments in the film. Before the movie is half over you find yourself rooting for Chappie and wishing you could take him home with you.

But the robot isn’t the only thing that makes it work. All performances on screen are outstanding, from the well know Patel and Jackman to the duo of Ninja and Yolandi, a rapping duo from South Africa who make their major debut in this film. The swagger Ninja displays as a tough guy feels real as does the caring and nurturing emotions displayed by Yolandi. As “mommy” and “daddy” to Chappie, the pair teach him things that come off funny, touching and in the end, more human than some of the actual human beings in the film.

By the end of the film you’ll be wanting to take Chappie home with you. You’ll want a robot just like him to help around the house and to take care of. You’ll find yourself wondering just where life and the soul truly come from. And you’ll want to go back to the main menu and start the movie over again because you had that much fun watching it. I know this is one I plan on keeping on the nearest shelf as opposed to just storing it. I think I’ll be wanting to watch it over and over again, I had that much fun with it.

One word of warning, the language and violence depicted, even though much of it is directed at a robot, are enough that young children shouldn’t be exposed to what is on screen here. I have little doubt it would be upsetting for them or the more sensitive viewer. Even though, the movie is one of the best to come out this past year. 

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