Robocop (2014), PG-13, 3 stars

Joel Kinnaman as RoboCop in action.

The original ROBOCOP movie was a brutally violent and funny film that depicted a poor city of Detroit with no hope and taken over by goons. I hate to admit it but Detroit is merely the same in contrast to the movie with the city filing bankruptcy and companies doing poor business. But, anyway, I kind of liked the movie despite the over-the-top violence but I enjoyed the humor behind consumerism, blood squibs and the police force. I got the spoof. So, based on the advertisements and marketing, I broke my rule of going into the theatre with a closed mind. However, to my surprise, I enjoyed this very different version of the ROBOCOP remake.

The movie opens with a television show hosted by Pat Novak (Samuel L. Jackson) discussing that every country except the United States has high-profile security with droids from a multinational business called OmniCorp. The audience witnesses suicide bombers successfully completing their mission by killing the droids and themselves. However, a bomber's child is terrified in horror and goes after a droid with a knife. The droid consider the child a threat and kills him. Novak is proud of the droids handling the situation as he compliments CEO Raymond Sellars (Michael Keaton) with his efforts. But, Senator Hubert Dreyfuss (Zach Grenier) is against Sellars' ideas and wants to issue an act against his law enforcement.

The movie advances to Detroit where we meet Officer Alex Murphy (Joel Kinnaman) to be issued a reprimand after a faulty mission. He tells his chief, Chief Karen Dean (Marianne Jean-Baptiste), about he got a lead from a crook to take down a crime boss. Unfortunately, Alex's partner was shot during the event.

In OmniCorp, Dr. Norton (Gary Oldman) is helping an armless man by inserting robotic limbs into his system. He is hesitant, at first, but confident and he asks the man to play his guitar. Norton is really overjoyed and therefore he is warned that he needs to be careful with his emotions. As Sellars calls Norton in, he insists that Norton fix the potential amputee candidates. But both Sellars and Norton dismiss them because of their physicality or their reputations.

As Murphy goes to his home where his wife Clara (Abbie Cornish) and his son David live. When Clara and Murphy about to get intimate, the car alarm goes off and he goes outside to turn it off until the car blows up trapping Murphy in an explosion. Norton and his associates discuss with Clara about a program that Alex is qualified to be a part of, however, this programs has Clara questioning what life will Alex have in the future. Therefore, three months later, he's part of a training program that will make him become ROBOCOP.

Joel Kinnaman in a ROBOCOP suit and Norton (Gary Oldman) looking on.

This remake is totally different from the original by not spoofing the corporate business and over-the-top violence because of the PG-13 rating. It is self-serious and self-indulgent at times but the movie was visually vibrant and the story was enough to be interesting. Therefore, I was surprised about the outcome of this movie. It was interesting and entertaining on balance, although, the plot and subplots were all over the place.

Joel Kinnaman is passable as the fresh Robocop, but he's nowhere near memorable in comparison to Peter Weller's Robocop in the 1987 film. Gary Oldman is good providing one of the most innocent characters on-screen since he mostly plays villains. Michael Keaton is fun as the villainous businessman, but he kind of lacks wit. Samuel L. Jackson is a good actor but at times, I felt like that his latter scenes were a bit unnecessary. But, I did like his scenes in the opening of the movie, though.

I have to admit I did enjoy this movie but marginally, probably at the same level as the 1987 movie. So, clearly, they are both pretty much even in quality and charm. The new one has vibrant special effects and a meticulous plot, but not a lot of wit and charm, whereas, the original had charm and wit, but corny special effects and too much violence. As a February movie, it is a passable result in terms of entertainment.

***