Still, it does fit my criteria for even wanting to see it at all, which is that Cinefex Magazine did an article on it, and has Oliver Platt in it. Robin Williams is thankfully very restrained here, using his mime skills to act through a completely rigid costume, at least until his android character is given “upgrades” that allow for more movement and expression. The basic story is simple - an android servant has an AI glitch that causes him to seek humanity, and as such, legal recognition as an individual. It takes him about 200 years to do so - hence the “bicentennial” of the title. Meanwhile the various humans in his life age, as humans are unfortunately wont to do. Andrew doesn’t really “upgrade” too much until he finds Oliver Platt’s robotics maverick, who’s come up with an artificial skin that looks real, plus has a knack for making artifical organs. He allows Williams to drop the robot act entirely and to pursue the hand of that little Pepsi Girl’s great-something granddaughter. Er, yes, it does have a happy ending.

What I liked:

• That robot suit. The designers achieved their goal of making a suit entirely of rigid parts, unlike say, the large flexible black areas of the Robocop suit. But no one can fault Peter Weller for wanting to have at least some semblance of comfort.
• Oliver Platt’s scenes. Not because I’m some crazed stalker of his, but because the best special effects were in his scenes. Throwing a blob of thermogel onto a Robin Williams form and working it to suddenly become his face, carrying his head across the room while it continues to speak, the upgrade montage, and even that insane female robot of his.

• Well… maybe Williams was actually TOO restrained here. For a more balanced performance, I prefer Hook. The story itself was a bit treacly, too, and I don’t take well to that.