Surrogates

Surrogates (2009)
Directed by Jonathan Mostow
Starring Bruce Willis, Radha Mitchell, Rosamund Pike, James Cromwell

Set in a future where humans stay home plugged into computerized machines while sexier ROBOT versions of themselves (surrogates) function for them in the outside world. This has created a world of zero crime, peace and harmony. All this changes upon the murder of two surrogates and their controllers (the humans at home plugged in). This is the first incident of its kind and Willis the Cop (how original) is brought in to investigate.

Willis uncovers a plot to kill all humans, or is it a plot to kill all surrogates, such nonsense. This is the Matrix all over again, only a re-hashed mess. It's just silly. There is some good action and a couple of classic Willis moments, but overall it just didn't work and cant compare to a Star Trek or District 9. The ensemble didn't have any chemistry and the story and effects felt old-hat. The digital enhancement of the actors (when they play robot surrogates) felt photoshop fake, it just looks plain bad to me. The film is full of empty characters (of course they are robots); Willis wants his wife back, but she is addicted to being a surrogate, she wants to remain plugged in forever. Her real self is old, disabled and scarred so through her surrogate she can live the life of suspended 'perfected' reality, be a younger more beautiful woman. Willis wants her to get off the machine - its hilarious really. Ving Rhames appears to chew up the scenery like a bearded lion. Did the director and producer phone this movie in?

The film's climax felt cheap. The film is full of actors playing robots and in my opinion this lent itself to a lot of robotic performances, everyone was stiff. The plot twist was such a rug-pull I almost fell off my seat - it involves Cromwell playing multiple surrogate characters. OMG, enough said.