Robot & FrankMovie Reviews

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Avg. Critic Score: 67 out of 100 Generally favorable reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
13 OK for kids 13+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 100
    San Francisco Chronicle | Mick LaSalle

    A hard, funny and realistic movie about the future. Read full review

  • 83
    Entertainment Weekly | Owen Gleiberman

    Robot & Frank is sentimental high-concept fluff that works. Read full review

  • 75
    Philadelphia Inquirer | Steven Rea

    It's an Alzheimer's allegory, full of humanity, heart, and humor. Read full review

  • 75
    New York Post | Lou Lumenick

    The feature directorial debut of Jake Schreier, has a smart script by C.D. Ford and an impressive supporting cast. Read full review

  • 75
    Rolling Stone | Peter Travers

    It also addresses questions of aging and neglect that Hollywood likes to run from. Langella, who's played everyone from Dracula to Nixon onscreen, is giving a master class in acting. Enroll now. Read full review

  • 70
    The Hollywood Reporter | John DeFore

    Robot & Frank reminds quirk-hardened veterans that an odd premise and big heart don't have to add up to too-precious awards bait. Read full review

  • 63
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    This is a framework that could have benefitted from more irony and complexity, especially with the resources of Langella, but at the end, I felt the movie was too easily satisfied. Read full review

  • 60
    New York Daily News | Joe Neumaier

    No one conveys late-life elegy and cool intellectual cunning like Langella. Read full review

  • 50
    Boston Globe | Mark Feeney

    Robot & Frank isn't sure whether it's a comedy or drama, buddy movie or sci-fi fantasy, family melodrama or social satire. Read full review

  • 40
    Wall Street Journal | Joe Morgenstern

    The concept is schematic and predictable, and watching first-rate actors - the cast includes Susan Sarandon as a local librarian - doing third-rate material is a dubious pleasure. Read full review

View more reviews for Robot & Frank on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 13+ Offbeat sci-fi buddy movie isn't likely to attract teens.
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that Robot & Frank is an indie dramedy with a sci-fi twist. Although the film's mature subject matter (an aging ex-con father has health and relationship issues) isn't too likely to appeal to tweens or teens, there's not a ton of age-inappropriate content. Language is the biggest concern, with one "f--k" and several "s--t"s, and there are a couple of passionate kisses and some adult alcohol consumption. If your teen does want to see Robot & Frank, the movie's futuristic setting and its messages about family make for interesting discussion topics.
  • Families can talk about futuristic movies. How is Robot & Frank different than other future-set movies?
  • Frank is preoccupied with the book Don Quixote. Talk to kids about the significance of this text and how Frank is like the central character, with Robot serving as his sidekick.
  • Do you think the future portrayed in Robot & Frank is possible, particularly when it comes to elder care?
  • What are some other futuristic movies that feature a central robot? How is "Robot" the opposite of the robot in A.I.: Artificial Intelligence? Which kind of robot (those that look like machines or those that look like people) do you think is more likely to be popular in the future?
The good stuff
  • message true3 Positive messages: This is a bittersweet film with some potentially sad themes about aging and family relationships, but there's also a positive message about the lengths that adult children can and should go to make sure their parents are cared for in retirement and poor health. The importance of unconditional friendship is also stressed.
  • rolemodels true2 Positive role models: Frank's kids are doing their best to take care of him, even though he was a neglectful father at times. They both show up regularly and try to watch after him. The robot, despite not being human, tries to give Frank advice that will protect him and help his health. Jennifer the librarian is kind and generous toward Frank.
What to watch for
  • violence false1 Violence: Frank is chased by armed police officers, but no one is hurt. A suspicious man accuses Frank of stealing his valuables and attempts to get in his face, but there's no actual violence. Frank, a cat burglar, engages in shoplifting, breaking and entering, and other criminal (but not violent) behavior.
  • sex false2 Sexy stuff: A married couple is shown through a window kissing passionately in what's clearly a prelude to more. A woman wears a cleavage-baring dress. An older couple kisses once after flirting for most of the movie.
  • language false3 Language: One "f--k" and a few uses of "s--t," "a--hole," "bitch," "bastards," and "damn," plus a few scatological terms, like "piece of crap," "dump," etc.
  • consumerism false1 Consumerism: Frank's son drives an Audi, but because the film is set in the relatively distant future, there aren't too many labels or product placements.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false1 Drinking, drugs and smoking: Adults drink at cocktail parties and meals. A woman jokes that fundraisers are easier to deal with after a few drinks.
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