Release Date – TBC, Cert – N/A, Run-time – 1 hour 24 minutes, Director – Frederik Nørgaard
When her outdated, childish robot friend (Lars Brygmann, Kristian Holm Joensen) becomes a source of embarrassment Alberte (Selma Iljazovski) is gifted a new updated model (Philip Elbech Andresen) which is able to do more than any other robot at her school.
There’s often a clear line between a family film and a kids film. My Robot Brother may present itself as something more for slightly younger kids with its exaggerated nature and stylings, however there’s no denying that the silliness that’s a part of it allows for a good few chuckles for the older audience members. Much of this comes from Robbi (voiced by Lars Brygmann and physically performed by Kristian Holm Joensen), a tall, bulky, patched up brown robot. Looking like a kids toy that’s somehow been zapped with a growth ray he’s a big, clumsy, cuddly character plucked straight from a children’s cartoon. In many ways this is how he’s designed to be, he treats the young girl he’s designed to be the friend to like she’s much younger than she is. In a number of ways, while there may be a fondness towards the childhood robot there’s an increasing sense of embarrassment.
When Alberte’s (Selma Iljazovski) tech-obsessed parents (Lise Baastrup, Kristian Ibler) – almost always in some form of VR space – give in and buy her a yet-to-be-released new model things begin to turn around for her. Konrad (Philip Elbech Andresen) has many abilities which it seems no other robot at school has. He makes Alberte instantly more popular, however perhaps not everything is as it seems. Thus the film begins to travel down some slightly predictable and conventional lines. However, it’s clear stylings and target audience might just give it something of a slight pass.
Although, the bigger pass might be down to the silliness within the film. So many situations are heightened and exaggerated simply for a laugh, with a handful of decent chuckles scattered throughout the film. Sometimes it may not always be with the piece, or only half with it, but there’s still an undeniable entertainment factor present. Much of which comes from the clumsiness and general existence of Robbi. The character who most sums up the tones of the film, reaching the to the younger audience and most demonstrating the ways in which the film clearly doesn’t take itself too seriously.
My Robot Brother may be highly conventional and targeted more towards a younger audience, however there’s enough chuckles within it to help move things along and make for a likable enough piece of work for the time it’s on. Yes, like scene-stealer Robbi things may be a bit clumpy and overdone, but there’s also amusement to be found within this. Things stay relatively engaging and watchable and by the end, particularly with an audience, there are a fair few giggles to be had thanks to the pure cartoonishness of a number of instances throughout. Just sit back, turn your mind off and have a good, slightly absurd chuckle.
My Robot Brother absolutely targets a younger audience, however there’s enough silliness within its conventional narrative to provide a good amount of giggles and amusement for the time it’s on.
Just A Little Bit Random 