Bicentennial Man

Based on the work of two sci-fi literary giants, Isaac Asimov and Robert Silverberg, this futuristic comedy drama could have become a poignant tale about what it means to be human. Unfortunately, Robin Williams plays for tears as Andrew, the android butler assembled to serve one family over four generations. Programmed to follow Asimov's three laws of robotics (a robot may not harm a human being and must obey his or her orders while protecting its own existence), Andrew is treated well by his owner (Sam Neill), but later has himself reconstructed as a human being for the sake of his true love (Embeth Davidtz). Directed by Chris Columbus from a Nicholas Kazan script, the film makes Andrew irritatingly cute (as does the star), undermining Asimov's original analogy with black outsiders. With marvellous effects and ideas scuppered by sentimentality, it's enough to make a mechanical man weep.