Today’s quick review: A.X.L. Miles Hill (Alex Neustaedter), a teenage motocross racer, finds an unlikely friend when he meets A.X.L., an escaped military drone designed to look and behave like a dog. Miles introduces A.X.L. to his friend Sara (Becky G), and together they explore what A.X.L. can do. But when Andric (Dominic Rains), the drone’s creator, comes looking for him, Miles and Sara must protect their dog those who would use him to kill.
A.X.L. is a teen sci-fi adventure about a boy and his robotic dog. A.X.L. uses a familiar formula: a boy discovers an extraordinary creature, befriends it, and must defend it against those who would do it harm. Fully fleshed-out characters, a decent story, and a touch of action make it a clean take on the formula. However, A.X.L. doesn’t go far beyond the basics, making it a fine pick for lovers of the genre but less of one for those seeking novelty.
A.X.L. invests a lot in its characters. None of them are groundbreaking, but each one has clear goals and a distinct personality. Miles is a hard worker more worried about becoming a better racer than being popular. He finds a kindred spirit in Sara, an artistic girl fed up with the antics of her social group. Miles also has a nuanced rival in Sam (Alex MacNicoll), a spoiled racer who vacillates between friendly and cruel.
A.X.L. avoids any major missteps, but it does have a few rough edges. Miles’ bond with A.X.L. never resonates the way it’s meant to, partly because A.X.L. lacks personality and partly because the film jumps straight to treating him like a dog. The film’s touching moments aren’t all that effective either, denying it some of its payoff. And while Andric has a villainous personality, it’s not clear that he’s wrong about what A.X.L. is.
In spite of these faults, A.X.L. gets enough right to be worth a watch for those interested in the type of story it has to offer. For the right viewer, A.X.L. is a tidy, serviceable sci-fi adventure. However, A.X.L. doesn’t break new ground in terms of either plot or action, and it doesn’t have the heart needed to make its story shine. As such, the majority of viewers would be better off with one of the other films in the genre.
For a funnier, more action-focused sci-fi adventure with a similar premise, try Bumblebee. For teen sci-fi with better action and similarly competent execution, try I Am Number Four. For an animated film about the relationship between a boy and a robot, try The Iron Giant.
5.2 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 6.0 to 6.5 for decent characters and a reasonable plot, but without the action, heart, or creativity to do more with them.