Today’s quick review: F.R.E.D.I. Dr. Andi Palmer (Kelly Hu) is the creator of F.R.E.D.I. (Candace Cameron Bure), an advanced robot designed to protect humans. But when her boss Grant (Angus Macfayden) sells her work to the military, Dr. Palmer steals the robot and hides it in the woods nearby, where it is found by James Nash (Lucius Hoyos) and his friend Danny (Reid Miller), a pair of local high school students.
F.R.E.D.I. is a family sci-fi adventure about a boy who discovers a helpful robot. The movie is cut from the same cloth as any number of other films in the genre: James and his friends must protect F.R.E.D.I. from Grant and his bumbling goons, all while having their lives changed for the better by their extraordinary friend. F.R.E.D.I. is a relatively competent execution of this formula, but it doesn’t bring anything new to the table.
F.R.E.D.I.’s main failure is one of imagination. The title character is meant to be a source of delight and wonder. Instead, it is a bland robot that can perform a few minor tricks and has little personality of its own. Its relationship with James is only as deep as the social status it earns him. As such, instead of taking the audience on an emotional journey, F.R.E.D.I. merely goes through the motions of one.
The rest of the movie is unexceptional. James and his friends are credible teens but not particularly interesting characters. His relationship with his divorced father Randy (Tyler Christopher) holds promise, but the movie never explores it in depth. F.R.E.D.I. also struggles to establish dramatic tension, resulting in a low-stakes plot. As for the action, it’s limited to a few chase scenes where the robot’s abilities never really matter.
F.R.E.D.I. will still have some appeal for younger audiences, but it lacks the depth, the heart, and even the excitement of better entries into the genre. It copies the formula without adding to it, resulting in a movie that never fully captures the audience’s interest. Fans of the genre will find that they can do better elsewhere.
For a family-oriented sci-fi movie with a similar premise and a more interesting companion, try A.X.L. or Monster Trucks. For a more imaginative story about a boy who discovers a robot, try Iron Giant or Big Hero Six. For a more endearing story about a helper robot, try WALL-E or Robot & Frank.
5.0 out of 10 on IMDB. I give it a 5.5 for a bland but passable story.