Before Thunderbolts, Jake Schreier Made a Quiet Sci-Fi Masterpiece for Just $2.5M
Robot & Frank was Jack Schreier's feature film debut, shot for pennies, but budget constraints didn't stop the movie from earning high scores. Here's why Robot & Frank is a must-see.
Right now, Thunderbolts* is triumphantly making its way through theaters, a movie by Jack Schreier, who has probably made the best Marvel film of the last few years.
Even before he took on one of Marvel's most ambitious projects, Jake Schreier made a modest sci-fi dramedy that didn't need star power or a huge budget to make viewers fall in love with it – Robot & Frank.
What Is Robot & Frank About?
The main character, Frank, who suffers from Alzheimer's disease, is brought a robot by his son to take care of the old man's health and save him from loneliness.
At first, Frank is hostile to the idea: he always argues with the robot and does everything to annoy it, but he gradually grows to like it for its constant care and ability to listen.
One day, Frank realizes that the robot is the perfect partner for his long-forgotten hobby. The man decides to use it to steal a rare copy of Don Quixote in order to charm the local librarian.
Jake Schreier's Debut Is a Touching and Heartfelt Sci-Fi Drama
Robot & Frank was Jake Schreier's feature film debut. And a great one at that, especially since it was made for only $2.5 million. Robot & Frank is not a thundering action movie about robots like Transformers or I, Robot.
It is a touching drama about aging, a comedy about two partners, and a charming and naive heist movie at the same time – a rare mix, especially for science fiction.
Robot & Frank is a quiet, measured film that relies mostly on dialogue, but manages to keep you glued to the screen for an hour and a half. It is the antithesis of Black Mirror, a film about the fact that technology is not to be feared and that even a robot who looks like Wall-E can become a true friend.
What Did Viewers & Critics Think of Robot & Frank?
The Guardian critic Peter Bradshaw gave Robot & Frank three out of five stars, saying:
“Robot & Frank does not quite deliver a killer punch, but it's an engaging, humane fantasy.”
-
Robot & Frank has 87% from critics and 75% from viewers on Rotten Tomatoes.
-
On IMDb, the movie has a score of 7.0/10.
Where to Watch Robot & Frank?
Robot & Frank is available to stream on Tubi, or you can rent/buy it on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.
