Surrogates [Review]

Surrogates is a sci-fi action thriller starring Bruce Willis . An adaption of Robert Venditti's graphic novel of the same name. Surrogates is one of those future set; thought provoking movies about mankind and the advent of a new technology that is wildly accepted by many but looked at in disgust by few. Essentially Surrogates is this:

I, Robot - Will Smith + Bruce Willis / Less explosions = Surrogates

And really that's not truly a bad thing cause while I enjoyed I, Robot; perhaps if Bruce Willis was in it instead of Smith it might've been better, cause lets face it when you think of Bruce Willis you think of the bad ass cop who has saved are asses from terrorists four times.


Yippie Ky-Yay Muther Fucker

And when you think of Will Smith; well come on you know what you think of; do you really need a picture? Anyways; in Surrogates the world is revolutionized by robot avatars called "Surrogates"; robots that a human essentially 'becomes' you know like in James Cameron's Avatar. Everyone has them except a group of humans who deem them a disgrace and live in squaller; savage looking reservations in each major city; all led by Ving Rhames. A new weapon is discovered that not only can destroy a Surrogates body and also frying it's 'brain's' inner workings but also can kill the user themselves. Bruce Willis plays FBI Agent Tom Greer who begins investigating the murder of the son of the man who invented the surrogates; who is played by the same guy who created Robots in I, Robot geez he's really smart eh? Anyway this is where it starts to become one of those movies where a simple plot device; a murder; turns into an unravaling mystery. Willis eventually discovers that SPOILER: The guy who invented Surrogates is the one who ultimately got his son killed. It turns out that Ving Rhames is really a Surrogate to the inventor and acts as a prophet for humanity of the Surrogates end. He does this after becoming disenchanted with the corporation who manufactures the Surrogates after a disagreement: In short he made them so people with disabilities, like himself, could lead a normal life the company, VIS, wanted to manufacture them for everyone. So the plot thickens as Willis discovers that his Superior at the FBI, who is apparently leaving to work for VIS, had hired someone to kill the Inventor but mistakenly killed his son.


There's a subplot to the main story involving Willis feeling emotionally distant from his wife; wanting to actually be with her in person instead of through their Surrogates. It's revealed later that the two had a son who died in a car accident which explains why his wife prefers to use Surrogates so that she wont loose him the same way; but it seems as well that shes become so adjusted to Surrogate life that she comes off as a bitch instead of someone with a deep problem. It really lacks any memorable moments with the exception of some Surrogates demostrating their feats of strength which are pretty much the same ones that the Robots in I, Robot do. Really the movie at the end comes off as it's lacking something. I can't put my finger on what it really is. The design of the movie is really good though. It's set in the near future but everything really looks the same as it does now as far as cities. Which sets it apart from other Future set Sci-Fi movies because really that's what the future will look like, lets be realistic about it ok? But just like every other future movie everything pretty much as followed the "iPod Touch" style interface. It's pretty good, but not memorable I'd reccomend watching it if you're looking for a good action movie only if the stores are out of something like From Paris With Love. Surrogates gets a 3/5.