Was this really a great movie? Not by any means, yet it was an unexpected low-budget semi Sci-Fi gem that entertained. I found it so entertaining I rated it a 8. Lately I've seen too many big budget films well plotted and well acted but not very engaging, entertaining or remotely interesting.
All the actors in Automatic made the most out of the roles they could, even if some ended up a little over the top. Penny Johnson who went on to play the president's wife in 24 is aggravating even silly but in a good way, Daphne Ashbrook gets a little aggravating too at moments later into the movie, but is so charming it is all forgivable. She is far prettier than the girl next door and someone you will have warm sentiments for.
Many familiar faces like John Glover, Jeff Kober and even Jeffrey Sams who still seems to be permanently regulated to small roles, but it is Olivier Gruner in a leading role that is the surprise. As J296 he really develops the role as he changes from a robot with no emotions into a "real" human being. I must say the surprise in his acting "turn" actually is more charming than just looking at Daphne and strengthens the entertainment value of the movie. Thought Olivier would grow and develop his acting and be a much bigger star based on this film. I was ready for Automatic II with a bigger budget to see if they could pull off what worked about the film again, but that film was never forthcoming.
I don't know if the film ever was released in theaters in the US or went straight to video but I was ready for Automatic II. Its about time this movie is put back in rotation for viewing on cable TV. HBO and Showtime have great original shows making them worth the subscription but they both really need to crank up the numbers of actual movies viewable each month to match the number of movies you used to be able to view on Starz each month. It would be nice if they would periodically go a little farther back and re-run an entertaining and engaging film like this after several years. It has been at least five years since I've seen it but each time I see the actor, I think about this film.
All the actors in Automatic made the most out of the roles they could, even if some ended up a little over the top. Penny Johnson who went on to play the president's wife in 24 is aggravating even silly but in a good way, Daphne Ashbrook gets a little aggravating too at moments later into the movie, but is so charming it is all forgivable. She is far prettier than the girl next door and someone you will have warm sentiments for.
Many familiar faces like John Glover, Jeff Kober and even Jeffrey Sams who still seems to be permanently regulated to small roles, but it is Olivier Gruner in a leading role that is the surprise. As J296 he really develops the role as he changes from a robot with no emotions into a "real" human being. I must say the surprise in his acting "turn" actually is more charming than just looking at Daphne and strengthens the entertainment value of the movie. Thought Olivier would grow and develop his acting and be a much bigger star based on this film. I was ready for Automatic II with a bigger budget to see if they could pull off what worked about the film again, but that film was never forthcoming.
I don't know if the film ever was released in theaters in the US or went straight to video but I was ready for Automatic II. Its about time this movie is put back in rotation for viewing on cable TV. HBO and Showtime have great original shows making them worth the subscription but they both really need to crank up the numbers of actual movies viewable each month to match the number of movies you used to be able to view on Starz each month. It would be nice if they would periodically go a little farther back and re-run an entertaining and engaging film like this after several years. It has been at least five years since I've seen it but each time I see the actor, I think about this film.