Movie Review: Finch

Finch - 3 Stars

by Kevin Gardner

For fans of Tom Hanks in Castaway, the film Finch is an easy sell. Set on a post-apocalyptic Earth that's too hot and severe for any human to thrive, the movie stars Tom Hanks as Finch, a robotics engineer, alongside his faithful dog, Goodyear, and two robot buddies. Hanks's performance shines and grounds the film in realistic emotions even as the pacing sputters and the plot loses steam. As any good sci-fi film should, Finch packages deeper lessons about humanity inside of a story that highlights the power of technology.

Lesson #1: Robots Are Man's Second-Best Friend

The biggest takeaway from watching this movie is that people need to accept their dependence on robots. From everyday utility like controlling the thermostat to futuristic applications like robotics system integration, robots already exist in every aspect of society. In the film, Finch suffers from a life-threatening illness, and he builds a new robot companion, Jeff, to take care of the dog in the future. Of course, nothing can replace dogs as man's best friend, but using a robot as a pet caretaker is an ingenious spin on innovation.

Lesson #2: Robots Are People Too (Sort Of)

One of the unique aspects of the film is that the newly made robot, Jeff, speaks and acts like a human child. This is reminiscent of the classic film Pinocchio, and the use of this trope works well in a post-apocalyptic setting. Through the character of the robot, the audience can reflect on what it means to be human.

Since Jeff is a robot, he must absorb information from sources that Finch chooses. In the process, Jeff grows, learns, and makes mistakes. The plot of the film relies heavily on the audience's ability to empathize with Jeff. The robot's choices and actions drive the plot, which leaves much to be desired since it forces Hanks into a secondary position. But, the relationship between Goodyear, played by a once-upon-a-time stray dog named Seamus, and Jeff provides enough laughs and heart-tugging moments to keep the audience engaged.

Lesson #3: Robots Are Not Invincible 

When Finch's robot Dewey meets an untimely end, it's one of the saddest and most shocking moments in the film. As a robot designed to do a specific set of tasks, Dewey is surprisingly relatable. Perhaps the reason the audience can empathize with Dewey is that the robot is not invincible.

The portrayal of technology on screen is generally epic in scale, and robots like the Terminator and others are nearly impossible to kill. Finch takes a more human approach to this issue, showing the fragile side of these hand-crafted robot companions.

Lesson #4: Robots Are the Future 

The final lesson of Finch is a simple one: the future of the human race depends on robots. For technology geeks, this is nothing new. In fact, this is one big misstep for the film where it throws away the chance to add something new to the sci-fi and post-apocalyptic genre.

From the beginning of the movie, it is clear that without Finch's robot companions, he would die. By the time the credits roll, the audience gets that message loud and clear with few subtleties. Luckily, the robot and animal characters more than make up for the lackluster plot, and the film provides a tender exploration of human and non-human relationships.

Science fiction used to be an outlier when it came to Hollywood blockbusters. Now, even decorated actors like Tom Hanks are diving into the genre. Finch is a sweet and emotional ride through a post-apocalyptic landscape, and it's worth watching for the unexpected humor and adorable cast of robot and animal characters.