What It’s About
Roz (Nyong’o) is a “digital assistant” robot who gets shipwrecked on an island filled with wildlife. Soon after, she rescues a tiny orphaned gosling named Brightbill (Connor). Programmed to solve problems, Roz commits to caring for Brightbill. The wild creatures around them are hostile to these misfits, until an act of grace from Roz during a terrible snowstorm unifies them. Meanwhile, Roz wants to teach the fragile, pint-sized Brightbill to fly in time for migration season. Longneck (Nighy) is the senior gander who takes an interest in his progress. Will he make it?
Why We Love It:
Winning animated fable from director Chris Sanders explores familiar elements of non-conformity, sacrifice and the power of community, but a charming script, gorgeous animation and first-rate voice work (particularly from Nyong’o) make it all seem fresh and new. At first, life for Roz and Brightbill (accompanied by Fink, a cynical fox voiced by Pedro Pascal) is anything but smooth, as Sanders portrays a society of predators and prey, filled with wariness and distrust. This starts to change when they all feel the impact of Roz’s “can-do” generosity. This “Robot” has a big heart, and your heart will feel fuller once you’ve seen it.