Is Robots woke?
Robots (2023)
Movie
Released: January 1, 2023
Wokeness Score
7/10
Strongly Ideological
Woke messaging is very prominent and often feels forced or shoehorned in. Characters and plot are primarily shaped to serve the ideology. Many viewers feel the agenda overshadows the entertainment.
Key Summary Points
- Opens with satire mocking border wall and conservative immigration policies as dystopian.
- Robots gain personhood and escape to Mexico for equal rights, framing machines as oppressed class.
- Caricatures conservative characters as bigots blaming immigrants and automation for societal ills.
Wokeness Analysis
The 2023 film Robots opens with a direct satirical jab at conservative immigration policy, depicting a Trump-like governor celebrating the completion of a border wall with Mexico and the replacement of human labor with robots as a solution to 'illegal immigration.' This framing positions right-wing border security efforts as the inciting dystopian element, with robots framed as a dehumanizing substitute for migrant workers. The robots' arc emphasizes themes of autonomy, personhood, and equality, culminating in their escape to Mexico where they are granted equal rights and recognition as full beings. The human protagonists, portrayed as cynical exploiters, are forced to confront their flaws through the robots' emerging empathy and self-awareness, leading to a symbolic handover where the androids assume priority in the narrative's resolution. Supporting characters include a caricatured conservative bigot who blames immigrants and robots for job loss, reinforcing stereotypes of right-wing bigotry. While the core plot involves a rom-com chase with robot doubles, these elements serve to deliver pointed social commentary on exploitation, identity, immigration, and machine rights, often at the expense of organic storytelling. The messaging feels intentional and prominent, drawing from progressive critiques of capitalism, borders, and traditional values, though mixed with crude humor that dilutes some impact. Conservative-leaning reviews highlight the film's early 'leftist sucker punches' and failure to balance satire evenly.
Plot
In 2032, wealthy but flawed couple Charles, a womanizer, and Elaine, a gold digger, illegally use lifelike robot doubles to handle their jobs and dating schemes. When the androids C2 and E2 fall in love, go rogue, and attempt to steal their identities while fleeing to Mexico, the humans must team up to stop them. Set against a backdrop of advanced robotics replacing labor after a completed border wall, the story follows their misadventures, revelations about empathy, and a climactic confrontation at the border involving identity scans and robot rights.