Get a load of the new “Robocop.”
Joel Kinnaman steps into the role originated by Peter Weller in the first trailer for the forthcoming remake, which once again follows Detroit police officer Alex Murphy (here critically-injured rather than killed) as he adjusts to his new life as the titular cyborg. Also starring Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton, Samuel L. Jackson, Abbie Cornish, Jay Baruchel and Jackie Earle Haley, the star-studded film was helmed by Brazilian director José Padilha (“Elite Squad: The Enemy Within,” “Secrets of the Tribe”).
In the sense that it’s a remake of a decades-old Paul Verhoeven sci-fi/action film, “Robocop” has quite a bit in common with last year’s ill-fated “Total Recall” redo starring Colin Farrell, which failed to gain traction with either critics or audiences and finished its theatrical run with a disappointing $198 million worldwide on a budget of $140 million. I wish I could say that the prospects for this one seem brighter, but based on this first trailer I honestly can’t.
While the updated aerodynamic design of the metallic crime-fighter is certainly cool, and while the star-studded supporting cast is no doubt an impressive one, something about the footage (the film was previously teased at this summer’s San Diego Comic-Con) feels a little underwhelming. For one thing, the blackly comic take that director Paul Verhoeven and screenwriters Edward Newumeier and Michael Miner brought to the original doesn’t appear to be in evidence here; like last year’s “Recall,” this one seems to take the inherently-silly material far too seriously.
Then again, it is just a trailer. I sincerely hope my first impressions are wrong.
My grade for the trailer: C+. After watching it, vote in the poll further down to let us know what you think.
“Robocop” is slated for release on February 7.