by Adam Ritchie, Contributing Writer
Set in a dystopian future, don’t be surprised if Finch manages to give you some Cast Away vibes, as once again Tom Hanks plays alone (basically) for almost 120 minutes. I say ‘basically’ because he is the only human on screen. However, the Robot is played by Caleb Landry Jones (Get Out), and the dog, who is central to the entire plot.
Upon opening, we see Finch (Hanks) scavenging for supplies right before a storm approaches, and admittedly at first glance, I thought the film was heading toward a cautionary tale of climate change and the effects it will have if we fail to act. Finch is not that, and again I have to admit, I found that refreshing, as much as I think climate change is the biggest challenge our species is facing. Probably like you, I am not a massive fan of preachy movies.
Who (and what) is Finch? He is a former engineer, and we quickly learn is very adept at electronics and robotics. He builds a robot solely for the purpose of caring for his dog once he is “absent.” We learn Earth was hit by a catastrophic solar flare that took out most of our ozone layer, and the resulting EMP took out pretty much any existing electricity reliant device. The weakened atmosphere sees temperatures up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit, and unpredictable, violent storms are common. It is this weakened atmosphere and the resulting increase of ionizing radiation that is slowly killing Finch, despite his best attempts to protect himself.
When Finch discovers a storm approaching that will last 40 days, he sets out west from Louisiana to San Francisco to escape certain death, as he still needs to train the robot to care for the dog. Quickly becoming a road trip movie, Finch must train his new robot to learn what it is to be human, and ensure the dog’s safety.
Firstly, the negatives: Finch is not going to change your life if you are a film watcher. Its themes cover well-worn tropes, and there are a few periods where the pacing could be questioned. Emotions are toyed with a bit also, as there is proper heartbreak, but slightly saccharine resolutions.
The positives: despite this being a ‘safe’ film for Hanks, we need to stop dismissing his talent as ‘Hanks is being Hanks,” because let me tell you, he is fantastic as Finch. If he was Meryl Streep, he would probably get an Oscar nomination because he is that good in this. However, I know he will get no awards recognition because the film itself is not Oscar bait.
I think a major positive in Finch is the subtlety in which the evolution of the robot is handled. Jones deserves a lot of credit here also, as changes in movement and speech evolve as the Robot becomes more sentient and its AI advances. I also loved the relationship between the dog and the robot, and watching it grow into something sustainable. There are some quite cute and funny moments throughout.
As for the filmmaking, it is largely really well-directed by Miguel Sapochnik, and both visual and sound effects are fantastic. The world building is done decently well as the exposition isn’t force fed, nor insulting to your intelligence. It is definitely worth checking out if you already have Apple TV+.
Grade: B
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