Ever since releasing “District 9,” Neill Blomkamp has been somewhat banged up by critics and fans. The social issues sci-fi “Elysium” wasn’t particularly well-received, and when he returned two years later with “Chappie,” the film was laughed off by many who couldn’t get on the same wavelength as the high concept movie about a sentient robot who is misunderstood and manipulated by humans, and longs for connection. For me, it really worked, particularly on the kind of emotional level that the genre doesn’t always display, but generally speaking, the film was viewed as a misfire. But the picture has now earned another defender in its corner.
Blomkamp’s pal and future “Alien” movie star Sigourney Weaver stood up for “Chappie,” which she had a role in, blaming over-expectant fans for not judging the movie on its merits.
“I’m astonished when I read the, ‘disappointing Chappie.’ If you’re expecting a big movie with huge special effects instead of this small movie about this robot who the inventor changes to be more of a human being than the human beings, then you realize that all of those reviews that said, ‘Well, there’s no special effects…’ It’s like … no. This is a very meaningful movie about a young robot who cares and feels, and is much more human. And they didn’t talk about any of the issues, they just talked about what it wasn’t,” Weaver told Collider.
“It’s like…dudes, think of what it is! See it without these expectations,” she added.
Anyone else out there on “Team Chappie”? Let us know in the comments section, and I would definitely encourage a re-watch — it might play better than you remember.