Chappie (2015) - Film Review

Review:

*Originally written December 31st, 2015*

"Happy Chappie"

Neill Blomkamp exploded onto the film scene with the incredible District 9 in 2009 and he followed it up with the much less well received Elysium a couple of years ago. Most people were hoping that he would reach the heights he did with District 9 with Chappie, while he didn't, Chappie was still one of the most underrated and unfairly reviewed films of this year. 

Dev Patel plays a scientist who made robots that replaced the human police force in Johannesburg, but he wants to create the first sentient robot with a conciseness. To the dismay of his superiors he steals a damaged unit and puts a chip in it that makes him aware. The robot is then stolen by a group of gangsters who name him 'Chappie' and want to use him for heists to raise money for a kingpin they are in debt to.

The character of Chappie is utterly charming, most people seemed to find him annoying, but I cared about him from the get go. He starts of acting like a baby, but quickly grows to learn morality and to handle himself. It was fascinating to see a robot that is scared of the world. It really helped that Blomkamp once again creates CGI that mixes into the real world perfectly and feels real. Sharlto Copley's familiar voice as Chappie also helped make for a likeable character.

Where Chappie falters for me is the lack of exploration of the morality of making sentient life out of a robot. The questions are asked, but not explored at all really. If you want a deeper look at these questions, you're probably better off watching Ex Machina.

While it is not particularly deep, Blomkamp once again makes an insanely entertaining action film. His visual style and use of slow-motion is once again top-notch and is gorgeous. I loved the design of everything, even the custom painted weapons the characters use. It's also extremely violent at times, even grizzly. Which might seem at odds with the film's tone, it feels like Robocop meets Short Circuit, but it works. 

Hugh Jackman's (or Huge Jacked Man's) villain is quite weak. I get the character's frustration as he tries to push for his over the top warlike robots to be put in the field, but the motivation for doing some of the stuff was really messy and there was such a strange scene where he pulls a gun on Patel in the office and it was just brushed off as a "prank" with no consequences. Jackman's performance certainly wasn't bad, his character was just badly developed.

First time actors 'Ninja' and Yo-Landi Visser fare much better. Their characters (Especially Yo's) are very likeable and Chappie's adoptive parents who raise him to different ideals. Ninja just wants to use him for crime and make money, while Yo wants him to follow his dreams and be creative. Their relationship was the heart of Chappie and it was very effective, making for a bittersweet and quite touching ending. 

Sci-fi legend Sigourney Weaver also has a small role that really amounts to nothing more than a cameo. No idea why she even gets her name on the poster. I guess her small role in this also had some involvement on the green light of Blomkamp's 'Alien 5', so I guess it was worth it.


Chappie is a charming, action packed and violent sci-fi film and one of the most underrated films of the year. Cannot wait to see Blomkamp's Alien 5 (Which is sadly on hold while Ridley Scott does his next Prometheus film). I have faith it will be more in line of this and District 9 and probably better than Alien 3 and Resurrection.

8/10 Dans

Chappie is out now on 4K UHD, Blu-ray and DVD in the UK

Watch the trailer below:

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