luisyveronicacastaneda Review of A-X-L

A-X-L (2018)

If you like motorcycles and robot dogs, this is the film for you!

[4/10 · 8 May 2020]

A dog, a motorcycle, fire, races, robots, guns, drones, soldiers, which little girl or boy doesn't like that in a movie? Written and Directed by Oliver Daly, this is a film that does not contain any blood and nobody gets killed. It reminds me of my young sons playing in the sandbox imagining what would happen if they found a robot dog. The plot is simple enough for a young kid: find a dog, repair it, make it friends, get capture by the bad guys, help him scape and then the dog sacrifices its life for you. There is nothing wrong with this dream-like picture and small kids will enjoy it. I have to admit that I saw the scene (where A.X.L. plays with Miles ( Alex Neustaedter) several times because it is as close as a perfect scene as possible. It is very well edited (Jeff McEvoy), it is clean, well defined and the special effects are incredibly directed. This scene is the best of the movie and it deserved to be studied by anyone interested in how to make action scenes with special effects believable and interesting. Sadly enough, it happens almost 30 minutes into the movie. A special recognition has to go to the music score by Ian Hultquist, who captures the 80s sci fi atmosphere (reminded me of Tron) and its repetitive electronics sounds frames the scenes very well. The other parts of the movie, however, are too predictable. The Antagonist, Sam Fontaine (Alex MacNicoll) is only interested in bullying and trying to kill A.X.L. The female protagonists (Sara Reyes played by Becky G), is also only superficial and we don't get to explore their personal backgrounds. The adults in the movie, like in many teen movies, are not present as much and they only serve as obstacles to the teens in peril. Again, this is a movie very young children will enjoy, but for adults and teens, it is just too simple and flat. The idea of a robot dog you can play with is very interesting and full of fantasy. If your small kid likes motorcycles races and robot dogs, this is the film for them.