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'Robots' guides Robin Williams's mania

I wasn't surprised to hear that Robin Williams was one of the voices in the new animated flick Robots.

Robin Williams is a cartoon — all spastic, elastic limbs, an internal catalogue of wacky voices and a manic energy that could probably propel him off a cliff, Road Runner-like, and suspend him in mid-air in a cloud of spinning feet and Arnold Schwarzenegger impersonations.

Blue Sky Studios 'Robots' The verdict: Look of this animated world wins out over story. Director: Chris Wedge Starring: Voices by Ewan McGregor, Mel Brooks, Greg Kinnear Run time: 90 minutes Release date: March. 11, 2005 Rating: PG for some brief language and suggestive humor See showtimes On the web Official movie site View the trailer   -- Trailers require Quicktime Rate "Robots":   Go see it   Make it a matinee   Wait to rent   Don't bother Voter Limit: Once per Hour View Poll Results

And he brings that same weird, slightly desperate nuttiness to Fender, a frantic, funny 'bot in sore need of a nap or some Ritalin, in Robots. The thing about desperate nuttiness is that it isn't generous, and there are times when Williams sucks all of the energy away from the more unassuming vocals of Ewan McGregor and Halle Berry.

And it must be said that Williams is sort of like coconut frosting — good in limited doses. And it is to the credit of director Chris Wedge that he's able to, after a dull start, use his Robin allowance to its untamed, geyser-like best.

Just when Fender is starting to get on your nerves, Wedge relies on his other lively actors, including Jennifer Coolidge, Greg Kinnear and Jim Broadbent, and his wildly imaginative animated scenery, until you're thrilled, enthralled and ready for another dose of wacky.

I was a big fan of Ice Age, Wedge's lovely, loony and surprisingly melancholy trip through the ice caps with a cranky woolly mammoth, a shady saber-toothed tiger, a cave baby and an insane sloth.

It was plenty funny and wild, but its strengths were those beautiful animated snow mountains and the (sniff) tender story of friendship, loss and the pain of saying goodbye. You know, like Titanic but with insane sloths.

Robots has a similar mix of heart and heart-stopping animated scenery, although in this case, the look of Wedge's inventive robots-only world wins out over the story.

But I was moved by the Wizard of Oz meets Norma Rae tale of young Rodney Copperbottom (McGregor), a 'bot crafted out of hand-me-down parts. Rodney, who lives in the sticks with his parents, is something of a tinkerer, and he dreams of going to the bright lights of Robot City and working for master inventor Bigweld (Mel Brooks).

Bigweld is the benevolent heart and face of Bigweld Industries, which apparently manufactures not only all of the goods the 'bots need to live, but the parts of the 'bots themselves.

Rodney's dad, a mild-mannered chap who's been retrofitted as a dishwasher, is falling apart — literally. So Rodney sets out for Robot City to show Bigweld his latest invention, thus making enough money to buy some replacement parts to fix his pop.

Unfortunately, something's hinky in Robot City — Bigweld's nowhere to be found. And in his place is deliciously snide corporate weasel Ratchet (Kinnear).

Let me say this: I love myself some Greg Kinnear, and the way he mocks his almost obnoxious good looks by playing complete and total vapid snarkbuckets. And he's perfect for Ratchet, who represents the new face of Robot City.

Where Bigweld encouraged all 'bots to love themselves, Ratchet and his evil mother, Madame Gasket (Broadbent), are plotting to make everyone metal masses of self-loathing. They'll no longer be able to buy replacement parts, and will have to shell out top dollar for upgrades.

And if they can't afford them, those rusting robots will be labeled outmodes and get a one-way ticket to the Chop Shop. (Is this an indictment of the fashion industry? Plastic surgery? The lack of quality used appliances on the market?)

In an effort to stop Ratchet and find the missing Bigweld, Rodney hooks up with new friends, including corporate gal Cappy (Berry), crazy misfit Fender, his sister Piper (Amanda Bynes) and their kind, massive-reared Aunt Fanny (Coolidge, who just makes me laugh.)

The 'bots are all swell, but it's their world that draws my attention — an eye-popping marriage of Rube Goldberg drawings, amusement park rides and a Tinkertoy factory. It's a joyous, nostalgic burst of antique toys, breathlessly moving parts and sweet imagination.

Robots isn't as sublimely brilliant as Ice Age, and it didn't hit my gut quite as much. But it's creative and different, two things most modern movies are not. And because of Kinnear and especially the crazy, cartoony Williams, it's never, ever boring.

The Flick Chick Bottom Line: If you like imaginative wackiness and Robin Williams, you'll love Robots. If not ... then not so much.