REVIEW: FINCH

3.5/5

Robot & Hanks.

115 Mins. Starring: Tom Hanks, Caleb Landry Jones & Seamus as Goodyear (and he's a good boy too). Director: Miguel Sapochnik. 

Matt Damon. According to TIME magazine, movies once upon a time most marketable leading man has cost Hollywood in excess of $900 million in just trying to save him alone. No wonder the industry is in decline. Movies like 'Courage Under Fire', 'Syriana' and SPOILER cameo alert, 'Interstellar' amongst many, many...MANY more. Now after saving his ass in 'Saving Private Ryan' (but did he earn this?), along with saving the day in 'Apollo 13', 'Sully', 'Greyhound' and 'Captain Phillips' (by 'Bourne' director Paul Greengrass, who also gave us 'Green Zone'...ANOTHER MOVIE ABOUT SAVING MATT DAMON!), 'America's Dad' Tom Hanks pays homage to Matt's lost on Mars 'Martian' in orange spacesuit Easter Egg on his person. Complete with a dirt-bike helmet that doesn't have the same astronaut Buzz as the one he popped off of Tim Allen's plastic head. All for a post-apocalyptic film were he needs a little saving himself as 'Finch'. An Apple TV movie following his Netflix 'News Of The World' one for another new streaming studio that's about to give you 'Philadelphia' co-star Denzel Washington's 'Tragedy Of Macbeth' with Frances McDormand. On deaths door with no one knocking around in the world no more, it's a good job Hanks' character has a dog unlike 'John Wick' (at least he's got a pencil) and a robot like Frank Langella. Looking halfway between the toolbox of a Johnny 5 'Short Circuit' and Neil Blomkamp's (who gave us 'Elysium', another movie about Matt Dam...ah, forget it) 'Chappie' for these batteries not included. Just call it an electric Wilson for a man who's come a long way from being 'Cast Away' with volleyballs. Don't be jealous my red blooded and faced friend, at least you got the new NBA gig over Spalding. Take that, dentist! 

Get your teeth into this one. Whilst Hanks' son Colin is questioning Monica Lewinsky in 'Impeachment', the latest 'American Crime Story', America's Dad shows us he's still got it like 'Forrest Gump' and 'The Green Mile'. Even if his character is terminal like being stuck in an airport for days on end. Going round and round like 'Sully' looking for an airstrip before landing it ON the Hudson, this post apocalyptic theme of one man alone has been done to death. Ashes to ashes, dust to more dust like the baguette in the shopping bag of Rob Lowe taking on an 'Attack Of The Hollywood Cliché' for Netflix. The leading streaming service last Christmas even giving us George Clooney staring at the 'Midnight Sky' for what seemed like an eternity. But when it comes to one Turner and his Hooch, we could watch Captain American Dad, Tom all day. Especially when he's making friends with objects that are more than just "YOU ARE A TOY" like the new Chris Evans 'Lightyear' for Pixar. And this one isn't inanimate. Voiced by the Banshee of 'First Class' X-Men actor Caleb Landry Jones ('Get Out', 'Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri') who last month had his own album out ('The Mother Stone' follow-up 'Gadzooks Vol. 1'). The unmistakable vocal assist being undeniable next to the lovable like 'WALL-E' robot that is far from a heap of metal or hunk of junk in this new earth wasteland. Although the only person who says sorry more than him is...well...me (my apologies). 

Solar flares reducing earth to a crisp were you can't go anywhere without that sunblock Linda Hamilton calmly advised you to wear in the 'Judgement Day' of 'Terminator 2', Hanks is handy at carrying movies like this on his own. When the world now is populated with less people than the 'I Am Legend' mannequins that here would be obliterated like the ones in nuclear testing. It's lucky Tom's 'Finch' has someone to talk to in a more than capable Caleb who gives us humanity to his metal skeleton like a mo-cap or duffel jacket worn for effect. Still in 'Game Of Thrones' and 'Repo Men' (what a sci-fi harvested concept for your eyes...and the rest of your organs to behold) director Miguel Sapochnik's delightful little movie about the end of the world it's Seamus the dog who really makes his Goodyear character worthy of an Ice Cube blimp. Eddie from 'Frasier', the real 'Artist' of said black and white film and all of 'Beethoven's' slobbery compositions. No one barks better. The top dog...and the most adorable of all. But tell me, where is his ball? This science fiction genre just got a lot of lovely heart with this one and the most genuine everyman in this dirty game and scorched earth, world at woe. Like Robert Downey Jr, Zach Galifianakis and the masturbating pooch Sonny (guess which ones the robot) trying to make it to the Grand Canyon in 'Due Date', Hanks and Co are trying to make it to San Francisco like an 'Escape From Alcatraz' for the best road movie this year disguised as much more like Clint Eastwood's 'Cry Macho'. Heading to the bridge that's been over more troubled water than Simon and Garfunkel before the split in the Golden Gate that's been a character in more apocalyptic films than vagabonds with trolleys you do not want to check out (see Hanks' old friend Denzel in 'The Book Of Eli' for the memories. Beneath this ultraviolet radiated ozone layer is a much warmer movie that will not burn you. 'Finch' is the gold. Now if someone could just save Matt Damon from 'The Last Duel' (a good movie, but do you really want to go up against Kylo Ren in a sword fight?). There's a good boy and here's a good movie. TIM DAVID HARVEY. 

Further Filming: 'Robot & Frank', 'Chappie', 'Cast Away'.