Detroit - in the future - is crime-ridden and run by a massive company. The company have developed a huge crime-fighting robot which unfortunately develops a rather dangerous glitch. The company sees a way to get back in favour with the public when a cop called Alex Murphy is killed by a street gang. Murphys body is reconstructed within a steel shell and named Robocop. The Robocop is very successful against criminals and becomes a target of supervillian Boddicker.
Review
In a futurist Detroit crime is high and the police are run by a massive private company keener to reduce running costs than reduce crime. When their new police robot ED209 develops a glitch they turn to a prototype that blends human tissue with hightech circuitry. Meanwhile Police officer Murphy and his partner Lewis are out gunned by criminals leaving Murphy mortally wounded. OCP take Murphys body and use it to make Robocop. However Robocop is so successful that he is targeted by criminal Boddicker. Boddicker turns to his shadowy partners in crime while Robocop struggles to deal with human memories and a programming system that seems designed to control him and keep him in the dark.
Verhoevens first US film was to set the mould for how the rest of his career would pan out extreme violence and very little idea of restraint. However this is one of his best films and has much in common with one of his other best (Starship Troopers) ultraviolence funny black humour great action and tonnes of satirical digs at modern life. Here the plot revolves around the creation of Robocop and his fight against crime that goes right to the top. This is complimented by the subplot of him trying to rediscover his human side. This is full of great action scenes and eccentric villains.
The black comedy is funny although sometimes you feel bad laughing at so much violence but the sideswipes are the best. Verhoeven takes digs at TV with his advert filled news broadcasts at privatisation by showing the crumbling police stations and the huge corporate towers and at heroism by showing Robocop creating just as much mayhem and destruction as the criminals he pursues. His strength however is the action scenes and the sense of tension he creates Ill dont think anyone can forget the sheer terror of ED209s glitch.
Weller is good cast because of his strong jaw and ability to project emotion through a suit of armour and he does manage to bring out the human side. Allen is good but a but dry. The real support comes from the eccentric and well known villains and corporate bosses. Ronny Cox Smith Ray Wise Perry OHerlihy and Miguel Ferrer are all great in various capacities. Criminal or greedy corporate leader its hard to tell which is which at times.
A classic bit of scifi. Verhoeven has sadly not had a moment as fine as this since and has recently had problems being excessive in Hollywood the land of excess! This is a landmark film that may not be to everyones taste.