Though the film caused American actress Sigourney Weaver and South African director Neill Blomkamp to meet and start planning the new "Alien" sequel, it seems like the Hugh Jackman movie has failed critics' expectations, as the first "Chappie" reviews pour in and they're not exactly favorable.
Widely expected due to its fantastic two leads and for being hailed by the director of successful films like "District 9" and the 2013 film "Elysium," it seems that the winning streaks stops there for the director, as "Chappie" reviews call the film unoriginal and not very interesting, and that the two leads aren't enough to sustain the movie.
NPR's "Chappie" review was barely three lines long, as it called the movie unoriginal, saying it's something between Dr. Frankenstein's monster and the Tin man from "The Wizard of Oz," deeming the film lacking in anything interesting.
In the meantime, the "Chappie" review published by Digital Trends calls the film "as artificial and cold as the robot itself," saying that the movie is ultimately a mess and has less in common with Blomkamp's first feature, acclaimed independent "District 9," than with the critically panned Matt Damon and Jodie Foster film about the rich world population in the future living in a space station.
However, not all the "Chappie" reviews have been poor, as Screen Rant said that the movie, though not Blomkamp's best, does provide a "fresh and layered moviegoing experience," with a captivating lead (the robot played by "District 9" star Sharlto Copley) and beautiful insights into life and humanity.
Another positive review, this time from SF Gate, states that "Chappie" has an "irreducible" human strain to it that shows Blomkamp's artistry from very early on in the film, as he uses interesting motions in storytelling throughout the film.
Currently, Rotten Tomatoes' "Chappie" reviews score the film at a Rotten 31 percent.
