Based on the 1973 short story “The Robot Who Looked Like Me” by Robert Sheckley, Robots (2023) is a sci-fi rom-com that follows Elaine (Shailene Woodley) and Charles (Jack Whitehall) trying to reclaim their lives when their robot doubles fall in love and run away, stealing their identities. The film has a bare minimum of comic sensibility as it aims to preach about how humans abandon their emotions instead of embracing them wholeheartedly, even when there is an opportunity to find love and happiness.Â
It amazes me that this poor film, which subtly drops commentary about Americans throwing illegal immigrants out of the country, has Shailene Woodley in it, playing such an underwritten character. The film neither builds a coherent story nor follows the breadcrumbs that ultimately lead to romance and comedy. Is it a ChatGPT-generated script? Who knows! Nonetheless, for those interested in what takes place in the film, here is a detailed explanation of “Robots” (2023), now streaming on Hulu. This article contains spoilers. Kindly read it at your discretion.
Robots (2023) Plot Summary & Movie Synopsis:
It is 2032, and the American government has just announced that the country is free from illegal immigrants. The Mexican border wall has been successfully erected, and the nation has resourceful human-masked slave robots.
Who is C2 and E2?
We are then introduced to a charming and polite Charles Cameron, who we soon learn is a womanizer using his look-alike robot named C2 to pursue romantic encounters. During one of his attempts to find another woman, he gets knocked over by Elaine at the ice skating rink (his usual hunting ground). After their initial meet-cute, Elaine suggests they meet again the following day. It turns out Charles is not the only one working on his game; Elaine, too, has a robot named E2 designed to date and engage with men to support her luxurious lifestyle. While Charles eagerly anticipates a romantic encounter, a mix-up leads him to an important meeting scheduled by his father at 6:30 p.m. at a client’s place. While he embarrasses himself in front of important people, C2, on the other hand, engages with Elaine (E2).
Why do E2 and C2 run away from Elaine and Charles?
The next day, when E2 does not return and C2 is also unresponsive, both Charles and Elaine break into her house to find out about their robot counterparts. While searching for their robots, Elaine and Charles stumble upon each other. As they try to make small talk and understand what happened between them the previous night, they receive a video call from E2 and C2, respectively. The robots inform them that Charles is primarily interested in Elaine for physical intimacy, while Elaine wants him to buy her expensive gifts. They also reveal that their robot counterparts have fallen in love and plan to flee.
Upon learning about their true motives, there is initial friction between Elaine and Charles. However, they decide to team up since they and their robots cannot be seen together in the outside world. Therefore, they decide to meet Zach, the creator of their robots, to find a temporary solution. After meeting Zach, Elaine suggests the trio locate E2 and C2’s hiding spots so Zach can disable them. However, Charles secretly devises a plan with his friend Fat Ninja, instructing him to come to the location and kidnap C2. Using a taser, the trio takes the robots hostage and places them in their trunk. While they attempt to clean the scene, Fat Ninja intrudes and mistakenly believes that Elaine and Charles are actually E2 and C2. This mishap allows E2 and C2 to escape once more.
Why do Charles and Elaine plan to go to Mexico?
The following day, Charles receives an ultimatum from his father to get his act together and provide evidence of his inappropriate behavior at the office. While watching the video, Charles realizes that C2 set him up and plans to meet with Elaine (who also faces consequences at her workplace due to E2). The two discuss their situation at a cafe, and Elaine suggests going to Mexico. However, Charles suggests hunting down and deactivating their robots. The following scene reveals another setup by E2 and C2 to discover the true intentions of their human counterparts. Charles and Elaine follow their robots and, in the middle of nowhere, find that their robots have stolen everything from them, including their identities, and are on their way to Mexico. C2 sends a video recording of them involved in a mass shooting, forcing their humans to find a hiding spot. Charles then drives to a cabin owned by his stepfather. Elaine turns off their phones to prevent the police from tracking them.
What does Elaine and Charles find about E2 and C2?
After a lovers’ quarrel, the two get drunk and bond over their life stories. The next day, Charles plans an idyllic, romantic day with Elaine, including fishing and camping. However, during an encounter with a highway patrol officer that raises no suspicion, they realize they have been outsmarted by their robots all along. They believed they had control over their situation, but C2 and E2 were more intelligent than they thought. While going through their social media, they discover that C2 and E2 are getting married.
They head to the wedding location and infiltrate the event by posing as slave robots. Using the taser gun again, they kidnap the robots and escape. Finding a suitable spot, Charles and Elaine toss C2’s body off a cliff into the water. As they realize that C2 can swim and save himself, E2 attempts to run away but gets caught. They return E2 to Zach’s place, and Elaine demands that Zach bring E3, another version of her that he had for himself. They plan to make C2 jealous by making him believe that E2 (now posing as E3) is engaging with Charles, luring him to Zach’s house.
Robots (2023) Movie Ending Explained:
Are Elaine and Charles able to get their lives back?
When C2 is on his way to Zach’s place, two police officers catch him for overspeeding and follow him. However, this only leads to more chaos, and all four of them are apprehended by the police while Zach and E3 manage to escape. At the police station, Charles requests a phone call and leaves a cryptic message for Fat Ninja, who eventually frees them and sets the station on fire. The four of them then drive to the Mexican border, where E2 and C2 plan to settle down while Charles and Elaine continue to figure out their feelings for each other.
Upon reaching the border, guarded by robot slaves, E2 is approved to cross, but when Elaine is not allowed, Charles insists that C2 join E2 regardless. They bid farewell to their robots, and as they contemplate their next move, a police officer and a government official responsible for illegal robots arrive at the border. The officer scans Elaine and Charles and then berates the police officer for fabricating a case. Ultimately, both Charles and Elaine are allowed to go free, and they share a kiss. The ending of “Robots” shows Charles and Elaine getting married and enjoying a happy ending to their story, while in Mexico, E2 and C2 also lead a blissful life, like many other robots who have made the country their home.
