Set in the near future South Africa, Johannesburg is the first major city on earth to employ a robot police force, which is controlled by corporation Tetravaal.
Dev Patel from Slubdog Millionaire fame plays the brilliant designer of the robots. He has been continuing to work on ultra advanced AI, and finally achieves 100% AI. He pitches it to the Tetravall CEO, but she shuts him down. He could use some forethought into his pitch..... meanwhile Wolverine is pissed because the CEO is phasing out his monster robot MOOSE which is controlled by linking a person's mind directly to MOOSE. Wolverine begins to act the fool/villian.
The Maker (Slumdog) decides to go ahead and implant his AI into robot cop unit #22 which was designated to be destroyed. #22 was shot point blank in the chest by a RPG by the generic bad guy. #22's battery has fused with his body, ergo they can't change the battery. (Why can't they just recharge it?)
Maker smuggles #22 out, only to be carjacked by mommy, daddy, and America. These three are ordinary street thug, hip hop gangsters.... but with some heart. You will probably dislike them at first, and adore them by the end of the movie. (Or that's how I felt)
Highlight for me is the moral and ethical dilema Chappie faces. His child like responses are refreshing, yet show a lot of depth. The ending is beautiful. The acting of Yolandi is genuine and authentic.
Lowlight, the big bad guy, Hippo is underwhelming.
I give Chappie a 9/10,
