Chappie (15)

IT is strange to think that a story about a wayward robot can trigger your parental instinct.

But that is overriding feeling while watching South African director Neill Blomkamp's Chappie.

The film may amp up the action with as much mayhem as in his debut feature, District 9, but it also gives your heart a reboot.

Set in a future South Africa, Chappie sees Johannesburg policed by leagues of gun-toting droids called scouts which are mostly used to crack down on gang violence.

Think Robocop but with the stunning visuals of a distorted future that have become Blomkamp's signature.

Scout creator Deon Wilson (Dev Patel) thinks he can do better and creates the perfect artificial intelligence programme that effectively gives one of the robots human consciousness.

The downside is 'Chappie' has to learn everything from scratch – just like a child.

And when he ends up in the hands of some desperate criminals they are more concerned about Chappie's carjacking and knife skills than they are about nurturing his creativity.

The film is funny and well paced and leads up to an explosive – if ridiculous – finale featuring Hugh Jackman (with a glorious mullet) and a huge mech that could take on an army let alone a gang.

Some have criticised Chappie for its plot holes and admittedly the whole set up of the film is ludicrous (robots in charge of life or death situations with one vulnerable 'guard key' controlling them all).

But the best way to enjoy Blomkamp's films is to just embrace the silliness. It is like Short Circuit for adults.

Even so, the film explores parenthood, consciousness and the will to survive in a unique way.