By Debbie Schlussel

Because today is 09/09/09, the auspiciously named movie, “9” also debuts in theaters.

The animated movie isn’t for kids.  It’s creepy and scary.  But, despite its obvious anti-war and anti-technology message, I liked it anyway because of its high-quality animation, story, and charm.

It’s the story of “9”–a puppet like burlap figure that is half-robot/half-stuffed doll–so-named because it is the ninth and most advanced such model designed by a now-deceased scientist.  It’s the future and man has destroyed man, due to technology and war.  (Could have done without that Unabomber-esque message–that technology and machines were invented by a Hitler-like dictator) though I do think some technology is scary “Brave New World” stuff).  The only thing left are machines and some of the nine models of robot-like  dolls with human qualities.  While some of the models want to give up and die, “9” convinces them otherwise–that they must fight the machines to survive.

9 and the other characters are voiced by great actors like Christopher Plummer and Martin Landau and current actors like John C. Reilly.

Like I said, the animation is terrific, the movie is relatively short, and though it’s a very bleak movie, it’s entertaining and hopeful at the end.  Also a bonus is the acknowledgement at movie’s end of a higher spirit–i.e., G-d–beyond the robots and machines.

Yes, the post-futuristic, armageddon, war-is-bad movies are getting tiresome.  But this one was among the better ones.

TWO AND A HALF REAGANS

Watch the trailer: