Finch

Finch
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A Lot or a Little?
The parents' guide to what's in this movie.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Finch is a post-apocalyptic sci-fi buddy road dramedy in which the titular character (Tom Hanks), his dog, and an android travel across the remains of the United States. The plot is pretty somber: It looks like the end for the human race, so, before he dies, Finch wants to create a robot to care for his dog. The movie's dystopian world is scary; devastating storms come on quickly, and it's accepted knowledge that people might kill each other for individual survival. Offsetting the bleak situations is Finch's creation. "Jeff" (Caleb Landry Jones) isn't just mechanical, he's an AI miracle, full of optimism, hope, and humor. As Jeff learns about the world, he behaves like a kid, making "human" mistakes and experiencing big feelings. A frustrated Finch occasionally yells at Jeff and says mean things ("shut up," "you're a disappointment"); the harshness helps viewers understand how deeply words like this can cut. Other language includes "hell" and "s--t." Finch is seen nude from the side, with no sensitive parts exposed, and he likes to drink whiskey. A flashback shows a brief moment of gun violence in the background.
Community Reviews
Excellent but extremely tense and suspenseful
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What's the Story?
FINCH (Tom Hanks) is an inventor who's been living with his dog in an underground bunker for 10 years following a catastrophic solar event that left the United States a desolate wasteland. Knowing that he's dying from a terminal illness, Finch constructs an android named Jeff (Caleb Landry Jones) to care for the dog after he dies. Within hours of Jeff powering on for the first time, the group must flee Finch's bunker to find safe shelter -- so they hit the road in a solar-paneled RV. As the three companions embark on their epic journey, they confront head-on the joys and sorrows of how it feels to be human.
Is It Any Good?
The end of the world is as terrifying as ideas come, but this stormy dramedy softens the blow with a robot, a dog, and the always appealing Hanks. Steven Spielberg's production company, Amblin, and Walden are both leaders in creating exceptional entertainment for families, and director Miguel Sapochnik follows the path they've forged. Sitting smack in the middle of a four-way genre stop, Finch is a sci-fi dystopian special effects drama, a buddy road comedy, and, unexpectedly, a robot's coming-of-age story. Android Jeff, who is a newborn of sorts, takes on the traits and attitudes of an intelligent child, providing an avenue for relatability for tweens and teens. And as the inventor who crafted Jeff, Finch is somewhat of a father; parents will connect with his moments of frustration, amazement, and pride in his creation.
Casting Hanks as the last known human is a stroke of brilliance. Part of the actor's talent is the ability to craft entirely new characters while retaining enough of his Hanksian familiarity that viewers start off already caring about him. He's proven himself the master of singular solitude, playing solo characters who must rely on their own skills to survive -- whether facing down pirates in Captain Phillips, regaining control over a careening plane in Sully, or literally surviving alone on an island in Cast Away. Hanks doesn't need no stinkin' fellow human actors: He's a one-man show. Like Hanks, aerospace engineer Finch is self-reliant. He trusts no one but must rely on someone -- or something -- else so that his progeny (in this case, his dog), can survive. The greater takeaway here is that he's leaving a legacy, teaching the next generation how to rebuild. Which really means that this entertaining spectacle is a roadmap for adults to understand how to cultivate and educate those who come after them, and for young people to understand that if they listen to the lessons of those who've come before and learn from mistakes (both theirs and adults'), they'll have the tools they need to build a better future.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the parent-child dynamic between Finch and Jeff. How does making the "child" a robot work better for this story than if Jeff was actually a kid?
How does Finch compare with other dystopian films you've seen? Other road films?
While Jeff has intellectual knowledge that could be uploaded, how does Finch teach him ethics, rules of survival, and common sense? Is Finch an effective communicator? Why is communication an important life skill?
Finch tries to teach Jeff teamwork, although he doesn't believe in it. Is this a film about teamwork, self-reliance, or both? Why are both important life skills?
Does Finch have a message? What will you take away from watching?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming: November 5, 2021
- Cast: Tom Hanks, Caleb Landry Jones, Skeet Ulrich
- Director: Miguel Sapochnik
- Studio: Apple TV+
- Genre: Drama
- Topics: Cats, Dogs, and Mice, Robots, Science and Nature
- Character Strengths: Communication
- Run time: 115 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG-13
- MPAA explanation: brief violent images
- Award: Common Sense Selection
- Last updated: February 28, 2022
Our Editors Recommend
For kids who love robots
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