"Robots" is an imaginative, animated film about an idealistic robot that seeks his fortune in a big city. It’s kind of like a cartoon cross between Fritz Lang’s "Metropolis" and "The Wizard of Oz." This film should not be confused with the derivative Will Smith dud, "I Robot."

"Robots" uses a basic initiation story-line, and puts a teen-like android through the paces. It also includes some mild social commentary, but it picks easy targets like bottom line corporate managers.

The film effectively creates a whole world of humanized mechanical creatures. Many are filled with nuts, bolts, and joints and they resemble the clumsy creations from ‘50s science fiction films. We never find out who created them, and why there are no people around. But the film is so packed with interesting animated characters and amusing puns that viewers might overlook the gaping story holes. Some of the robotic creations are so bizarre that they could have come out of a Jean Cocteau or Terry Gilliam film.

Rodney Copperbottom (Ewan McGregor) is a youthful robot inventor who lives in a small town with his loving parents. He tries to help his dad by making a robot to help him wash dishes at a restaurant, but the boss interferes and this results in catastrophe.

Rodney gets sick of being a big fish in a small pond, and decides to make his big move to Robot City, the mecca. His dad supports the move, but his mom breaks into tears when he departs. It’s funny how many of the artificial beings still slavishly follow stereotypical gender roles.

Rodney hopes to sell his inventions to his idol, the benevolent corporate head/inventor, Bigweld (Mel Brooks). He finds out that Bigweld is missing, and he has been replaced in his CEO position by an unimaginative jerk named Ratchet (Greg Kinnear).

Ratchet wants to make money by making robots feel outdated, and he pushes robots to get expensive upgrades instead of merely buying replacement parts. Robots that cause trouble or cannot afford the upgrades are melted down and made into new models. Rodney angers Ratchet by working as an "outlaw repairman," and fixing outdated models.

Rodney and his friends end up starting a revolution. The plot culminates in a terrific battle scene between the new models and the "outdated" robots.

One of the most memorable scenes has Ratchet’s devilish mother melting down robots in a hell-like factory as the Tom Waits song "Underworld" plays. It’s easily the best song in the film, but it is not included on the soundtrack.

On the other hand, the film’s weakest moments involve Fender, a robot who turns androgynous when he is fitted with female parts. Since, Robin Williams supplies the voice; the film rehashes his tired queen routine from "The Birdcage." Fender is easily the most annoying and detestable animated character since Jar Jar Binks.

"Robots" doesn’t quite equal "Antz" and some of the Pixar films, but it is mostly entertaining and occasionally thoughtful.