Entertainment | movie review Surrogates: Silly But Suspenseful Bruce Willis, in weird wig, tops 'smart' sci-fi flick By Jason Farago Posted Sep 25, 2009 10:30 AM CDT Copied Bruce Willis gives interviews to the press at the world premiere of Surrogates at the El Capitan theatre, Thursday, Sept. 24, 2009 in Los Angeles. (AP Photo / Shea Walsh) Critics are lukewarm about Surrogates, the new sci-fi flick starring a surprisingly hirsute Bruce Willis, in which humans command tricked-out robots who do their work and play for them. It's a "preposterous movie that luxuriates in its own silliness," says Stephanie Zacharek of Salon. There's a "heavy-duty moral," but the film is redeemed by "not taking itself too seriously." Manohla Dargis of the New York Times likes the "nifty" premise, a combination of '70s sci-fi and Second Life, but the film "seems to be missing some connective narrative tissue"—and poor Willis is "forced into a dandified blond wig" to play the robot version of himself. Todd McCarthy of Variety is more impressed. Director Jonathan Mostow puts in "de rigueur action scenes for the popcorn crowd," but this is a "smart speculative suspenser"—even if it's only 88 minutes long. Read These Next A space capsule carrying ashes of 160 people crashed in the ocean. A lesson in minding your own business ... at 30,000 feet. The death toll in the Texas floods has risen to 27, including 9 kids. Musk says his new party is in business. Report an error