Finch doesn't tread new ground exactly, but where it does tread it does so with enormous heart, is held together by the man best qualified to do so, and offers gentle questions along the way as well, about what it is to be human, and to a lesser extent an American if there's no America left. Where similar stories go all Frankenstein's Monster or descend into scifi bleakness (Clooney I'm looking at you), the creation of 'Jeff' (Caleb Landry Jones) is rooted in improbable optimism, perhaps from an America that never was, but which offers hope in the face of devastation, a wry happiness in the face of oblivion. Finch sets out to teach Jeff only to protect his dog Goodyear when he inevitably dies of radiation poisoning, but along the way he realises his obligation is greater than the passing on of knowledge. Of course Hanks delivers the emotion that's called for, and Jones somehow delivers a performance without a body - and the robotic effects are absolutely stunning. It's not perfect - the third act wobbles a bit before the inevitable dark landing, with only the one unseen antagonist who eventually just goes away, but even though the road trip/teaching a robot to be human tropes are ancient, it does feel as though director Sapochnik manages to draw out a freshness without being saccharine or preachy. It's a nice film, with likeable protagonists and a positivity that transcends the final act's long-signalled sadness. That Goodyear the dog almost out-acts Hanks is quite the achievement, and it's a refreshing change to watch an Apple film release that doesn't feel like it was written by committee. Writers Luck and Powell admittedly don't try to reinvent the wheel, but it's not always necessary and Finch is a charming reminder of that.