Disney’s Pixar has created a poignant visual reflection of the purity of mankind once again this year’s summer family film; WALL*E. Pixar successfully demonstrates that real actors aren’t needed to captivate and connect audiences with computer animation; however, real characters are a must. WALL*E’s endless humble charm and relentless pursuit of his love Eve, creates a cinematic delight that seals Pixar’s fate as the leader in graphic technology but also in character development.
The movie opens with detail CGI that is awe-inspiring, there’s so much to love about this film that techies and nannies will leave the theater happy. Fine details incorporated in this film create a digitized trompe l'oeil effect. We’re introduced to WALL*E’s world of paper, junk, and garbage piled sky high in what is a recognizable Manhattan skyline taken over by trash piles that are higher that are larger than the buildings. It is here in the mundane world that WALL*E works his shift alone, surrounded by broken down robots of his kind that blend in with the debris, taking home what he finds interesting and compacting the remainder into neat bundles of trash.
It is an existence begging for excitement and adventure and it isn’t long before WALL*E’s orderly world is shaken by the one weakness of all mankind, Love. A traditional tale of boy meets girl gets a twist with late model robot meets sleek new model robot with blue digital eyes, EVE, the object of WALL*E’s affection whose profound passion leads her to the right decisions. Overlooking the visual typecasting, one becomes more attached to the safety and well being of the star, WALL*E. As the romance develops, EVE encounters a not so agreeable substance that send her internal mechanics into freeze mode, leaving WALL*E in suspense as he cares for her through rain, sleet and snow. When help arrives for EVE, WALL*E refuses to let go and takes a journey into her world to bring her back into his. What masterfully done is the attachment viewer will feel for WALL*E’s protection, happiness and safety – and it’s a Disney film so you wont be disappointed.
The producers and writers incorporated significant juxtapositions that lure to viewers into agreeably staying with this familiar plot. WALL*E’s world of debris and dirt is a direct contrast to the ultra clean world of on Axiom’s Luxury Spaceship. Similarly, WALLE*E’s world of hard work and Axiom’s world of leisure as well as his many right angles to EVE’s sleek design. The bridge to both worlds is WALL*E’s charisma that makes a huge impact across galaxies.
For the sci-fi geeks you will not feel this movie enhancing the nuances of science fiction, except to think of a technology created by man that has it’s own personality as in Blade Runner, has it own morals that question the status quo as in the Twilight Zone, and fills the Galaxy like Star Wars. A memorable scene is when WALL*E is in outer space and reaches his hands out and swirls it around in the universe creates a trail of stars in the distance. Absolutely Outstanding!
What doesn’t work well in this film is the intrusive “real human” the President of the United States played by Fred Willard. His presence returns the viewer back to “reality” when we’ve gotten so taken with the movie. The good news is the interruptions are brief and aren’t severe distractions, but unnecessary and could have been seamlessly made into a CGI character.
WALL*E is a welcoming summer family film that 3 year olds and 63 year olds will enjoy! No parental censoring needed for this film.
Our Rating – POSITIVE - This movie doesn’t let the viewer down. You want WALL*E to be with his love and for her to see how much he loves her… and for nothing to come between them not even a Galaxy…I wont say anymore about the plot. GO SEE IT!
