REVIEW: WALL-E

Disney and Pixar studios have given some great family entertainment over the years, including “The Incredibles,” “Toy Story,” and “Finding Nemo.” What most people don’t know about these projects is that all of them supposedly sprang from one gigantic brainstorming session. “WALL-E” is the last of the projects created at that brilliant meeting, and it upholds the high bar set by its predecessors.

Perhaps the best part of “WALL-E” is that the film is true family entertainment. Unlike the lumbering and often trite “Kung-fu Panda,” “WALL-E” presents a simple story that children can enjoy, while presenting enough emotion and complexity to keep adults equally transfixed. Rather than reminding adults that it is a kid’s movie, “WALL-E” manages to bring out the kid in us, a feat accomplished by only a very few films before it.

One of the most interesting aspects of “WALL-E” is that the characters have extremely limited dialogue. Mostly, they seem to be restricted to their own name, the names of other androids, and a few assorted phrases on the side. While it seems like that would make it difficult to connect to the characters, the depth of expression that the animators have managed to put into the robot’s body movements is extraordinary. When combined with the way their few phrases are said, “WALL-E” manages to draw out emotion that the audience doesn’t expect.

For those that expect something deeper from their movies, “WALL-E” delivers on that front as well. There is a pervasive subtext running through the movie that serves to warn people about the dangers of over reliance on automation, overpopulation, and what happens when society becomes too obsessed with consumerism. It also touches on the subject of how technology that is meant to bring us together can also serve as a barrier to true human interaction.

While most films dealing with these subjects come off as being too preachy, “WALL-E” keeps them on the back burner, seamlessly integrating them into the plot so that you barely notice them until you stop to look back. Environmentalism may be the new hot button issue in the film industry, but rather than smack you about the face and head with this message, “WALL-E” simply shows you the result and lets you draw your own conclusions.

The animation is top-notch, and every time you take a closer look at the screen, it seems like there is something else amazing that was just waiting for your eye to wander across it. The film’s main location, the spaceship Axiom, is an interesting combination of a sprawling metropolis and a luxury cruise ship. Although that seems an odd combination, it really sets the tone for the rest of the film.

The only complaint that could be made against “WALL-E” is that it feels a little too ambitious at times. All though the plot moves forward quickly enough, it still feels like there might be just a little too much thrown in.

All the same, “WALL-E” is the best animated film released this summer, and easily makes my Top 3 for this year.

Final Verdict: 10/10