WALL·E (2008) ***½

This ninth film from the impeccable Pixar Animation Studios proves once again that when it comes to computer- generated imagery feature films, there is no substitute for the striking visuals and heartfelt stories that Pixar provides. WALL·E is set on a grander scale than previous films as we get a glimpse of Earth in the future, overrun with pollution and waste with a sole robot still charged with the task of cleaning the planet. WALL·E (Ben Burtt), assumed to be left on when the Earth was abandoned or simply the only still functioning unit, diligently continues to follow his directive with only a sprightly cockroach as company. Much of the humor in the first half of the film is derived from WALL·E's discovery of interesting trinkets in the mounds of refuse he must sort through. At night he watches the same film, Hello, Dolly!, and dreams of a companion to love, symbolized through the holding of hands. Once he meets EVE (Elissa Knight) the narrative is set in motion for a love story on a galactic scale.

Until we meet humans again on the Axiom, a large part of the film contains no dialogue and the only communication the audience gets with its characters is the mechanical sounds coming from the robots. It is a testament to the sound mixers and the vocalization of Burtt and Knight that so much can be conveyed only through the pair's saying of each other's names. How do you show love blossom between two characters who do not speak? The key is that it is shown and they don't speak about their feelings. Through their actions and gestures to one another you believe in the growing romance between the two leads and you begin to believe in them as actual characters and not digital images. Emotions are a universal language that easily surpasses language barriers and are a more effective tool to convey character depth than dialogue will ever be. You grow to care for these characters and I must say that I was particularly upset when WALL·E was damaged by AUTO and it looked like his personality was lost after his repair by EVE.

The film is for audiences both young and old and prove that the two are not mutually exclusive. The children will love the cute robots and the well done comedy. It works here because this is not the comedy that is plentiful is so many big blockbusters. The comedy is derived from WALL·E's mistakes and goofs that reveal a human nature inside this metallic creature. Older audiences will appreciate the adult themes of the story with its critique of environmentalism and dependency on technology. But this is not a "message film" as this critique is apart of the background texture and is subtle in application. It serves as the driving force for the second half of the film and is never preachy and heavy-handed. This film is about the characters and the love story between WALL·E and EVE and it is marvelously and beautifully executed.

Favorite moment: The scenes of WALL·E clinging to the probe ship as it returns to the Axiom highlight the digital beauty of Pixar's animation skill. In similar regard the dance that occurs between WALL·E and EVE outside the ship is the epitome of how actions can convey so much more than words and is a touching moment in the relationship of the characters and highlight the childlike wonder and delight of the robots that makes them two of the most human of the entire cast of characters. It's in direct parallel to the humans who sit in the gravity chairs and see everything off a screen. This scene brought a smile to my face and cemented this film as the second best of the year thus far in my opinion.