Ever feel alone? Performing a job wondering if anyone else really cares or if your existence is even recognized? Sure. When you finish at the end of the day, you feed your cockroach and hang up your treads for tomorrow... or something like that. This is the life of WALL-E.
Steadfastly continuing to order and process all the refuse we humans have left upon our abandoned Earth, WALL-E has but one real friend (a cockroach). "He" (WALL-E is clearly identified as a "male" robot) finds all manner of interesting treasure from out of our disrespected trash. Like a child with new toys, he fiddles with a Rubix cube, curiously presses a car key alarm, places a brassiere over his eyes, and wonders why all of these various things have been left behind. The music of his heart is embodied by an old recording of "Hello Dolly" and through its thoughtful lyrics we feel his need for companionship.
Not long afterwards, we meet his object of desire - a droid from outer space named EVE who comes a callin' on a secret mission. The story at this point now has WALL-E devoted to learning more about "her" as she relentlessly searches for... something. Soon, their journey off-world will begin and a real adventure will occur as we learn where all the humans have gone.
Simply put, WALL-E the movie, is about discovery.
First and foremost, WALL-E the robot's discovery of love. What love means - beyond an affectionate gaze from two optical lenses and beyond the clasp of two robotic appendages. Listen to the song lyrics, that's what he knows of love and if that's all he's going on, it's enough. It's not that EVE is just another robot, but she's THE robot and he knows it. Over in Oz, the Tin Man discovered he had a heart all along and the same holds true with our clockwork protagonist here. The "dance" shared by the two in the film's second half is one of the most romantic moments put on screen in years.
There's been public issue that the filmmakers were trying to push a moral on the audience with the human side of the story. The humans' over-pollution and constant need for entertainment is clearly shown as a detriment to their current livlihood. Their own discovery of what their ancestors had done is enough to propel them back towards Earth to lives that are assumed to be akin to humanity as we enjoy it today (if not even simpler).
If you love animation, this film will be one of the most beautiful you've ever seen. The pyramids of trash on Earth, the strafing of starships flying through space, the calamity of countess human blobs sliding one way and the next (plus, a little robot called "Mow" who is a put-upon character who continues ever forward). Most important of all may be the desire in WALL-E. How does an animated character give you hope and feeling behind it's eyes? Unknown. Though this fella here certainly has that power and pushes the film to great heights because of our affections for him.
When did you last go see an animated film in the theater without a young one at your side? Well, I should say it's high time you check out WALL-E. As of this writing, the film has been in the theater for well over a month and should find its way to home-viewing on your dvd player in time for the holidays. You too will discover this film is a masterpiece and a new classic. It behooves you as a lover of film and lover of spirit to check out WALL-E and see a robot who may hold more humanity in his circuits than some live people you know.
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