Every year Pixar releases a new movie, and every year I am amazed that they continue their unblemished streak of good films. From Toy Story up through Ratatouille I have not been let down by these wizards of storytelling. They understand the potential the medium of film has to be magical, something so few films attempt to achieve. Yes, WALL·E is another home run from Pixar, but they have taken a bold leap forward this time. This new venture leaves all past Pixar films in its dust, and it is in large part because they've created a fully realized and utterly magical world on a scale the likes of which we've rarely even glimpsed before on the big screen.From the first time I heard about the concept of WALL·E, I was excited. This had potential to be something new, something daring. Instead of relying on a celebrity voice to bring WALL·E to life, Pixar instead turned to sound engineer Ben Burtt to create the film's hero (as well as the many minor characters that populate the film's universe). This gamble pays off brilliantly. WALL·E, in spite of not being able to really speak, is more alive and beautifully nuanced than any character I've seen this year. The heartfelt sighs, the frustrated groans, the curious chirps - all convey so much by saying so little. The rest of the cast is equally impressive, as they each have a distinct personality of their own. If Burtt doesn't win the Oscar for sound design this year, it will be a huge disappointment.
The whole premise of the film lends itself to a fascinating and timely commentary on the current state of our planet. WALL·E is the last remaining robot on Earth, his job to clean up the enormous mess mankind left behind when they shipped off to the stars. It's quietly unsettling to see WALL·E roaming around piles of trash that rival the nearby skyscrapers in size. Had the film spent its entirety simply exploring this world, it would have made for a riveting experience. We learn so much about the humans of the film simply through the garbage WALL·E finds and the remains of the city he inhabits. It makes last year's I Am Legend look tame by comparison.
With the eventual arrival of EVE, the true heart of the film emerges. WALL·E has learned about love through an old copy of Hello Dolly on VHS, and he quickly falls hard for the first robot he's encountered in centuries. The love story between the two could have come off as so offputting, seeing as they're robots, but it's handled with such delicacy and care that you find yourself really hopeful for these two. Never have I wanted to see two characters simply hold hands so badly. When a love story is done right, it is often the most involving story a film can have for me personally, and this film hits all the right notes with grace and style.
The film follows these two lovebirds into space, and it eventually takes us to the starship containing the remains of human civilization. I won't give too much away, but it is clear that this is the film Mike Judge had in mind when he made Idiocracy a few years back. It's both hilarious to see what we've become hundreds of years from now, but also a bit disturbing. Jeff Garlin does a great job as the main human role in the film, although they do saddle him with the obligatory revelation scene in which its hammered home that we need to take care of our planet. But that's a minor quibble with an otherwise flawlessly handled story.
Pixar has truly stepped up their game in a major way with WALL·E. I fell head over heels in love with the film, its story, and its wonderful assortment of characters. But I fell hardest for WALL·E himself. This is truly a hero for our times, and one that will likely enter into the pantheon of great animated characters. When a film of such true quality comes along during a dearth of great films, it is something to be cherished, and that's exactly what I will be doing with WALL·E for a great long time.
