aside from helping to drive mike eisner out of disney for refusing to play ball with steve jobs, pixar has the best record of any studio: every movie they've done has been a hit. wall-e is no exception to that rule, but it's an exception to nearly every other feature that pixar has done.here's why: no dialog for the first chunk. instead, we get both a dark, timely message and an introduction to one of the simplest, most engaging characters ever to grace the screen. (and no, we're not talking about the cockroach.) wall-e is innocent, hard-working, and lonely. his vocabulary is minimal, and has no need to be anything else. the love story with more-advanced, work-obsessed she-bot eve is developed slowly and naturally. the animation is lovely, and the slapstick conducted with relish and perfect timing.
in fact, the one thing that we've seen other critics being iffy about - the dark message about our future, when we've evolved (if that's the word) into consumption-obsessed, boneless fat-bags that left earth a nearly lifeless garbage dump - is the point on which the film's depth turns, and without which it would be as vapid as the mouse's tv lineup. this is by far the most 'adult' story that pixar has ever told - and the best.
in a way, wall-e reminds us in a good way of pixar's shorts, which are treasures in themselves (and also tend to have deep emotional content and minimal dialogue). this was a very brave film for director andrew stanton - who also wrote it - to make. in this era of g-rated famine, he could easily have taken the easy road and made a bit of fluff. many others before him have. it would likely have been a hit, too. we're glad he didn't.
even if you're not into animation, or disney, or pixar, we recommend that you see this, and on the big screen, where it can be done some justice. you'll thank us later.