MPAA Rating: G
Genre: CG Animation/Adventure
Age range: Ages 4 and up
Runtime: 103 minutes
Starring: Jeff Garlin, Fred Willard, Sigourney Weaver, John Ratzenberger, Kathy Najimy, Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight
Studio: Disney/Pixar
Release Date: June 27, 2008
WALL-E - Summary
If there is one thing for which a well-built robot can be counted on, it is that it will dutifully carry out that function which it was created to perform. This is the case with WALL-E. He has been compacting the trash on Earth for hundreds of years--long after the humans who trashed the planet in the first place left to live in their luxurious spaceship, and the other robots were turned off or ceased to function. The problem is, WALL-E has gotten a little bit...lonely.
Then, one day, WALL-E's world changes. An Extra-terrestrial Vegetation Evaluator robot, EVE, comes to earth and makes WALL-E's life meaningful. But when WALL-E shows her one of his prized possessions, a plant which he had carefully dug up and brought home with him, she suddenly clams up. Soon, a ship comes to take EVE away, and WALL-E has no choice but to follow the bot he has come to care so much for.
EVE's discovery of plant life is just what the humans aboard the Axiom ship had been waiting for; they just didn't know it yet. Upon receiving the plant from EVE, the ship's captain learns the truth about its significance: now that life on Earth is sustainable again, the humans can return home. The mission to return home to Earth encounters some opposition, but WALL-E and EVE are determined to help the captain accomplish his important directive.
WALL-E - Guide Review for Parents
WALL-E may be a robot, but he is full of heart. The film tells a story that is supremely unique, clever, and uplifting. Like some of the other Pixar classics, WALL-E places more emphasis on the animation quality and storyline than on fast-paced elements and upbeat musical numbers. The movie is intellectually and visually entertaining for both kids and adults; however, very young children who have a shorter attention span may get a little antsy during the show and may also need some help understanding the plot. Overall, Pixar has created a G-rated movie experience that reaches most everyone in the family and even contains some great material for family discussions.
As the movie is pretty short on dialogue and a little more thoughtful, there is a notable absence of the crude humor that usually carries animated movies these days. Some physical comedy plays out for laughs. Violence in the movie is pretty limited, but EVE is trigger-happy with her built in laser gun (she will shoot anything that moves unexpectedly, but the scenes are generally meant to be funny and few robots are injured). There are a few robot casualties during skirmishes, and WALL-E sustains some injuries which may be temporarily unsettling for young viewers.
Young children may be frightened briefly by moments of peril when WALL-E and EVE are being chased down by other robots. Also, the humans in the movie left Earth because it became too full of trash to sustain life; some children may find this unsettling and wonder if that could really happen.
WALL-E - Content Overview
The following lists a few of the most prominent examples of possibly offensive content in the movie (may contain spoilers):Violence (Low)
- WALL-E inadvertently runs over his only friend on earth, but being as cockroaches are indestructible, the little guy is not hurt.
- EVE shoots at WALL-E and other things with her built-in gun. She shoots some robots that are trying to impede her from accomplishing her directive.
- Some robots try to shoot or otherwise disable WALL-E and EVE. WALL-E is damaged and pretty much fried at one point, but luckily he is made up of replaceable parts.
- The captain and Auto struggle for control of the ship.
Sex/Nudity (None)
- WALL-E and EVE kiss, as much as it is possible for two robots to kiss, and they hold hands.
- A woman talks briefly about virtual dating and shows interest in and befriends a man. When the ship tips and some kids start sliding toward them, she tells the man to "get ready to have some kids."
Profanity (None)
Alcohol/Drugs (Very Low)
- Cigars are mentioned briefly in the opening song.
Bad/Disrespectful Behavior (Medium)
- EVE shoots at anything that startles her.
- Humans on the Axiom ship are obese and rely on robots to do everything for them. They basically lounge around doing absolutely everything on the computer and eating all day.
- Humans in the movie trashed the earth hundreds of years ago and they still generate trash on the Axiom ship and dump it out into space.
Scary Scenes (Low)
- A large spaceship lands and an unknown robot gets out. WALL-E appears to be slightly frightened by these events as he investigates the visitors to his planet.
- The main computer/robot on the ship, Auto, detains the captain and tries to stop him from returning to earth. The two struggle for control of the ship. He also tries to stop EVE and WALL-E by sending robots to attack them. One little robot in particular is intent on stopping WALL-E and EVE. He may be slightly frightening to young kids.
- See also, scenes listed under violence.
Sad/Unsettling Scenes (Low)
- Most scenes that could be sad for children revolve around WALL-E and his feelings for EVE. His is lonely before he meets her, and he is sad when she becomes temporarily unresponsive. He is also sad and scared when she appears to be in danger. Likewise, EVE worries about WALL-E, especially when it appears that he is no longer himself due to the damage he sustained. She says his name in anguish as she waits for him to respond.
- Kids may be unsettled by the thought of our planet being so filled with trash that humans have to leave and find somewhere else to live.
WALL-E - Discuss the Movie
- After watching WALL-E, children may have questions about the following topics: robots and their ability to experience emotions, trash disposal, environmental issues, living on a ship in space, obesity, consumerism, eating junk food.
