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Pixar pathos and box-office gold

January 9, 2009 by Dave Knadler

I probably shouldn’t admit that I’m kind of neutral on WALL*E, Pixar’s latest animated feature about a couple of robots that rescue humanity. It scores 98 percent on my favorite film site, rottentomatoes.com, and even jaded critics are deploying phrases like “entertaining and inspiring,” “flat-out thrilling” and “almost heart-breakingly tender.” Only a small-hearted, small-minded man would conclude his Netflix screening with the phrase, “Well, I’ve seen worse.”

I loved Toy Story, Pixar’s first computer-animated film about a lovable loser who eventually wins. But that’s been 14 years ago, and every holiday season since we’ve seen a replicating mob of computer-animated films — all about lovable losers who eventually win. For me, the cynical regularity of the plots and release dates of these things has become tiresome.

WALL*E isn’t a bad movie. In many ways, it’s pretty good — as long as you accept that robots might experience physical attraction for each other, and that they might also possess an affinity for plants. Right. I did like the vision of a distinctly American mankind evolving into fat blobs on hovering lounge chairs, whose only interest is mindless chatter and empty calories. Take away the hovering chairs, throw in an iPhone and a Ford Explorer, and you have a portrait of America in 2009.

That’s the best part about WALL*E: Under the bland syrup, a bit of bitter social commentary. But as an Oscar contender? I don’t think so.

More along these lines:

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  • For 2013, a few small repairsFor 2013, a few small repairs
  • where I'm calling from book jacketWhere I’m writing from
  • Thanks for the hope, Internet!

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About Dave Knadler

Obscure writer. Lazy photographer. Bashful guitarist. Perhaps too fond of wine. Tireless nemesis of New York Times crosswords.

Comments

  1. Anonymous says

    January 10, 2009 at 5:45 am

    David,

    Your take on the flick is very much the same as mine

    Stock

  2. Dave Knadler says

    January 10, 2009 at 5:36 pm

    Great minds, Michael.

  3. Ryan says

    January 10, 2009 at 9:09 pm

    It does get on my nerves that the basic plot of all these CG animated movies is basically the same.

    I guess you can’t blame them for jumping on the bandwagon and trying to capitalize, but I do anyway.

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