Dave's Fiction Warehouse

In which I bloviate about books, TV, movies, politics and other stuff.

  • Books
  • Movies
  • TV
  • politics
  • Other Stuff
  • thatfuckingtrump

Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Powered by Genesis

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:

  • Who is John Galt these days?Who is John Galt these days?
  • toilet troubleI’m dreaming of a nice condo
  • Why does no one pander to me?Why does no one pander to me?
  • The big book o’ inconvenience
  • The show must go on. And on.The show must go on. And on.

Filed Under: Uncategorized

About Dave Knadler

Obscure writer. Lazy photographer. Bashful guitarist. Perhaps too fond of wine. Tireless nemesis of New York Times crosswords, Wordle, Semantle and all other puzzles du jour.

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.

Recent posts

  • We don’t need no stinking followers
  • This could be
    the last time
  • Still life with dicks
  • Not throwing away
    my shot
  • February fugue

Recent comments

  • Paul Silverman on We don’t need no stinking followers
  • Dave Knadler on We don’t need no stinking followers
  • Dave Knadler on We don’t need no stinking followers
  • Dave Knadler on We don’t need no stinking followers
  • Dave Knadler on We don’t need no stinking followers

FInd something

send dave cash

The obligatory PayPal donation button. Go ahead: Make my day.