Though fictional, the Buy N Large mega corporation seems to own and operate everything in WALL-E's world, its brand everywhere. Also lots of tie-ins outside the movie for WALL-E merchandise, from toys to books and more.
Violence & Scariness
some
A human fights a robot, which pokes him in the eye and tosses him around cartoonishly. Robot EVE has a powerful laser gun in one of her arms, which she fires at possible threats (including, early on, at WALL-E). Vivid explosions in old oil tankers could scare little kids. Groups of robots face off; their conflict is more funny than scary. Human characters are briefly in peril.
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Strong messages about the dangers of overconsumption and waste. The importance of protecting the environment -- and the consequences of inaction and greed -- are a cornerstone. Other themes include loyalty, friendship, courage, perseverance, teamwork, and staying positive.
Positive Role Models
a lot
WALL-E and EVE are sweet and hard-working robots who develop the capacity to fall in love. EVE dismisses WALL-E at first but comes to appreciate his dedication. The human characters are a bit more flawed, their greed and wastefulness hurting the planet. But in the end, they come around and help WALL-E and EVE.
Educational Value
some
Kids will learn the importance of community and protecting the earth through methods like recycling.
Diverse Representations
Flagged for concern
Human characters of various races appear in the second part of the film, but they're all in minor roles. The film's take on end-stage consumerism is deeply fatphobic and ableist, using fat people and those in hoverchairs as shorthand for laziness and greed. WALL-E suggests that humans will become "better" if they lose weight and can walk.
Parents need to know that WALL-E is a sci-fi animated film from Pixar that stands out for being virtually dialogue-free for the first half of the film. The action includes robot/human fights, laser weapons being fired, explosions, and chase scenes. Robots fall in love. There are strong environmental messages: Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about what you're doing to the planet (and to yourself). Human characters of various races appear in the second part of the film, but they're in minor roles, and the film's take on end-stage consumerism is deeply fatphobic and ableist. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
WALL-E “Disney’s Bigger Message”
When the Disney movie WALL-E first came out in 2008, I worked at a Hollywood Video; you know those stores people used to go to and rent movies? I never got to watch WALL-E, so I took this opportunity to watch it and did not disappoint. The movie is packed with emotions ranging from feeling sympathy to happiness and even excitement. WALL-E is filled with bland colors of a trash covered Earth and then exhilarating bright colors of stars with galaxies leading to the mysteriously unknown. This movie fits the common mold of a classic Disney movie with a up and down storyline, but I observed a movie that digs deeper. For me WALL-E is a movie that delivers a big message that will be eye opening to anyone who watches it.
The movie begins with introducing the main character, a trash compacting robot named WALL-E. WALL-E is a timid lone robot spending his days cleaning a garbage covered planet Earth. I quickly learn that despite being alone, WALL-E does make the best of it by collecting interesting artifacts and becoming friends with a crafty hard to kill roach. At night WALL-E watches “Hello, Dolly!” on a makeshift video projector and I started to get the sense that WALL-E so desperately wanted some companionship. Suddenly a rocket ships rattles the atmosphere and knocks over skyscraper high compacted blocks of trash as it lands on Earth. WALL-E watches in amazement as a new shiny slick robot emerges from the rocket, it appears that WALL-E may get that companionship he wants. WALL-E watches from a far as the new robot cuts throw the sky scanning items as she goes. After nearly being blown up by the new robot, we discover that the new robot’s name is EVE. As WALL-E is showing EVE around, he shows her a plant that he recently added to his collection of artifacts. EVE scans the plant and then suddenly freezes and shuts down. EVE is later retrieved by the rocket that originally dropped her off to be taken back into space. At this point I had so many questions. Where are all the humans and why is Earth covered in so much trash? I was hoping that the second half of movie would answer all these question for me.
As the rocket takes off WALL-E speeds like a high-speed race car, jumps onto the rocket and holds on for the ride. Attached the rocket ship as it glides through space WALL-E gets to admire vibrant fiery solar flares from the sun, sparkling bright star dust of Saturn and the perplexing purple of the Milky Way. Soon WALL-E is on a ship that has the appearance of glamourous giant cruise ship. I notice that all the passengers are “king size” as they usher around on floating beds and looking at their screens. Any activity they do is through the control and the assistance of robots, humans do nothing for themselves. EVE is taken up to the captain’s quarters and we learn that she was in search for plant life so the ship could return to Earth since vegetation could now grow. The hopeful plans to return home to Earth are nearly sabotaged by a rogue robot; but the perseverance of the captain defeats the villainess robot. At this moment in the movie I realize that the willingness of humanity will always change things for the better. The victory comes at a price that nearly destroys WALL-E but luckily this is a Disney movie. EVE saves WALL-E and now humans are back on Earth where they start to learn how to do things for themselves again.
A typical Disney movie normally consists of a warming heartfelt story that brings joy to children, WALL-E does that while delivering a crucial message of what society is trending towards. Presently in a world that relies on intelligent robots and grow reliant on accelerated technical advancements; could humans one day rely on robots as much as they do in Disney’s WALL-E? I think that it is a possible, but there will always be ones that will never take the easy route and find the pride in doing things for themselves. After watching WALL-E I can take away two things: the perseverance humans remain unmatched and Disney movies can go deep with messages that can be eye opening for everyone willing to watch.
What's the Story?
WALL-E begins on an Earth, more than 20 centuries into the future. It's a bleak, garbage-strewn place whose only inhabitant seems to be WALL-E (Ben Burtt) -- short for Waste Allocation Load Lifter Earth-Class -- a sanitation robot who loves the musical Hello, Dolly! Then one day, a spaceship drops in for a pit stop and leaves behind an egg-shaped robot. Her name is EVE (Elissa Knight), and she's sleek, speedy, and stunning -- and WALL-E is immediately smitten. But before the two can make beautiful musicals together, an unexpected discovery hurtles her back to humankind's current home: a giant spaceship called Axiom, where humans float on personal hovercrafts, interact with others via screens, and have grown so sedentary that they've forgotten how to walk. Determined not to lose his new companion, WALL-E follows EVE to the ship -- and sets in motion a chain of events that just might put people back on a healthier path.
This Pixar film manages to be moving, entertaining, and thought-provoking. Much of the credit is due to director/co-writer Andrew Stanton, who fills the film with tributes to silent films and classic musicals. (Kudos to Burtt for adding such emotion to WALL-E's squeaks and bleeps.)
Early scenes in which WALL-E wonders at the waste left behind by humans are especially poignant, particularly when juxtaposed against the massive pile of waste he's meant to get rid of. Ultimately, the movie's pro-planet message is refreshing, but its depictions of fat people and hoverchair users as lazy and greedy should prompt further discussion with your children.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about WALL-E's messages. What does it say about the media's effect on people? Do you think the future humans in the movie were exaggerated to be funny, or could that really happen? How is satire used to drive home the movie's message on the environment and big business?
This film has very little dialogue in the beginning. What do you think would be the challenges in making a movie about a robot who doesn't speak any human language?
Why is WALL-E so fascinated by Hello, Dolly? What does he learn from the movie?
What is the film saying about fat people? What about hoverchair users -- and to a broader extent, wheelchair users? How might the film have gotten its message across without resorting to harmful stereotypes?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
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