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‘WALL€E' is charming and entertaining for all ages

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After I raved about “Kung Fu Panda” as an excellent family film, I had the pleasure of seeing “WALL€E” with my grandson Case, who was so excited about seeing the film, he had already talked his mother into buying him his very own miniature WALL€E robot that talks, flashes his eyes and moves his arms. Luckily, the PR firm for the film allowed me three guests, so my son and daughter-in-law - who had been asking about a screening since April - all attended the “WALL€E” screening. All truly enjoyed Pixar's latest movie - and perhaps its greatest to date. I think families should flock to meet WALL€E. “WALL€E” was directed and co-written by masterful storyteller Andrew Stanton (“Finding Nemo,” “Cars”).

When the movie opens, 700 years have passed since humans inhabited Earth. Leaving the planet in environmentally devastated, humans - in some vain effort to right a terrible wrong - have given waste-removal robots a single daunting task - to eliminate the mess and hopefully make way for new life.

Centuries later, all that remains is a lone unit - WALL€E, a determined little droid who has developed a sort of consciousness and an adorable personality. He briskly and enthusiastically picks through the rubble while listening to songs from “Hello, Dolly!” on his internal recording unit; he spends his days building skyscrapers out of trash and occasionally picking out a treasure or two. At night, however, he appears lonely, pining for someone or something besides his cockroach companion to share his dump-derived treasure trove, which is an old semi-trailer filled with odd sundries - light bulbs, an iPod, watches, lighters, hubcaps, toys, a VCR, a tiny plant in an old boot and more. More and more, the little guy looks to the sky, hoping beyond hope for someone or something to come to his empty world.

As luck would have it, one day a huge spacecraft drops out of the sky, leaving a sentry robot looking for signs of life returning to the planet, and soon WALL€E comes face-to-face with EVE, an egg-shaped droid sent by humans from a community on a huge space station called AXIOM. Although she seems to have little time for our tiny tin hero, he is instantly infatuated. When EVE fulfills her directive, she is forced to leave, but the smitten WALL€E follows.

This little robot, WALL€E (voiced by Ben Burtt), is a human creation and therein lies the genius. Incidentally, his name is simply an acronym of what the robot is: Waste Allocation Load Lifter, Earth-Class. Regardless, Pixar's creative staff uses WALL€E and his sweetheart EVE for much more than simple entertainment. On its surface, “WALL€E” is about a little robot, his newly discovered girlfriend and how they fall in love and work together to save the world, but at its core, the movie is about us - humans - and how we are both brilliant and foolish at the same time. It is a testament to our good sense and potential for folly.

That WALL€E's earth looks so real is amazing. The film's photo-realistic animation depicts incredible structures built from compacted waste standing before a bleak brownish horizon, and the result is wholly lifelike. The authenticity is keen and completely impressive when a wordless robot and skittering cockroach appear expressive. The illusion created is perfect.

If I have one complaint - and I do - it is PIXAR's decision to use Willard Scott (in real life human form) in the film. Scott appears in presidential from on a video transmission with instructions for future humans and he is completely out of place and unnecessary. Why didn't the creators just animate him too?

The characters are emotive enough to appear almost human. The roach, for instance, paces back and forth when he's worried, and he burrows in the filling of a twinkie-like snack cake whose preservatives have kept it fresh and utterly undiminished through seven centuries. WALL*E's blue headlight-like eyes show expression and his moments suggest individuality.

Visually stunning, each image and character is state-of-the-art. Notably, PIXAR's critical messages about environmental and personal health are as important as any current issue could possibly be. WALL*E may be little more than a rusty trash compactor, but he is lovable, cute as heck, darn right valiant and has a delightful personality. More importantly, he illuminates our potential for a grim future. It is perhaps the “Inconvenient Truth” for the youngest generation and adults.

My grandson, for some reason, really liked “the girlfriend” (Eve), but I fell in love with WALL*E. He is a creature of few words, who loves old movies and silly mementos and who steals the audiences' heart from the first frame. PIXAR has truly outdone itself and the PG-rated “WALL*E” tops my list of favorite films so far for 2008. It is an intelligent film providing entertainment and food for thought for viewers from three to ninety. I am placing an A in my grade book. Scott's appearance keeps me from adding a plus - on second thought - I'll give it an A+. Everyone should see it.

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