Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says OK for kids 5+
Brainy, charming, eco-friendly animated adventure.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that although this winning Pixar adventure is thoroughly charming and, yes, romantic, the youngest viewers may get a little restless during the atmospheric, virtually dialogue-free first half-hour. They'll still enjoy it, but -- unlike older kids and grown-ups -- they won't be that impressed by how much is said with so few words. But the action (which includes some robot fights, weapons being fired, explosions, and chase scenes) picks up soon enough. Underlying the whole thing are strong environmental messages: Reduce, reuse, recycle, and think about what you're doing to the planet (and yourself).
- Families can talk about the movie's messages. What is it saying 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? Are they happy? What are they missing? Also, why is WALL-E so fascinated by Hello, Dolly? What does he learn from the movie? Why is he so eager to make a connection with EVE? How does he win her over? How is this movie different from other animated features, even previous Pixar films?
The good stuff
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Positive messages: Lead characters WALL-E and EVE are extremely sympathetic. They're sweet, conscientious, loyal truth-seekers who are able to transcend technology and develop the capacity for love. EVE is dismissive of WALL-E at first, but she comes to appreciate his dedication. The human characters are a bit more flawed; they got into their predicament because of their own bad habits (particularly laziness, selfishness, and greed) -- which the movie is clearly taking a stand against. But in the end -- thanks in no small part to WALL-E -- they come around and appear to have the best intentions of making things right. Underlying the whole movie are messages about the dangers of over consumption and excessive waste; the vision of Earth as a garbage-strewn wasteland (and humans as hoverchair-bound lumps who can barely walk) speaks volumes.
What to watch for
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Violence and scariness: A human does battle against a robot, which pokes him in the eye and tosses him around, but it's not too aggressive. Robot EVE has a powerful gun in one of her arms, which she doesn't hesitate to fire at possible threats (including, early on, WALL-E). At one point, in frustration, she sets off a series of vivid explosions in old oil tankers that could scare some very little kids. A gang of rogue robots faces off against similarly mechanical peacekeepers; their conflict is more funny than scary. Human characters are briefly in peril.
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Sexy stuff: Gentle, sweet, understated romance blooms for two robots, as well as for a human couple.
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Language: One use of the word "heck."
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Consumerism: Excessive consumerism is one of the movie's themes. It's personified by the Buy N Large mega-corporation, which seems to own and operate everything in WALL-E's world. It's fictional, but its brand is everywhere.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Not an issue