My partner and I saw Wall-E on Sunday and both really liked it (although it’s hard not to like everything made by Pixar).

At its core, the film says something deep and moving about the power of love. I have to say, though, that the love it evoked was more akin to that between man and dog, than romantic love between humans.

Why?

• it’s clear that after 700 years of almost complete loneliness, Wall-E was starving for companionship more than anything else (I suppose the cockroach didn’t cut it)
• Wall-E became enamored of EVE almost instantaneously, simply because “she” displayed some sentience (again, the poor cockroach)
• except for playing around (with his toys and a fire extinguisher), Wall-E’s sole interest is in getting attention from EVE; he’s oblivious to just about everything else
• his only intimate contact with EVE was by holding her hand; a dog lapping up his master’s face is, frankly, more affectionate

I’m not disparaging the movie at all. I’m just wondering if adults are seeing what they want to see. I’d imagine children imagine an entirely different relationship between Wall-E and EVE, one that probably doesn’t involve the sort of activities that would lead to EVE’s pregnancy and nursing baby robots from her USB port.

I think what capture’s adult imaginations so strongly is Wall-E’s cheery innocence, his dedication to duty after hundreds of years of solitude, and his loyal sweetness towards a robot normally defined in terms of its “directive” rather than its essence. This is a robot that has taken his share of punches from everyone and still has the irrepressible curiosity and playfulness of a newborn puppy. And seeing a pet melt the heart of someone hardened by reality always pulls at our heartstrings, and, likewise, it’s seeing EVE’s transformation that surprises us and warms our heart; after all, Wall-E doesn’t change at all.

Here’s the trailer. If Pixar movies make your heart swell, you won’t be disappointed by Wall-E.