Earth: The Final Frontier

Both WALL-E and a tiny little plant make a crazy round trip during the ninety-minute ride that is WALL-E. After the Captain blows up GO-4 (accidentally) and turns off AUTO, EVE manages to get the plant to the holo-detector on the Lido deck and send the Axiom back to Earth. And not a moment too soon.

WALL-E, having been zapped viciously by AUTO, is fading fast. EVE gets WALL-E home, replaces his circuit board, and restores his memories.

When the Axiom lands on Earth, the shockwaves from the landing knock over one of WALL-E's giant buildings of trash. We don't think WALL-E will be mad, and we hope this is symbolic of the human's continuing to rid the world of trash somehow.

It's hard to be optimistic, though, because these humans have no clue how to survive. The Captain tells the kids, "You kids are gonna grow all kinds of plants. Vegetable plants. Pizza plants!"

They're in for a rude awakening. But there is hope. The camera pans out and just beyond the city, we see more plants, proving that it is possible to regrow life on Earth. The last thing we see, as the camera reaches space and fades to black is one twinkling star. Maybe we should make a wish.

Roll the Credits

But we don't have to wish. In case there were any doubts to the future of humanity, the film's credits, which feature an evolution of artwork from cave drawings and hieroglyphics to impressionist and pointillist art, show the humans farming and growing and thriving. Phew!

On top of that, Luxo Jr.'s light goes out after he flattens the "I" in the Pixar closing. Enter WALL-E, who replaces it with a new energy-efficient bulb. It's the little things that count.