Wreck-It Ralph | Review
Taking a cue from the ‘Toy Story’ films, Disney’s latest animated feature takes place in a world where video game characters come to life when humans aren’t around. Set in a standard arcade, characters from different games criss-cross and interact with one another. ‘Wreck-It Ralph’ stars its titular character, the villain of a ‘Donkey Kong’-esque 8-bit game, who dreams of accomplishing more than what he was programmed for.
Ralph (John C. Reilly) is sick and tired of never getting praise for doing what he’s good at, which is destroying apartment buildings. The hero of the game, Fix-It Felix, Jr. (Jack McBrayer), is always at the center of attention. Ralph believes if he’s able to win a medal in a different game he’ll earn respect in his home game. Thus initiates the rest of the film, in which Ralph game hops to two other games: the ‘Halo’-like first-person shooter ‘Hero’s Duty’ and the ‘Mario Kart’-inspired ‘Sugar Rush’. There’s one big catch, though: if a character dies in a game he isn’t originally from, he’ll die permanently.
Supporting characters include Sergeant Tamora Jean Calhoun (Jane Lynch), the tough leader from ‘Hero’s Duty’, and Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman), the irritable glitch from ‘Sugar Rush’ who isn’t technically supposed to exist in the game. Calhoun joins Felix in his journey to find Ralph as he game hops, whereas Venellope befriends Ralph as both attempt to prove they’re better than what everyone perceives.
The bond between Ralph and Vanellope is both the film’s strongest point and drawback. Their unlikely friendship provides the basis of the film’s emotional hold; both are shooting for the stars while constantly facing obstacles. However, their friendship prevents the film from progressing forward to other games outside of ‘Sugar Rush’, the kart racing game where everything is made of candy and sweets. This is where ‘Wreck-It Ralph’ stops being a movie about the video game world and solely a movie set in a candy-coated racing game where everything is bright and colorful, and many jokes and puns are made with candy. The movie can be funny, but it’s a little disheartening to see more jokes about candy than jokes about video games.
Other than this single drawback the film should be a hit with children. It’s full of likable characters, some exhilarating action and racing, and cameos of real video game characters like Bowser, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Pacman! Even older gamers will be delighted to find such cameos as Q*Bert, ‘Street Fighter’ characters, and ‘Tapper’.
The rules of the video game world are introduced and it’s nice to see them circle back by the end of the film instead of just being tossed away. A third-act twist that I admittedly did not see coming was also a nice touch. The voice actors in this movie are perfectly casted. John C. Reilly easily captures Ralph’s depressing attitude, Jack McBrayer (’30 Rock’) and his whiney high-pitched voice is suited for the purely good Fix-It Felix, Jr., and no one can impose such a bold and fearsome female voice like Jane Lynch. ‘Wreck-It Ralph’ features a perfect voice cast and a great deal of attention to detail. One just wishes it took advantage of the imaginative world that’s been presented in the film even further rather than short-stopping at a Candyland lookalike.
Three out of four Kent's.
Extra Notes:
Playing before ‘Wreck-It Ralph’ is ‘Paperman’, a beautiful and touching Disney animated short that utilizes 2D and 3D animation. It’s a black and white minimalist short film that makes me excited for future animated shorts/films that may use the same 2D-3D animation technique.
You can play ‘Wreck-It Ralph’, ‘Hero’s Duty’, and ‘Sugar Rush’ on Disney’s website! http://disney.go.com/wreck-it-ralph/#/games
