Disney studios’ newest animated movie is a loving tribute to the video arcade games so popular twenty and thirty years ago. It is nostalgic but not overly sentimental, preferring to update its old-time protagonists into the more modern universe of fast-paced, super-sweet or ultra-violent games of today. It also finds humor in adult situations like self-help groups and driving lessons. Thus, it blends the best of both worlds in a delightful, fascinating animated adventure for all ages.
Wreck-It Ralph is a secondary character in the “Fix-It Felix, Jr.” game, and he is feeling under-appreciated. On the 30th anniversary of the game, he isn’t even invited to the anniversary party. Ralph decides to change his life by game-jumping, which finds him completely overwhelmed in a Starship Troopers-like game (“Hero’s Duty”) involving marauding flying insects, and then completely lost in a sickly-sweet game called “Sugar Rush” involving child race-car drivers. Ralph finds his destiny in “Sugar Rush” as well as an unusual friendship.
The design of Rich Moore’s film is spectacular, from the 8-bit rendering of the older arcade games to the 3D effects that have sinister Cy-Bugs flying into one’s vision. Its characters are equally strong; Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) is a wonderfully sympathetic gorilla of a guy with huge “ham hands,” and little Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman) is endearing as the outcast among the “Sugar Rush” racers. Best of all is tough Sergeant Calhoun (voice of Jane Lynch), who finds the pastel candy landscape of “Sugar Rush” even more formidable than the barren, bug-infested environs of “Hero’s Duty.”
There is something for everyone in Wreck-It Ralph, and anyone who has ever enjoyed a video game should appreciate its artistry. Its basic message reinforces the need for inclusion, which any parent should endorse. The movie is quick, sharply-written, funny and clever. It’s the best thing Disney has produced since The Princess and the Frog a few years ago. It’s a winner. ☆ ☆ ☆ 1/2. 24 November 2012.