Wreck-It Ralph
In the world of arcade games there are good guys and bad guys; and, unbeknownst to humans, they have feelings, dreams, and aspirations. So when Ralph (John C. Reilly), the villain from an 80’s arcade game, gets the urge to win a medal of honor, the hierarchy of good and bad is challenged in the arcade. And, while trying to fulfill his dream it’s a series of simple mistakes that ultimately leads to the possible wrecking of the entire arcade. It’ll take the militant Calhoun (Jane Lynch), the glitchy Vanellope (Sara Silverman), Fix-It Felix (Jack McBrayer) and a cast of all your favorite video game characters to save the arcade, but is it already too late?
Clever nods and inside jokes to all who’ve enjoyed their share of video gaming over the last 30 years with the foundation of straightforward solid comedy makes for a win with gamers and non-gamers of all ages alike. And, while the laughs weren’t necessarily rapid fire or deep belly laughs every time, the overall sense will still leave you smiling. Crisp animation with stimulus overload in the color and audio departments will put up a good fight for this year’s loudest film; meanwhile, the 3D here felt unnecessary, yet if ever there was a call for the exploitation of the technology, this was it, ho hum. Clocking in just a few minutes shy of 2 hours long, length feels about right, maybe a shade long, but satisfying none the less. Matinee or maybe more. Wreck-It Ralph is rated PG.