MOVIE OF THE WEEK (11/2/12) #1: WRECK-IT RALPH
KEY CAST MEMBERS: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk, Ed O'Neill, Mindy Kaling, Joe Lo Truglio and Dennis Haysbert
WRITER(S): Jennifer Lee and Phil Johnston (screenplay); John C.Reilly (story elements)
WRITER(S): Jennifer Lee and Phil Johnston (screenplay); John C.Reilly (story elements)
DIRECTOR: Rich Moore
THE PLOT: A film based on video games of yore that would (and likely will) in fact make a great pixelated adventure itself, Wreck-It Ralph features the voice of John C. Reilly in the titular role. Ralph is the villain 'Fix-It Felix Jr.,' a fictional Donkey-Kong/Rampage style game in the arcade owned by Mr. Litwak (voiced by Ed O' Neill). In the game, when Ralph causes damage to the building, everyone roots for the hero, Fix-It Felix Jr. (voiced by Jack McBrayer) to save them from Ralph's damage.
Problem is, after 30 years of playing the villain, Ralph doesn't want to be a bad guy anymore.
Even though his fellow bad guys (you've seen some of them in the trailer; no need to ruin the fun by naming them here) try to let him know it's not a bad thing to be a bad guy, Ralph desires more out of his life - especially after learning of a party celebrating his game's 30th anniversary - and that he's not invited. Determined to prove he could be a hero, Ralph sets out on a mission to win a medal like the ones Felix has ... Even if it means jumping into a game or two he shouldn't
Fast forward a bit and Ralph has found his gold medal ... But it comes at a price that results in Felix and the Halo-style tough leader that is General Calhoun (voiced by Jane Lynch) trying to track him down before he wrecks their respective games. Eventually, they learn Ralph has wandered over to "Sugar Rush," (think Mario Kart set in a cavity-inducing world of candy), which is where he runs in Vanellope von Schweetz (voiced by Sarah Silverman). Vanellope is a "glitch," a.k.a. a not completely working character who dreams of being a star racer despite her flaws.
But just as soon as Ralph starts to develop a friendship with the misunderstood Vanellope, Sugar Rush leader King Candy (voiced by Alan Tudyk) tells him of a horrible secret that could ruin it as soon as it started. This leaves Ralph with a choice that could affect not only Vanellope, but every game character in the arcade as well.
So what will Ralph do? Insert your coin, player one - you're about to find out!
Problem is, after 30 years of playing the villain, Ralph doesn't want to be a bad guy anymore.
Even though his fellow bad guys (you've seen some of them in the trailer; no need to ruin the fun by naming them here) try to let him know it's not a bad thing to be a bad guy, Ralph desires more out of his life - especially after learning of a party celebrating his game's 30th anniversary - and that he's not invited. Determined to prove he could be a hero, Ralph sets out on a mission to win a medal like the ones Felix has ... Even if it means jumping into a game or two he shouldn't
Fast forward a bit and Ralph has found his gold medal ... But it comes at a price that results in Felix and the Halo-style tough leader that is General Calhoun (voiced by Jane Lynch) trying to track him down before he wrecks their respective games. Eventually, they learn Ralph has wandered over to "Sugar Rush," (think Mario Kart set in a cavity-inducing world of candy), which is where he runs in Vanellope von Schweetz (voiced by Sarah Silverman). Vanellope is a "glitch," a.k.a. a not completely working character who dreams of being a star racer despite her flaws.
But just as soon as Ralph starts to develop a friendship with the misunderstood Vanellope, Sugar Rush leader King Candy (voiced by Alan Tudyk) tells him of a horrible secret that could ruin it as soon as it started. This leaves Ralph with a choice that could affect not only Vanellope, but every game character in the arcade as well.
So what will Ralph do? Insert your coin, player one - you're about to find out!
THE TAKE: At this point, the words "Disney Pixar" and "animation" should be synonymous with "great movie." Save for the underwhelming Brave and the pure money grab for children that is the Cars franchise, if you can name a bad Disney/Pixar production, you simply should buy a t-shirt saying how much you hate fun, entertainment, your inner child and life in general. (I think I've made my point.)
Wreck-It Ralph- as well as the short film Paper Man that precedes it - is just the latest in the company's longstanding tradition of producing high quality entertainment in an animated fashion.
If you played video games in the hey day of arcades in the 1980s through the console boom of the early 90s, Wreck-It Ralph will be a fun-filled trip down memory lane as you watch many of your favorite characters living their lives. (I mean, it's not like you thought about them actually having lives before, right? RIGHT?!) From the sound effects to the in-jokes of certain games and the general arcade experience, Wreck-It Ralph pays them all proper tribute throughout the film in a way that is both intelligent and irreverent at the same time.
That, of course, is not to say the film's original, well-developed plot isn't stellar in its own right, too. For it is, incorporating a story that fits within the confines of how games work and making it work within the confines of the human experience and the desires its characters have (to be loved, to be successful, to be relevant, etc.). Reilly, Silverman, Lynch and McBrayer really shine in a way most voice-actors do not throughout the film, making their 3D characters feel as real as video games could. Throw in a slight plot twist that is well-developed to make this humorous, heartfelt story entertaining in a fashion gamers and non-gamers alike can appreciate and Wreck-It Ralph has its designs - no pun intended - on being one of this year's best films.
Wreck-It Ralph- as well as the short film Paper Man that precedes it - is just the latest in the company's longstanding tradition of producing high quality entertainment in an animated fashion.
If you played video games in the hey day of arcades in the 1980s through the console boom of the early 90s, Wreck-It Ralph will be a fun-filled trip down memory lane as you watch many of your favorite characters living their lives. (I mean, it's not like you thought about them actually having lives before, right? RIGHT?!) From the sound effects to the in-jokes of certain games and the general arcade experience, Wreck-It Ralph pays them all proper tribute throughout the film in a way that is both intelligent and irreverent at the same time.
That, of course, is not to say the film's original, well-developed plot isn't stellar in its own right, too. For it is, incorporating a story that fits within the confines of how games work and making it work within the confines of the human experience and the desires its characters have (to be loved, to be successful, to be relevant, etc.). Reilly, Silverman, Lynch and McBrayer really shine in a way most voice-actors do not throughout the film, making their 3D characters feel as real as video games could. Throw in a slight plot twist that is well-developed to make this humorous, heartfelt story entertaining in a fashion gamers and non-gamers alike can appreciate and Wreck-It Ralph has its designs - no pun intended - on being one of this year's best films.
PARTING SHOT: A film that will appeal to those who spent years in arcades as well as those who may have never touched a joystick in their life, Wreck-It Ralph is an instant classic that pushes all your buttons in the best way possible.
RATING (OUT OF FOUR BUCKETS OF POPCORN):
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