It might not be Pixar, but “Wreck-It Ralph” still has a heartwarming message, adult humor and great animation, not to mention a pre-feature short.
“Wreck-It Ralph” takes more than a few cues from the “Toy Story” franchise, with arcade game characters leading their own lives after hours.
The movie’s three featured games are all fictional, but arcade fans will recognize characters like Q*bert, Bowser, and Sonic the Hedgehog in minor roles. Clever details like Clyde — the orange ghost from Pac-Man — constantly moving in right angles create a nostalgic feel for simpler arcade times.
The titular character, Ralph (John C. Reilly), is unhappy being the bad guy who wrecks things. The other people in his game see him as bad even when human players aren’t around.
He embarks on a quest to become a hero and gain his town’s respect but becomes distracted trying to help Vanellope (Sarah Silverman), who is constantly tormented by bullies in her own game, Sugar Rush.
Felix (Jack McBrayer) and Calhoun (Jane Lynch) travel to Sugar Rush to bring Ralph back and to convince him that he is necessary to Fix-It Felix Jr., even though he’s the “bad guy.”
The film is cute for viewers of any age and offers a positive message: Rather than trying to be people we’re not, we should accept our talents and find ways to use them to our advantage.
Ralph and Vanellope undergo journeys of self-discovery and acceptance during the course of the film, and you’ll find yourself cheering for them along the way. It might be predictable, but “Wreck-It Ralph” is also adorable and provides everything you could hope for in a Disney film.
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