Editor’s note: The following reflects the opinion of the author.
Disney’s “Wreck-It Ralph” is a very familiar tale that initially appears to draw on a variety of different influences, many of them existing animated films.
The main character is a bad guy – the titular Wreck-It Ralph, voiced by John C. Reilly – who wants to be a good guy, much in the same vein as “Megamind.” The premise is that characters in arcade games come alive and do their own thing when the arcade closes for the night, like in “Toy Story,” and there is even a little girl who needs the help of the not-so-bad evildoer, cue “Despicable Me.”
When video game villain Wreck-It Ralph becomes desperate for a more glamorous life than living in a (literal) dump, he is told by another character that if he could retrieve a medal, he would be allowed to live in the penthouse area of his home game. After taking a medal from a violent shooting game called “Hero’s Duty,” it is stolen from him by Vanellope von Schweetz, a character from the ultra-cute kart racing game “Sugar Rush,” who is voiced by comedian Sarah Silverman.
Wreck-it Ralph ultimately teams up with Vanellope in order to help her win the race and get his medal back. All the while, the hero of Wreck-it Ralph’s game “Fix-It Felix Jr.,” who is voiced by Jack McBrayer and fittingly named Fix-It Felix Jr., is trying to find Wreck-it Ralph to avoid getting the plug pulled on their home game, leaving them forever homeless.
As a story with so many interesting and developed characters, this movie will pull on your heartstrings and make you a bit emotional.
And while the character of Vanellope may seem annoying in the advertisements, she isn’t. In fact, she is one of the more entertaining characters in the film, and she and Wreck-it Ralph share some of the film’s most memorable scenes.
It has some funny moments, and unlike most films, its sense of humor can be enjoyed by audiences of all ages.
Like every Disney movie, Pixar or not, this movie has lessons to be learned, and no matter how old you are, you will leave this movie with a smile on your face.
If you have ever picked up a controller in your lifetime, you will see a variety of characters – ranging from Bowser to Frogger and beyond – that will be sure to have you feeling nostalgic.
“Wreck-It Ralph” is a masterpiece that represents a gaming generation. It will be a travesty if it does not win the Oscar for Best Animated Feature, as “Wreck-It Ralph” is one of the best movies of the year.
4 out of 4 stars
Story: MITCHELL LEA, Intern A&E Reporter