Worth More Than A Quarter:
Wreck-It Ralph Philm Review
Yeah, yeah, I know. It's been quite a while since I was on here causing a ruckus, but suffice it to say I've been busy. I'll address that later for whomever gives a rat's ass. So, onward to the real topic!
Okay, so Wreck-It Ralph. A friend and I took in a sneak-preview screening Monday night at Alamo Draft House (Props to my Foodie Wife and Swag Hag Trish! Holla!) and I’ve had some time to mull it over.
I’ll do my best to remain spoiler-free, but tread cautiously. Here’s my 25 cents:
I thoroughly enjoyed it! Was it an earth-moving,
game-changing (See what I did there?) movie? Nah, but it was a damn good trip
and well worth my time and money. I’m a hard one to get to laugh out loud at a
movie, but I did quite a few times at this one. That being said, I think a good
deal of the laughter came from video game references and fantastic shout-outs
that only someone who grew up with video games or is an avid follower might
get. Does that mean that your average non-video game player will be bored? Not
at all. While they might be lost on the myriad of references, the movie is visually
fun ride that touts some great lines and stands on its own. As an added bonus,
it’s primary plot is a poignant story that addresses a big issue in society:
Being bullied because you’re an outcast.
Some of the voice acting talent chosen for this took me a little by surprise and I didn’t know how I’d feel about it onscreen. I can
wholeheartedly report that I thought every choice was superb. Jane Lynch was unsurprisingly
great as Sergeant Calhoun and John C. Reilly really made the title role
for me (I kept wanting him to talk like Dr. Steve Brule!) Jack McBrayer was wonderful as
Fix-It Felix, Jr. (though it was an easy typecast, I mean come on) and Sarah Silverman was an unexpectedly good fit for Vanellope. I almost didn’t recognize Alan Tudyk as King Candy,
which is always a plus.
I’d be a liar if I said all I did was laugh throughout the
movie. I did, in fact, get a bit teary-eyed at a few parts along the way. The
opening short “Paperman” is a beautifully constructed black and white piece of
animation that speaks to the love-at-first-sight/happily-ever-after mawkish
cornball in many of us. I wasn’t a few minutes in and already I was doing my
best to stifle the welling.
Rest assured, Wreck-It ralph wasn’t without its emotionally
thwapping segments. However, I find myself wondering if the particular points
in the movie that resonated so strongly with me on a heart-wrenching level
weren’t because of simple nostalgia (Oh, Q*bert! How you and your gameless
signs eviscerate me!!!) Your mileage may vary.
Lastly, the cameos. How can you do a movie dealing with this
topic and not have a million amazing appearances? So many!! Dig Dug, Q*bert,
Pac-Man, Sonic, Peter Pepper, Dr. Robotnik, Zangief (Oh how I love you Zangief!)
Chun-Li, Princess Peach…the list goes on. Part of the fun of the film is seeing
which characters you can identify.
So there you are. It’s definitely worth the watch. Will your
kids love it even if they don’t get the references? Definitely! It’s an entertaining
film with a good mix of funny moments, fast-paced action and a sugary sprinkle
of good values. Oh and my personal favorites? The Nicelanders, Sour Bill and King
Candy with the best tip of the hat to video games ever.
Enjoy!
Phred Phun Phactor: 8 out of 10
