Synopsis: Ralph longs to be a beloved good guy in his game like Fix-It Felix Jr. Only problem is, nobody loves a bad guy. But they do love heroes... So when a modern first person shooter game arrives, Ralph sees it as his ticket to heroism and happiness but soon wrecks everything by unleashing a deadly enemy - threatening every game in the arcade. Vanellope Von Schweetz, a "glitch" in a go-karting game is his only hope. But will he realise he's good enough before it's "Game Over" for the entire arcade?
Verdict: The short film "The Paperman" featured at the start of the screening of this film gives you a good clue as to what to expect from Wreck-It Ralph. Both are charming, sweet stories that have you routing for the main protagonists in almost an instance without being overbearing and out staying their welcome. However whilst the animated short is presented in a simple black and white format, Wreck-It Ralph is the polar opposite with eye catching 3D visuals. The director (Rich Moore) manages to put the format to great use, which is no mean feat, with it not being a distracting nuisance nor making the vibrant colours look washed out.
The script manages to strike the perfect balance between the heart-warming human aspects and video game action and in-jokes (some of which I have a feeling I missed, not being a particularly avid gamer myself). This is the reason for the film's mass appeal, given that there's something for everyone. Some of my highlights were definitely the first 'Bad Anon' meeting and watch out for the Oreo cookie guards at the castle.
Another point by which this film strikes a high note is its stunning voice cast. I can't imagine anyone other than Sarah Silverman voicing Vanellope Von Schweetz, she brings such charm and innocence to a character that may otherwise have come across as quite brash and annoying. John C. Reilly's voice is also perfectly suited to Ralph.
Personally I think that this film deserves the Oscar for best animated picture, the story feels much more innovative even if Brave's visuals were mightily impressive. If this is what we can come to expect from Disney then I'm looking forward to returning to Litwak's arcade to see what they do next in the inevitable sequel. Pixar may have some serious competition on their hands now at this rate.
Rating: 4/5
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