Review: Wreck-It Ralph

There have been some recent animations, ostensibly for children, which have garnered both critical acclaim and adult popularity. Films like Wall-E and Up have combined handsome aesthetics with an authentic narrative, like the Disney productions of yesteryear. They seem to be aiming for more than simple mass distraction, with strong themes and emotional credibility. Despite some suspiciously close resemblances to Monsters Inc., I am confident in placing Wreck-It Ralph in this category.

The plot concerns the world of video game characters after their arcade closes. They are all living beings, who work as pawns in the hands of the paying customers, but at night sustain average existences. The titular protagonist is the game Fix-It Felix, Jr.’s bad guy, a role which he is sick of fulfilling. As he watches his colleagues celebrate the good guy’s continued success (fixing what Ralph has broken), he dreams of earning a medal like Felix. So he goes AWOL and hooks up with another game’s glitch,Vanellope von Schweetz, who dreams of legitimately entering the races of Sugar Rush. Much farcical slapstick and Machiavellian plotting twists the plot therein, numerous other characters joining the technological adventure.

The world that has been created is superb. It manages to be simultaneously visually impressive, interestingly composed and still rough enough to contain amusing impossibilities and non-sensical explanations. For example, one of the chomping heads from Pac-Man hosts a support group for disillusioned bad guys, with Bowser and a zombie urging Ralph to take it one day at a time. How the characters interact in their post-work environment provides a fascinating alternative to reality: I particularly enjoyed the early ‘80s characters' inability to walk in a smooth, high-definition fashion. It seems as if there are endless distractions from the story within this world. Wreck-It Ralph has clearly been made by people who are fond of these old arcade games.

For what is theoretically a children’s film, there is plenty for mature audiences. There are a fair few amusing lines, jokes and puns (two quick examples from the world made of candy: ‘we’re stuck in Nesquick sand!’; ‘don’t worry, he only glazed me’. Had to be there I guess.). Despite elements of predictability, the story is complex and waspish enough.

It's nice to see Oscar-nominated John C. Reilly in a starring role, not supporting bigger names likes Will Ferrell or Catherine Zeta-Jones. Sarah Silverman’s grating nasal whine actually suits her juvenile computer-glitch character. Other supporting actors are decent too, although I suppose that a sizeable applause should go to those who animated the picture, surely no small feat.

A bonus treasure is the preceding animated short called Paperman, a phenomenon which has happened a few times of late. Ultimately, Wreck-It Ralph is intended to entertain. And this is exactly what it does.