Disney's 52nd Animated Classic Is Just That - A Classic.
It's been a bumpy few years for the Walt Disney Animation Studios. The past decade alone has seen some of the most dynamic, outlandish, and downright bizarre animated films been released by the once-revered studio. Remember Treasure Planet? How about Brother Bear? After the legendary Disney Renaissance of the 1990s ended with Tarzan in 1999, Disney went into something of a creative and financial slump. Although some movies worked (The Emperor's New Groove, Lilo and Stitch), on the whole, people seemed to have forgotten about the studio that once made beloved classics like Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. Little brother Pixar was dominating the market with their own brand of hits like Finding Nemo and the Incredibles.
The historic $7 billion purchase of Pixar by Disney in 2006 led to something of a creative re-awakening. Pixar honcho John Lasseter (the brain behind Pixar classics Toy Story and A Bug's Life) took on the role of Chief Creative Officer at both Disney and Pixar Animation Studios. Soon, Disney's movies started getting better. 2007's Meet The Robinsons seemed to follow Walt Disney's "Keep Moving Forward" policy. 2008's Bolt succeeded as a comedy with heart. 2009's The Princess and the Frog re-energized traditional 2D animation. Still, something was missing. Box office returns! However, Disney's 50th Animated Feature, Tangled, in 2010 was a smash hit. It was popular with critics and audiences alike and went on to make $590 million worldwide - second only to The Lion King. But then again, 2011's Winnie the Pooh was a flop. Disney needed a hero- and it got one this year.
Wreck-It Ralph, in case you're not acquainted with the premise- tells the story of Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly), a videogame villain in a retro arcade game from 1982 called Fix-It Felix Jr. Ralph is sick of his job - wrecking the 8-bit in-game building and watching it get repaired by Fix-It Felix Jr. (voice of Jack McBrayer), everyone's favorite good guy, day after day. Desperate for some recognition in the form of a medal, Ralph jumps into a game called Hero's Duty, a slick, futuristic, Halo-esque first person shooter. Wrecking havoc there, the great lug stumbles into another game- this one called Sugar Rush, a candy themed kart racer game. There, he crosses paths with a little girl named Vanellope Von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman), who, like Ralph, is an outcast- or more specifically, a "glitch", shunned by everyone. Fix-It Felix and Sergeant Calhoun (voice of Jane Lynch) must find Ralph and get him back to his original game- before their game's plug is pulled. Vanellope just wants to win a race and prove herself, and Ralph is determined to prove he's a good guy and more than just the sum of his programming.
Everything about Wreck-It Ralph is delightful. The very premise screams originality. Very few videogames have made a smooth transition to the big screen and Ralph does that seamlessly, even though it's not based on a videogame, just gaming culture in general. There are some brilliant, shining touches of creativity, from the iconic "Bad-Anon" meeting where videogame villains come together for a support group, to the amazing Game Central Station, where everyone from Sonic the Hedgehog to Frogger cross paths while travelling to their own destinations. More than once, I was thinking to myself, How did they get such an awesome idea? Much of the fun in the first half hour will be derived from spotting the cameos- that is, if you've ever spent time playing games. If you haven't, that isn't a problem at all, because you don't have to be a "gamer" to enjoy the lovely references in the film. Besides, chances are, you know Bowser and Pac-Man without having ever even picked up a controller!
I loved the characters. John C. Reilly was perfect as Wreck-It Ralph. It's been a while since I've seen such perfect casting. He lends so much to the character, it's incredible. Jack McBrayer does a good job with Fix-It Felix, Jr., although you can't help but feel like he's playing the same character from 30 Rock. Same thing with Jane Lynch's Sergeant Calhoun. I could literally see Coach Sue Sylvester in her tracksuit. But the character that stole the show was hands down, Vanellope Von Schweetz, expertly voiced by Sarah Silverman. Silverman lends a degree of irreverence and crudeness to the character that I couldn't help but fall in love with.
Another standout for the movie was the overall look of the film. In a first for an animated film, there's a whopping four different worlds- five if you include the arcade: the simplistic 8-bit world of Fix-It Felix Jr, the snazzy high definition futuristic world of Hero's Duty, the sparkly, sugary world of Sugar Rush, the grandeur of Game Central Station and the real-world location of Litwak's Arcade. And to think that in essence, the entire movie takes place inside just one room- the arcade- mindblowing.
As far as animation is concerned, the film doesn't do anything groundbreaking, or innovative, but the quality is still really impressive. The film's budget- $165 million - isn't as much as Tangled's whopping $250 million. And I'm pretty sure that close to 25% of that was spent on getting the videogame cameos. Who knows? Still, the animation is impressive. Since there's characters from so many different eras, each one has it's own style of movement. From the jerky actions of the Nicelanders of Fix-It Felix Jr. to the smooth movements of the Hero's Duty characters, the attention to detail is amazing. And when the characters share space, you really appreciate all the effort that's gone in.
The humor is fun, ranging from subtle to downright juvenile. Vanellope is the source of many of the film's laughs, and also much of the film's heart. When she comes up with potty jokes, you can't help but giggle, even thought you know how lame it is. She just makes it work! The banter between Sergeant Calhoun and Fix-It Felix is pretty fun too. However, the lowest point for me in the film was a really dumb exchange between the two that also included "Nesquik Sand." It was funny enough for the kids, but you know adults will just be rolling their eyes. Also, be prepared for a little product placement, although they are pretty inspired (Oreo meets The Wizard of Oz is all I'm saying).
That said, Wreck-It Ralph has more than enough to keep adults entertained. The sheer amount of emotion in the film is amazing, and I didn't expect to be tearing up so many times! You come to care for Ralph and Vanellope as they set off to find themselves. Ralph's a hero's journey, one of self-discovery and knowing that you are special no matter what.
Wreck-It Ralph is a victory for Disney Animation, they've proved that they can still compete with the CGI biggies like Pixar and DreamWorks. If you like Disney, animation, videogames, or just good movies, watch this now. You need not be a gamer to enjoy this one. I've never recommended a movie more wholeheartedly. You'll laugh, cry, and have your spirits lifted.
Not only is Wreck-It Ralph the best animated film of the year by far, it's one of the best films of the year, period. Disney, you've done it again.
RATING: ★★★★ and a medal.
It's been a bumpy few years for the Walt Disney Animation Studios. The past decade alone has seen some of the most dynamic, outlandish, and downright bizarre animated films been released by the once-revered studio. Remember Treasure Planet? How about Brother Bear? After the legendary Disney Renaissance of the 1990s ended with Tarzan in 1999, Disney went into something of a creative and financial slump. Although some movies worked (The Emperor's New Groove, Lilo and Stitch), on the whole, people seemed to have forgotten about the studio that once made beloved classics like Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin. Little brother Pixar was dominating the market with their own brand of hits like Finding Nemo and the Incredibles. The historic $7 billion purchase of Pixar by Disney in 2006 led to something of a creative re-awakening. Pixar honcho John Lasseter (the brain behind Pixar classics Toy Story and A Bug's Life) took on the role of Chief Creative Officer at both Disney and Pixar Animation Studios. Soon, Disney's movies started getting better. 2007's Meet The Robinsons seemed to follow Walt Disney's "Keep Moving Forward" policy. 2008's Bolt succeeded as a comedy with heart. 2009's The Princess and the Frog re-energized traditional 2D animation. Still, something was missing. Box office returns! However, Disney's 50th Animated Feature, Tangled, in 2010 was a smash hit. It was popular with critics and audiences alike and went on to make $590 million worldwide - second only to The Lion King. But then again, 2011's Winnie the Pooh was a flop. Disney needed a hero- and it got one this year.
Wreck-It Ralph, in case you're not acquainted with the premise- tells the story of Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly), a videogame villain in a retro arcade game from 1982 called Fix-It Felix Jr. Ralph is sick of his job - wrecking the 8-bit in-game building and watching it get repaired by Fix-It Felix Jr. (voice of Jack McBrayer), everyone's favorite good guy, day after day. Desperate for some recognition in the form of a medal, Ralph jumps into a game called Hero's Duty, a slick, futuristic, Halo-esque first person shooter. Wrecking havoc there, the great lug stumbles into another game- this one called Sugar Rush, a candy themed kart racer game. There, he crosses paths with a little girl named Vanellope Von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman), who, like Ralph, is an outcast- or more specifically, a "glitch", shunned by everyone. Fix-It Felix and Sergeant Calhoun (voice of Jane Lynch) must find Ralph and get him back to his original game- before their game's plug is pulled. Vanellope just wants to win a race and prove herself, and Ralph is determined to prove he's a good guy and more than just the sum of his programming.
 |
| The iconic Bad-Anon meeting is the highlight of the film. Watch for cameos! |
Everything about Wreck-It Ralph is delightful. The very premise screams originality. Very few videogames have made a smooth transition to the big screen and Ralph does that seamlessly, even though it's not based on a videogame, just gaming culture in general. There are some brilliant, shining touches of creativity, from the iconic "Bad-Anon" meeting where videogame villains come together for a support group, to the amazing Game Central Station, where everyone from Sonic the Hedgehog to Frogger cross paths while travelling to their own destinations. More than once, I was thinking to myself, How did they get such an awesome idea? Much of the fun in the first half hour will be derived from spotting the cameos- that is, if you've ever spent time playing games. If you haven't, that isn't a problem at all, because you don't have to be a "gamer" to enjoy the lovely references in the film. Besides, chances are, you know Bowser and Pac-Man without having ever even picked up a controller!
 |
| Sargeant Calhoun from Hero's Duty has one heck of a back story. |
I loved the characters. John C. Reilly was perfect as Wreck-It Ralph. It's been a while since I've seen such perfect casting. He lends so much to the character, it's incredible. Jack McBrayer does a good job with Fix-It Felix, Jr., although you can't help but feel like he's playing the same character from 30 Rock. Same thing with Jane Lynch's Sergeant Calhoun. I could literally see Coach Sue Sylvester in her tracksuit. But the character that stole the show was hands down, Vanellope Von Schweetz, expertly voiced by Sarah Silverman. Silverman lends a degree of irreverence and crudeness to the character that I couldn't help but fall in love with.
 |
| Pint-sized Vanellope is a sweet-tart. |
Another standout for the movie was the overall look of the film. In a first for an animated film, there's a whopping four different worlds- five if you include the arcade: the simplistic 8-bit world of Fix-It Felix Jr, the snazzy high definition futuristic world of Hero's Duty, the sparkly, sugary world of Sugar Rush, the grandeur of Game Central Station and the real-world location of Litwak's Arcade. And to think that in essence, the entire movie takes place inside just one room- the arcade- mindblowing.
As far as animation is concerned, the film doesn't do anything groundbreaking, or innovative, but the quality is still really impressive. The film's budget- $165 million - isn't as much as Tangled's whopping $250 million. And I'm pretty sure that close to 25% of that was spent on getting the videogame cameos. Who knows? Still, the animation is impressive. Since there's characters from so many different eras, each one has it's own style of movement. From the jerky actions of the Nicelanders of Fix-It Felix Jr. to the smooth movements of the Hero's Duty characters, the attention to detail is amazing. And when the characters share space, you really appreciate all the effort that's gone in.
 |
| "Fix-It Felix! Woot Woot!" |
The humor is fun, ranging from subtle to downright juvenile. Vanellope is the source of many of the film's laughs, and also much of the film's heart. When she comes up with potty jokes, you can't help but giggle, even thought you know how lame it is. She just makes it work! The banter between Sergeant Calhoun and Fix-It Felix is pretty fun too. However, the lowest point for me in the film was a really dumb exchange between the two that also included "Nesquik Sand." It was funny enough for the kids, but you know adults will just be rolling their eyes. Also, be prepared for a little product placement, although they are pretty inspired (Oreo meets The Wizard of Oz is all I'm saying).
That said, Wreck-It Ralph has more than enough to keep adults entertained. The sheer amount of emotion in the film is amazing, and I didn't expect to be tearing up so many times! You come to care for Ralph and Vanellope as they set off to find themselves. Ralph's a hero's journey, one of self-discovery and knowing that you are special no matter what.
Wreck-It Ralph is a victory for Disney Animation, they've proved that they can still compete with the CGI biggies like Pixar and DreamWorks. If you like Disney, animation, videogames, or just good movies, watch this now. You need not be a gamer to enjoy this one. I've never recommended a movie more wholeheartedly. You'll laugh, cry, and have your spirits lifted.
Not only is Wreck-It Ralph the best animated film of the year by far, it's one of the best films of the year, period. Disney, you've done it again.
 |
| 100% Hero. |
RATING: ★★★★ and a medal.