WRECK-IT RALPH (2012 - ANIMATED / FAMILY / ADVENTURE) **** out of *****
(This makes "Pac-Man Fever" look like a minor case of the sniffles...)
CAST: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk, Mindy Kaling.
DIRECTOR: Rich Moore.
WARNING: Some very good reasons to visit an old-school video game arcade - straight ahead.
IT'S LIKE THIS: One of my favorite films is GRANDMA'S BOY (review # 48), which is about a 35-year old guy who has to move into his grammy's house that she shares with her two equally ancient roommates - because his own roommate has been secretly spending their rent on Philippine hookers (don't ask). Our hero is Alex (Allen Covert) and he is a video game tester at a, um, video game company. Now, folks, I love this movie for many reasons, but the fact that it deals with video games and the dorks who love them is close to the top of the list.
There's a great scene where Alex is attending a wedding, but eschews the company of the boring adults so he can hang out at the children's table, where he gives them detailed instructions on how to beat Level 6 of "Eternal Death Slayer 2" or something. I can totally relate to this scene, because the same exact thing happened to me at a wedding I attended years and years ago. I got into a spirited discussion with the younger crowd about why SUPER MARIO 2 is probably the most underrated of the SUPER MARIO games. And even shared some trivia about how SUPER MARIO LOST LEVELS was never released in the U.S. because the Japanese thought it was just too hard for us dumb-ass Amerikajins (they're right: it is, and we are). Needless to say, we had a blast.
Which is why it's so awesome that WRECK-IT RALPH has finally reached our theatres. Alex and his game-zapping posse from GRANDMA'S BOY would surely love the shit out of this movie. I know I do. You see, folks, WRECK-IT RALPH is not only a gnarly adventure set in Video Game land, but it is also the name of the villain of a popular video game called - really - "Fix It Felix." Imagine "Donkey Kong" - but with Ralph (John C. Reilly) as the hairy ape and Felix (Jack McBrayer) as Mario. And they are basically just one of two working stiffs in what is essentially a world that exists within those arcade machines. They clock in whenever the Video Game Arcade opens up and they work until the place closes. Much like we do. Only their jobs are much more fun.
All that changes, though, when Ralph decides he's had enough with being a villain. Apparently, he's had these conflicted feelings for a while now. Seems he thinks that heroes like Felix get better treatment from his peers. Obviously, the Bad Boy Catnip that is alive and well in the real world is fucking non-existent in Video Game Arcade Land. So much so that Ralph feels the need to attend "Bad-a-Non" meetings. It's like those "Alanon" meetings, but with villains who are wrestling with the fact that they are, uh, villains. Yes, folks, they're motto is "One Game At A Time..."
Anyhow, Ralph gets it in his head that in order to become a hero, he needs to steal a medal. So, before you know it, he hopscotches his way to another game which is one of those "Call To Arms" bullshit exercises, because he hears that there is a medal at the very end of its levels. I guess this is what my gaming friend "D-Dog" would call game-jacking. In other words, someone who doesn't belong in the game shows up - and proceeds to fuck everything up.
Sure enough, Ralph's game-jacking gets him catapulted into "Sugarland Express" or some such saccharine shit, which is kind of like "Candyland" but fused with "Pole Position" - resulting in a really gay racing game. There, amidst trees made of licorice and peppermint and rivers flowing with chocolate and orange syrup, Ralph discovers that pesky little brat Vanellope (Sarah Silverman). Vanellope basically spends the next hour tap-dancing on Ralph's last nerve as they partner up to try to get her join that stupid race and, I guess, win or something.
Will Ralph be able to help Vanellope win? Will this help him in his quest to become a hero? What will happen if Vanellope loses the race? Will "Sugarland Express" glitch up the way "Fix It Felix" did? Will the arcade owner declare the machines "out of order" and haul them off? Or will Ralph find a way to claim his medal, turn Vanellope into a champion, and save all the games in the arcade? And what happens when Felix develops a major-sized woody for Calhoun (Jane Lynch), the bad-ass military chick from the game Ralph stole his medal from? Will they team up and help Ralph and Vanellope? And the most important question of all...
... where the fuck is Donkey Kong?
STILLS COMING SOON
BUT, SERIOUSLY: Recently, we reviewed HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA (review # 486), which explored the world of Count Dracula and his cronies from a comical, cartoonish angle. Now, we have WRECK-IT RALPH, which does the same with video games and video game characters. Both are entertaining and worth seeing, but WRECK-IT RALPH is the better film because it goes out of its way to introduce deeper themes about what makes a hero or a villain, and the role that one takes in life. This added depth gives the film an emotional resonance that HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA, despite being a solid film, lacked somewhat.
Anyone who loves video games will love WRECK-IT RALPH. The "Video Game Land" is masterfully rendered and hypnotic, especially the "Sugarland Express" portion. Considering most of the film takes place in that world, this is a good thing. However, the other settings have their own vibrancy and appeal. Ralph's apartment block, Calhoun's battleground, the main arcade terminal, and even the "real world" are all lushly detailed and transportive. The voicing by John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, and Alan Tudyk, are all superb. Voice acting can be tricky, because an actor's real face is never onscreen, and he/she must express themselves through dialogue, inflection, and pauses. Everyone nails it, and the "performances" are just as key to WRECK-IT RALPH's success as the dazzling visuals and inventive storyline - if not more.
Director Rich Moore and his writers wisely weave in a human-scale story throughout the video game eye candy and pyrotechnics: Ralph's desire to be seen as more than a villain, and Vanellope's desire to not only race - but also to win. Ultimately, both are outsiders that are seeking acceptance, who ultimately realize that self-respect and self-acceptance is more important than the opinion of others - which is a terrific lesson for children. This unexpectedly trenchant theme and the lead duo's bond that really makes WRECK-IT RALPH soar. In comparison, HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA is light-weight.
I have a couple of friends who believe that WRECK-IT RALPH should've focused less on the world of "Sugarland Express" and more on the other "gaming" worlds. They think that the emphasis on Vanellope and her world was calculated to draw in the "female crowd". While I agree to this to a certain degree, I also think the whole point of setting most of the film in the candy world was to create a "fish-out-of-water" scenario that would put Ralph out of his element. That's a classic set-up, and I think it ultimately works in the film's favor because the more time we spend in "Sugarland Express," the more we become invested in Vanellope's issue. However, I agree with my friends and would love to see other gaming worlds explored. Perhaps in the sequel.
In the end, WRECK-IT RALPH is very good entertainment for the whole family. Video game fans will love it, but you don't need to be one to appreciate this movie and its important message of being your own champion.
