“Retro. Which I think means old but cool.” So goes a line of dialogue from Wreck-It Ralph, Disney’s latest big-budget animation and it sums up the aim of this particular game; a colourful, energetic, reference-heavy love letter to the world of video games, from old school Pac-Man era to the latest first person shooters.
Wreck-It-Ralph imagines that behind the screens of arcade games is a living, breathing world where all the characters (heroes and villains alike) go about their day, taking the train from “Game Central Station” to each of their respective games every time the arcade opens for business. We specifically follow the titular character (voiced by John C. Reilly), a bad guy in an enduring arcade game called Fix-It Felix Jr., who in order to prove himself as more than just a bad guy “game jumps,” only to find leaving his natural habitat brings havoc to his entire world.
The idea behind Wreck-It-Ralph is one of those light bulb “why didn’t someone think of this before?” concepts. And it may coast along on the power of that idea for most of its runtime, occasionally stopping for breath to throw in some admittedly on-the-nose life lessons, but it very much works because the concept has a lot of mileage. The world is brought to life with gorgeously vibrant visuals, whisking the audience away to such diverse worlds as the suburban-like land where Ralph naturally resides, the “violent and scary” universe of Hero’s Duty (an obvious reference to Call of Duty) and the candy-coated landscape of Sugar Rush where most of the action takes place.
There’s a lot of fun to be had in soaking in the nostalgic atmosphere and you’re kept on your toes by an array of new and recognisable characters, from the eponymous Ralph to the background characters whose mere inclusion will tickle the avid gamers out there. Voice work is all top-notch from the likes of John C. Reilly (one of those rare Hollywood actors who can flip-flop between drama and comedy with ease), Jack McBrayer as the peppy hero of Ralph’s game, Jane Lynch as the drill sergeant-esque Clahoun, Sarah Silverman as the adorable Vanellope von Schweetz and Alan Tudyk as King Candy, monarch of the Sugar Rush world.
The film weaves its references and tips of the hat into its narrative in a rather clever way, with the likes of Sonic the Hedgehog, Street Fighter and Q*bert (to name but a few) popping up all over the place. If you don’t know what any of those things are then don’t worry – the experience is, thanks to a well thought through concept, not any worse off for it. The nods and winks are there as a bonus for those who have the knowledge to notice it but is never the whole point. Wreck-It Ralph is a treat for viewers of a certain generation, those who consider joysticks as much a part of their childhood as bedtime stories. As a piece of fantastical animation it’s a visual and audio spectacle with a backbone of genuine heart and humour.
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