In my lifetime, animated films have transformed into a genre that has wide appeal. Even movies like Wall-e or Finding Nemo have gained massive adult fan bases in addition to their younger audiences. They've accomplished this by tackling issues that adults can relate to - and also being really really funny. Wreck It Ralph is no different.
PLOT
One of the reasons Wreck It Ralph appeals to adults is because of the story. It follows Ralph, the bad guy in an old arcade game called Fix-It Felix Jr. Ralph is depressed because he doesn't want to be a bad guy anymore. After the arcade closes, game characters use the electrical grid to travel between games. Ralph decides to leave his game and try to be a hero elsewhere. The video game subject matter allows for cameos from extremely popular real video game characters that people in their 20's and 30's grew up with from Pac-man to Sonic the Hedgehog. It also alludes to other games that Disney obviously didn't have the rights to by creating knock-offs like Heroes Duty (a very Halo-like shooter) and Sugar Rush (a lot like Mario Cart). As we follow Ralph through various environments, we feel like we already know the places and characters we meet because we grew up with them or someone like them. And I think we can all identify with wanting to be more than what the world sees in is. For that, Wreck It Ralph's story is nearly perfect.
One of the reasons Wreck It Ralph appeals to adults is because of the story. It follows Ralph, the bad guy in an old arcade game called Fix-It Felix Jr. Ralph is depressed because he doesn't want to be a bad guy anymore. After the arcade closes, game characters use the electrical grid to travel between games. Ralph decides to leave his game and try to be a hero elsewhere. The video game subject matter allows for cameos from extremely popular real video game characters that people in their 20's and 30's grew up with from Pac-man to Sonic the Hedgehog. It also alludes to other games that Disney obviously didn't have the rights to by creating knock-offs like Heroes Duty (a very Halo-like shooter) and Sugar Rush (a lot like Mario Cart). As we follow Ralph through various environments, we feel like we already know the places and characters we meet because we grew up with them or someone like them. And I think we can all identify with wanting to be more than what the world sees in is. For that, Wreck It Ralph's story is nearly perfect.
DIALOGUE
While it's tempting when doing a movie like this to fall back on physical comedy (and there is plenty of that), Wreck It Ralph really succeeds comedically in its dialogue. The script is full of lines and interactions that illicit chuckles or even outright belly laughs. Adding to the comedy already in the script is an excellent cast of people who are no strangers to comedy. John C. Reilly (Step Brothers, Talladega Nights), Sarah Silverman (Sarah Silverman Program, Bob's Burgers) and Jack McBrayer (30 Rock) are the standout examples. All three of these actors were perfectly cast and their comedic timing makes the dialogue shine.
While it's tempting when doing a movie like this to fall back on physical comedy (and there is plenty of that), Wreck It Ralph really succeeds comedically in its dialogue. The script is full of lines and interactions that illicit chuckles or even outright belly laughs. Adding to the comedy already in the script is an excellent cast of people who are no strangers to comedy. John C. Reilly (Step Brothers, Talladega Nights), Sarah Silverman (Sarah Silverman Program, Bob's Burgers) and Jack McBrayer (30 Rock) are the standout examples. All three of these actors were perfectly cast and their comedic timing makes the dialogue shine.
VISUALS
The visual style of Wreck It Ralph is not bad. That being said, it's nothing groundbreaking either. The animation is on par with Monsters Inc. or Toy Story, but I personally felt like such a great film could have pushed the envelope a bit more in terms of animation.
The visual style of Wreck It Ralph is not bad. That being said, it's nothing groundbreaking either. The animation is on par with Monsters Inc. or Toy Story, but I personally felt like such a great film could have pushed the envelope a bit more in terms of animation.
CHARACTERS
Disney knows characters. They have a knack for choosing characters that have an intriguing inner conflict and Ralph definitely qualifies. His struggle is one that we all face: are we good or bad? In his mind, Ralph wants to prove to himself and everyone else that he is good by winning a medal; the way heroes are measured in his world. Wreck it Ralph expertly takes us through that struggle with Ralph and we truly care for him and the friends he makes along his way. The characters here are at first glance one dimensional cliches but we find so much more in each of them as they find it themselves.
Disney knows characters. They have a knack for choosing characters that have an intriguing inner conflict and Ralph definitely qualifies. His struggle is one that we all face: are we good or bad? In his mind, Ralph wants to prove to himself and everyone else that he is good by winning a medal; the way heroes are measured in his world. Wreck it Ralph expertly takes us through that struggle with Ralph and we truly care for him and the friends he makes along his way. The characters here are at first glance one dimensional cliches but we find so much more in each of them as they find it themselves.
FUN
When deciding on seeing an animated movie, it's important to me to know I'm going to have fun with it. Like no other genre, animated films allow us to access or inner child and with its video game themes and laughs throughout, Wreck It Ralph is definitely a fun trip.
When deciding on seeing an animated movie, it's important to me to know I'm going to have fun with it. Like no other genre, animated films allow us to access or inner child and with its video game themes and laughs throughout, Wreck It Ralph is definitely a fun trip.
Plot - 2 Points
Dialogue - 2 Points
Visuals - 1 Points
Characters - 2 Point
Fun - 2 Points
Dusty's Score - 9 out of 10
Dialogue - 2 Points
Visuals - 1 Points
Characters - 2 Point
Fun - 2 Points
Dusty's Score - 9 out of 10
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