Wreck it Ralph (2012)

Teaser Artwork for Theatrical Release

 Fun, plain and simple.

Not a fantastic film, not even a classic, or a much memorable film, except in concept, but a good film and a lot of fun.  So if that's what you go to the theaters for, than you'll enjoy this a lot.

Apart from some interesting art direction, and only occasionally, it is simple in cinematographic aesthetics.

Simple in plot and narrative structure, often to the point of tiresome cliché.

Even simple in character development, and that's really the greater sin.  I've said it before, and I'll say it again, animation cannot be a simple vehicle for clean animation any more, that's way too easy to do, even for an amateur.  And when a film is lacking originality in everything except the concept, than there's a bigger problem.  And that would be the final crux, except that I think the filmmakers could care less about legacy, and are more interested in pure escapism, and there it succeeds.


Which leads me to believe that this film was hoping to make a bucket load of money and quietly disappear into the background, so go into it with respective expectations.

Having said that it is very well done, and still manages to make you fall in love with the precocious little girl Glitch, who in a film with no goals of kid domination, would have cursed up a hell storm, and who ultimately eclipses Wreck It Ralph as the character you end up rooting for to succeed.

The interplay between real video game characters and the new characters is good, but not great, even if you end up wishing there was more to be had.

Artwork for Theatrical Release

The audio was OK, but not complex or innovative, and too traditional in sound design to matter much.

The acting was mismatched sometimes, particularly with Jane Lynch's character, but I think the fault there is more that of the animators and less of Jane Lynch herself.

The gigantic flaw in this animated tale is the seemingly huge flaw of most of its contemporary, they can't seem to handle plot exposition in any other way than slapping the audience smack in the face with it.  I don't care how the characters travel from game to game, I really don't, and once you explain it, than you open yourself to ridicule and anachronisms.

But having said all that my daughter loved it, and so did my wife:  And if nothing else, I have my Halloween costume for next year.

Wait for it to make it's way to a rental unit near you, not worth the $32 I paid for three non-3D tickets...blah!