If you haven’t run out to watch Wreck It Ralph since it hit cinemas on Friday, then I reckon that’s the first thing you should do after you read this review, as I have nothing but good things to say about this film. Disney is back with a genius animation which appeals to audiences of all ages, from the hot shot ten year old gamer through to the forty year old who understands 8 bit terminology like the back of their hand.
The scene is set, inside the inner workings of an arcade – where Fix It Felix (Jack McBrayer) takes pride of place amongst keen young arcade enthusiasts. For the last thirty years, this game has been entertaining kids with squeaky clean Felix repairing his beloved tower block from Wreck 
It Ralph (John C Reilly), the bad guy who demolishes the block level by level with no recognition or gratitude. After years of doing this, Ralph wants a change, he wants to be a good guy, so he goes out to find the one thing that can prove that bad guys aren’t all bad, the heroes medal.
For me the most fun element of this film is its nostalgia. Most people know Sonic the Hedgehog, Pac Man and Streetfighter II. All iconic games and all show up in this film in some form. Apparently there are around 188 individual characters in Wreck It Ralph, which is far higher than the standard animation we see in cinemas, but with this, you have the fun job of noticing an old computer game character or two who you recognize from yesteryear as you watch the main action unfold it just adds something a little special to this already cleverly constructed film.
Throughout Wreck-It Ralph you are taken on a spectacular journey from ‘bad guys support groups’ featuring funny turns from M Bison, Zangief and an anonymous zombie, through to Game Central Station where characters travel from one game to another when the lights go out in the arcade and its time to relax – the detail of which is a geeky gamers delight and completely stunning. Finally you end up in Sugar Rush – a Mario 
cart esq racing game made entirely of sweets where Ralph befriends Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) a kiddie racer banned from the sport for being a ‘glitch.’ A sibling like friendship plays out as the heroes medal plays second fiddle to helping Vanellope prove she’s got what it takes to be one of the top racers on the track.
The precision in which each character is portrayed and voiced is what makes this film stand out from the others. You are in for a visual treat as every corner of the screen has detail that allows the audience to immerse themselves in the colour and texture on show. The characters, have a warmth about them and a level of humour which is just right to make you laugh out loud in some places and feel their emotion and sadness in others. These characters talk (with a brilliant bit of irony) like how you would expect these characters to talk, and to move how you would hope they would, to achieve a fun filled ride into not only your local cinema but awards glory too.
And finally, if you want to continue the film yourself, the brilliant Wreck-It Ralph app is available on the iPhone and its the perfect time waster!
4 Stars
Fanatical about Film in a Perfect Way... 
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