Because of my new job with
DreamWorks Animation, I have gained an entirely new respect for everything that
goes into the production of animated features, but because Wreck-It-Ralph represented the workings of a direct competitor, I found
myself getting a little competitive in relation to future box office success. Still, potential work conflict aside, I have
been a video game enthusiast since I was old enough to use a controller, so the
subject material was more than enough to grab and hold on to my attention. In a single trailer featuring iconic villains
from classic video game franchises, Wreck-It-Ralph
demonstrated that it would offer an unprecedented family film; not only would
children respond in droves, but older audiences would have to be drawn-in by
the overwhelming levels of nostalgia that would be present in the
narrative. As for the voice-cast, I may
have been a little skeptical concerning the inclusion of Sarah Silverman, but I
have been a fan of John C. Reilly, Jack McBrayer, and Jane Lynch for years, so
I was curious to see what they could do in this homage to a classic era. Needless to say, hopes were high for Wreck-It Ralph, and given positive early
reviews, absolutely everybody was expecting this family comedy to jump-start
the box office and set the stage for a strong November.
Overall
Recommendation: Very High
Creative, heartfelt, hysterical,
and showcasing a remarkable and passionate attention to detail, Wreck-It-Ralph may be one of the
greatest animated films ever made, one that will charm audiences of all ages
and likely reinvigorate interest in classic video games. With all the cameos, video game enthusiasts
will be absolutely giddy concerning the subtle humor and play-on-words that pay
homage, and the highly-detailed world presented is so meticulously constructed
with reverence that your jaw will hit the floor once you realize the scale of
this project. As for the characters
introduced, each of the voice actors were perfectly cast in relation to an
intended personality, but no performance is more enjoyable than that of Sarah
Silverman. In true Disney fashion, the
narrative is heartfelt and deep, but I was surprised by both the high levels of
humor and the masterfully-executed plot twist that kept overall quality
consistently high. Simply put, if you
have ever played a video game, then I guarantee that you will LOVE Wreck-It Ralph.
