WRECK-IT RALPH
US, 2012, 108 minutes, Colour.
Voices of: John C. Reilly, Jack Mc Brayer, Jane Lynch, Sarah Silverman, Dennis Haysbert.
Directed by Rich Moore.
2012 saw an abundance of animated films, many of them in 3D. this is one of them, and nominated for many awards.
This is a video game film, but one for those who enjoyed the simpler (by modern standards) and kinder (also by modern standards) than those which raise a lot of moralising ire and issues of censorship. The players in this film are younger children who enjoy the competitiveness and the atmosphere but who operate at a PG level.
So, who is Wreck-it Ralph? He is the villain in a game who wants to be liked, to be nicer. He contrasts with Fix-it Felix who, without much effort at all, is good and can fix anything instantly. The other characters in the game like Felix and don’t like Ralph.
When a new game arrives, with a feisty commander, Ralph has an opportunity to get out of his own game – and, wiothout wishing it, wreck the others. Characters become discombobulated. Players don’t know what is happening.
In the meantime, Ralph’s adventures (and disasters) lead to hostile activity from a malevolent General Hologram, but put Ralph in contact with a cheeky (mischievous sugar-candied little girl) Vanellope von Schweetz. More adventures until Ralph and Felix are able to get things back, well, not quite to normal, but to a happy ending.
The animation is a combination of Disney (which produced) and games – and looks effective in 3D. It seems something like a variation on Toy Story: what do videogame characters actually do when no one is looking or playing? And what do they sound like? Well, John C. Reilly brings his sometimes lugubrious tones to Ralph. Jack Mc Brayer is a nice Felix. Jane Lynch is definitely in vocal command as the Commander. Sarah Sugerman tones down her aggressive and quirky humour (a little, anyway) as Vanellope.
Those who were youngsters in the 90s (and their parents) would be one of the main target audiences.
1. Awards? Popularity?
2. The target audience, games players, children of the 1990s? Parents?
3. The style of the visuals, the characters, the games themselves, action sequences? The musical score?
4. The parallels with Toy Story? The characters coming alive when people were not watching?
5. The game, the characters, for routines? Fix-it Felix? A pleasant game?
6. Ralph, John C. Reilly? The his look, the sound, his life, the years passing, the villain of the games? His visit to the characters, the dislike of him, the humour of the interactions, his getting out
of the game? Calhoun, commanding nature, her commands, the nature of the action? General hologram? Vannellope, the bond between them? The battles and action? Felix and his help?
7. The conflict, the urgings of Calhoun, Jane Lynch and her voice, style, energy? General Hologram and sinister?
8. Vannellope her courage, candy, sweetness, way of talking, wisecracks, interaction with Ralph, the adventures, the dangers?
9. The emphasis on action, the games, excitement?
10. The characters, the situations and the humor?
11. The resolution, Felix and his action, his concern about his ability to fix things? Ralph and his return? A new self image?
12. A satisfying animation film?
