I had my friend help write this review!  It might seem a little different from the other ones but that doesn’t make it any less cool than the others!  So please keep that in mind and enjoy!

When I first saw the preview for Wreck-it Ralph, I was pumped and couldn’t wait to see it, and for good reason. Video games being the base theme was already enough to get my attention!  As you may or may not know I love videogames! (See below!)

As you may guess being a Disney film, this movie is rated PG.  So you might need a parent to explain small things but you’ll get it. Almost all the rest!
At the beginning is a mini movie called Paperman!  Which was a nice little surprise, seeing as that’s usually “DisneyPixar’s” thing, The film itself is pretty sound, one of those black and white silent films in olden days (Way before any of us were born) of Manhattan. You get a real clear understanding for the main character throughout this short. The one thing I will say is about half way through it gets a little too silly for my tastes, and I thought it might’ve lost me, but the climax definitely makes up for it so I don’t want to complain too much!  I know a lot of you probably don’t like love scenes so you might think it’s gross at times but bear with it, it’s fun to watch even just for all the paper floating around!

Now onto the actual movie:

Wreck-it Ralph is a ill-tempered mountain man that day in and day out attempts to destroy an apartment building, only to be rebuilt by Fix-It Felix Jr.  shortly after.  Whenever Felix does this he is awarded a gold medal for “being the good guy!” (Personally, I believe this arcade game is a huge throwback to the original “Donkey Kong”).  And after Thirty years of this, Ralph doesn’t want to be known as “just the bad guy” anymore.

Did I mention this is all taking place in an arcade machine?!  That’s right this entire movie is about arcade games and the characters inside them!

Getting back on track Wreck-It Ralph goes on an adventure through different characters in all sorts of different arcade games- including some well known arcade characters like Zhangief, Sonic, Bowser, and Qbert (He might be a little old for some of you to remember) till Ralph ends up earning a golden medal in another arcade game- just to lose it.  His precious gold medal ends up in the hands of a little girl named Vanellope von Schweetz who is part of an arcade game named “Sugar Rush”- a racing game filled with whacky characters and go-karts.

Vanellope von Schweetz is another misfit in her own arcade game because she is “glitchy” (that means she has problems staying in the same place, she jumps around unintentionally) and wants to use the gold medal that Ralph earned to be respected in her game.  Eventually the two decide to work together reluctantly to race in Sugar Rush so Vanellope can be a respected member of the game and Ralph can go back with his medal.

All sorts of crazy, whacky, silly, funny things happen in the midst of this.  Some of them sad too!  Even if you don’t know anything about videogaming culture you will absolutely love this movie!  The characters Ralph, Vanellope, Felix, and several other character who I will leave out to avoid spoilers (that means giving away the story.) are phenomenal to watch.  All of them have their own personalities and you can relate to all of them a lot- especially Ralph and Vanellope.

I can’t emphasize how funny this movie is.  Ralph is funny just with all his wise-cracks.  Vanellope is so frustrating sometimes it’s hilarious.  Felix and his “companion” interactions (that means hanging out with each other) are worth the theater ticket by themselves.  And while these two below are side characters- I liked these characters more than anyone else.  I never thought donuts would make me laugh so hard.

 

By the end of the movie I was laughing, I was crying, I was so happy I saw this film.  Out of all the films I’ve reviewed as of yet- this was by far my favorite.  Because as I’ve mentioned before- I’m a big nerd when it comes to videogames.  And this movie has so many videogame references and easter eggs (that means hidden messages) I’m still trying to right now figure out all of them.  To name a few without spoiling too much:

1.  If you are at all knowledgeable (If you know a lot) about the videogame Street Fighter, you’ll see several of it’s casts in the background.  This list includes Chun-Li, Ryu, Ken, Zhangief, Cammy and M.Bison!

2.  If you know anything about Mario (The videogame plumber) you’ll notice two princesses that look a lot like Princess Peach and Princess Daisy!  And of course Bowser!

3.  If you have completed the well-played, and well-loved videogame Final Fantasy 7, you will noticed some graffiti on the wall that says “Aeris Lives”

There is a ton more too!  But I just want to name a few so you can find the rest!

But even if you aren’t into cameos (that means seeing characters that you didn’t expect!) this movie also is cool just because of the animation.  Every character acts and functions the same way they would in the videogame.  If they only walk jumpy in the videogame- they walk jumpy in the movie.  The people who designed this movie went above and beyond for the videogamers.

And even if you aren’t into videogames- it isn’t a requirement to enjoy everything this movie has to offer.  It’s a lot like how you don’t have to read “The Hobbit” to enjoy the movie- but I’m sure it would help.  This movies story line is excellent.  There doesn’t feel like any part of this movie that seems slow or too fast.  My only complaint is that I would like to see more.  Who knows- maybe we will see a sequel sometime.

So to sum everything up:

-The short at the beginning won’t be loved by everyone since it is a little mushy- but it makes up with all the mush with the cool effects!

-Wreck It Ralph is super funny and awesome for anyone who sees it.

-Knowing stuff about videogames helps- but it isn’t needed to enjoy this movie.

-Stay after the credits if you want to see extra references to other videogames!

I could talk circles about this movie (that means I could talk too much about this movie) but I won’t.  I want to- but I won’t.  I’m sure if you see it you will be the same way.  I don’t think there has been a movie quite like this ever- and I was worried they might mess it up but they didn’t.  Wreck-It Ralph is awesome.  And it get’s a gold medal from me!