I'm going to start off by saying that I don't think Wreck-It Ralph is a bad film, just mediocre. If anyone who is not a gamer remembers Wreck-It-Ralph as anything more than "that one movie with all the video games", I will honestly be surprised.
This is an ambitious movie, including Ralph's quest for recognition, Vanellope's efforts to take her place in the sun, and a particularly hungry apocalypse. Unfortunately, it staggers between these threads in a way that hampers its themes. What even are the movie's themes? Something about heroes and villains? Pursuing your goals despite adversity?
Comparisons to Toy Story are obvious — both feature playthings secretly coming to life. Sadly, Wreck-It Ralph is clumsier with its behind-the-scenes world; Pixar's toys knew what they were and that their lives were largely shaped by the humans who owned them, but these characters come with actual stories. And yet, for some reason, the movie's inhabitants are in conflict with their games. The opening scene introduces a group of villains who don't want to be villains. Ralph views his game as an awful job he can't escape from. We discover Ralph's coworkers are absolutely hateful, and here's the second problem: the "villains" treat their roles as a job, but everyone else seems to think that they're really evil. Who forgot to send out that memo? Also, it's said you aren't supposed to deviate from your assigned role in the slightest, but if things are so bad that there needs to be a villains' support group, why does only Ralph feel mutinous?
Ignoring the rest that doesn't make sense, Ralph's problems must take a back seat to Vanellope, who suffers from a "glitch" that can't decide whether it's an ontological malady or a latent superpower and also from vile coworkers; but unlike Ralph, Vanellope lacks the strength to fight back. Vanellope and her Big Race commandeer the A-plot and help stuff the plot; perhaps too much. Supporting cast Felix and Calhoun and their failed attempts to clean up Ralph's mess comprise the B.
It's not all bad; the setting is a triumph. There's one (1) moment of heartbreaking existential angst. I just wish it could answer the questions it raises rather than awkwardly blundering through them like, well, like Ralph.
Good Ingredients, But Undercooked
I'm going to start off by saying that I don't think Wreck-It Ralph is a bad film, just mediocre. If anyone who is not a gamer remembers Wreck-It-Ralph as anything more than "that one movie with all the video games", I will honestly be surprised.
This is an ambitious movie, including Ralph's quest for recognition, Vanellope's efforts to take her place in the sun, and a particularly hungry apocalypse. Unfortunately, it staggers between these threads in a way that hampers its themes. What even are the movie's themes? Something about heroes and villains? Pursuing your goals despite adversity?
Comparisons to Toy Story are obvious — both feature playthings secretly coming to life. Sadly, Wreck-It Ralph is clumsier with its behind-the-scenes world; Pixar's toys knew what they were and that their lives were largely shaped by the humans who owned them, but these characters come with actual stories. And yet, for some reason, the movie's inhabitants are in conflict with their games. The opening scene introduces a group of villains who don't want to be villains. Ralph views his game as an awful job he can't escape from. We discover Ralph's coworkers are absolutely hateful, and here's the second problem: the "villains" treat their roles as a job, but everyone else seems to think that they're really evil. Who forgot to send out that memo? Also, it's said you aren't supposed to deviate from your assigned role in the slightest, but if things are so bad that there needs to be a villains' support group, why does only Ralph feel mutinous?
Ignoring the rest that doesn't make sense, Ralph's problems must take a back seat to Vanellope, who suffers from a "glitch" that can't decide whether it's an ontological malady or a latent superpower and also from vile coworkers; but unlike Ralph, Vanellope lacks the strength to fight back. Vanellope and her Big Race commandeer the A-plot and help stuff the plot; perhaps too much. Supporting cast Felix and Calhoun and their failed attempts to clean up Ralph's mess comprise the B.
It's not all bad; the setting is a triumph. There's one (1) moment of heartbreaking existential angst. I just wish it could answer the questions it raises rather than awkwardly blundering through them like, well, like Ralph.