Wreck-It Ralph

“It’s good to be bad.”

Disney’s “Wreck-It Ralph,” the tale of an existential video game character, is an instant classic. Clumsy, destructive Ralph (John Reilly) is tired of being the bad guy. Ralph’s job is to be the unpopular building destroyer in “Fix-It Felix, Jr.” After trying to make amends with the beloved hero Felix, (Jack McBrayer) Ralph is ostracized from the video game he calls home and leaves. 

Discouraged and dejected, Ralph sets out to prove his worth in other games, creating a fracas for all the machines plugged into Game Central Station. His quest to become a good guy quickly becomes complicated as Ralph accidentally releases the evil monster virus from “Hero’s Duty” into the girly-girl world of “Sugar Rush.”

The rest is mayhem.

Ralph finds solace in two other disenfranchised characters, the adorable glitch Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) and the tough Sergeant Calhoun (Jane Lynch). The motley group works together to find personal worth in a world dictated by high scores and pack mentality.

Ralph’s digital tale is a wonderful parallel to everyday life, conveying heavy themes of alienation and disappointment in a thick, childish disguise. It’s not a stretch to see how Ralph’s struggles compare to social divisions at work or school.

The newest animated film in Disney’s storied collection is an emotional masterpiece. A few of “Wreck-It’s” scenes are downright heartbreaking. Other scenes are endearing and inspiring. Leave it to an animated film to articulate the pains of modern life.

On a lighter note, “Wreck-It” is packed with arcade culture. Nostalgic adults will remember classic characters from a simpler time. Younger audiences will fall in love with plenty. 

The “Wreck-It” arcade world is imaginative and playful.

Characters like Sonic the Hedgehog and Bowser are everyday citizens in a digital world, implying the 1990s childhood is not a thing of the past. Instead, the video game characters we know and love happily live their easy lives. It’s a refreshing, cathartic storyline.

“Wreck-It Ralph” is a treat. It’s something the whole family can watch, especially if video game consoles are a household staple.

Unplug the Xbox for a few minutes and take someone to “Wreck-It Ralph” before it’s game over. You won’t regret it.

By Jeff LaFave