Wreck-It Ralph Blu-ray Review (Kirk Haviland)

Wreck-It Ralph Blu-Ray Review

Starring the voices of John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk, Mindy Kaling, Denis Haysbert, Skylar Astin and Ed O`Niell

Written by Phil Johnston and Jennifer Lee based on a story by Rich Moore, Phil Johnston and Jim Reardon

Directed by Rich Moore

New to DVD and Blu-Ray from Disney Home Entertainment is the Oscar nominated animated feature film Wreck-It Ralph. The classic 8-bit video game inspired film was a smash hit when it was released in theaters last year and proved to be one of the front runners in one of the best years for animated feature films in a long time. Featuring a smorgasbord of cameos from famous classic video game characters and the newest and possibly most adorable ‘Disney Princess’ to date, the only question that remains is how awesome will the film transfer to home video.

For decades, Ralph (Reilly) has played the bad guy in his popular video game. The main villain in the game ‘Fix-It Felix’, Ralph has been thrown off the top of a building into a puddle of mud more times than he can count. But in a bold move Ralph embarks on an action-packed adventure and sets out to prove to everyone that he is a true hero with a big heart. As he explores exciting new worlds, he teams up with some unlikely new friends including feisty misfit Vanellope von Schweetz (Silverman). But Ralph’s actions carry consequences dire for the Fix-It Felix (McBrayer) crew and Felix himself, who with the aid of Sgt. Calhoun (Lynch) must go after Ralph and try to bring him home.

Wreck-It Ralph is a sweet and endearing story that will delight gamers and non-gamers alike. The story and script are unique and smart, incorporating games and electronic accessories like a simple power bar in ways that have never been seen before onscreen. By allowing characters to go between games as well the filmmakers incorporate things into other games you would never see. Like Pac-Man ghost Clyde hosting a ‘Bad-Anon’ meeting inside the center box of the Pac-Man board with participants like Street Fighter’s Zangief and M. Bison, Dr. Eggman and Mario’s longstanding nemesis Bowser. The concept behind game central station is inspired and leads to some of the best cameos in the film.

Reilly is pitch perfect as the voice of Ralph. His work brings an earnestness and charm to Ralph that undermines any harshness that Ralph may carry. Even when Ralph is mad and does bad things we are still cheering for him. Silverman’s Venellope is the true heart of the story, a loveable and pesky runt known as ‘the glitch’ because of her unstable properties that cause her to occasionally scramble to code with unpredictable side effects. Add in McBrayer as the love-struck Felix and the object of his desire the scrappy Sgt. Calhoun, who has been ‘programmed with the worst back story ever’, pairing up to track down Ralph. And Tudyk as the irrepressible and maniacal King Candy, sounding very much like Roger Rabbit on a permanent sugar high, gives a great performance filled with underlying menace.

The environments and backgrounds in Wreck-It Ralph are brilliantly rendered and executed. From Fix-It Felix’s delightful throwback style, clearly inspired by Donkey Kong, to the hyper realistic Hero’s Duty. Sugar Rush may be the most visually impressive with everything involved in the world being candy and edible meaning sweet treat hounds will be salivating. And the aforementioned Game Central Station which looks much like New York’s Grand Central Station but with power outlets instead of terminals. Of course there is also Litwick’s Arcade, where all the games exist, which looks exactly like the many arcades that were wildly popular in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Over an hour of all-new bonus material is featured on the Blu-ray combo pack, including deleted and alternate scenes, a behind the scene featurette about the environments of Wreck-It Ralph plus the Oscar winning animated short Paperman and fake commercials made for each of the three games in the movie. Paperman is an exceptionally cute and well-crafted short that was well deserving of its Oscar win and the fake commercials are fun to watch. The best special feature though is the Disney Intermission feature that when activated kicks in whenever you pause the Blu-ray. Hosted by Stand-Up comedian and Talking Dead host Chris Hardwick, The Gamer’s Guide to Wreck-It Ralph takes the viewers through the hidden Easter eggs and cameos that are present throughout the movie. The amount of information and fun stuff unveiled here make it by far the most fun 10 minutes of special features on the disc.

Wreck-It Ralph makes a brilliant transition to the home screen as the film actually looks more like a game than before on a television screen where most games nowadays are played. The transfer looks excellent and the special features shine, Wreck-It Ralph is a must own on Blu-ray and DVD.

Till Next Time,

Movie Junkie TO

Make sure to keep up with what’s going on at Entertainment Maven by liking our Facebook page and having updates delivered right to your Facebook News Feed. It’s the only way to stay on top of all of our articles with the newest blockbusters and all the upcoming films, festivals and film related events in Toronto.

Follow me directly on twitter @moviejunkieto and by liking my Facebook page at Movie Junkie TO

Email me at moviejunkieto@gmail.com

Related articles

• Skyfall Blu-ray Review (Kirk Haviland) (entertainmentmaven.com)
• WRECK-IT RALPH Director Rich Moore Talks about More Ideas for the Sequel (collider.com)
• Let’s Wreck-It! Wreck-It Ralph Out To Own Today! (juststopscreaming.com)