Wreck-It Ralph (2012); animated comedy family film review

Promotional poster for the animated comedy family film Wreck-It Ralph.

  
Ralph’s Recognition by Linh

Wreck-It Ralph is a brilliant combination of computer-generated film imagery and video game visuals that intertwine as the narrative moves from one to the other. This Disney animated film has familiar characters and elements for avid computer/video game players, particularly for fans of arcade-style video games of the 1980s and 1990s. Although the characters and games are fictional, they are based on similar gaming styles and techniques as easily recognisable games. However, this film will also appeal to people who do not play video games, but having some background knowledge or experience with video games assists in understanding the humour and references in the film.

GAMING GROUP: Ralph (John C. Reilly) attends the Bad-Guys counselling session for the first time in the animated film Wreck-It Ralph. Image: Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Wreck-It Ralph is a film that is cleverly set out in three levels of reality, similar to video games that have multiple levels of gameplay. The first reality is the one inhabited by humans and is set inside Litwak’s Arcade Gallery with many different video games. The next reality is set inside the actual games called Fix It Felix Jr., Hero’s Duty and Sugar Rush. The third reality is the world of the characters who are used in the games, and show the characters when they are not “working”. All three realities merge throughout the film, so viewers need to suspend their disbelief in order to follow the story.

DISCO DANCERS: Felix and the Nicelanders dance together at the 30th anniversary party of their video game in the animated film Wreck-It Ralph. Image: Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Wreck-It Ralph follows the adventures of a big and muscular man named Ralph (John C. Reilly) with colossal hands, whose job is being the bad-guy named Wreck-It Ralph in the video game called Fix-It Felix Jr. Every time a human plays the game, Wreck-It Ralph would smash windows and knock objects off a tall building with his enormous hands, while Fix-It Felix Jr. (Jack McBrayer) would appear to mend all the damage left by Ralph. 

The Nicelanders are the residents of Niceland who need to call on Fix-It Felix Jr. whenever Wreck-It Ralph smashes their building in the game. When the game is over, the characters move out of the game arena and into their regular everyday lives. However, the Nicelanders still treat Ralph as if he is still Wreck-It Ralph, always thinking of him as the bad-guy even when he is not “working”. On the other hand, the Nicelanders see Felix as their hero and would reward him with cakes, parties and medals. Feeling angry and hurt for always being seen as the bad-guy, Ralph announces he will show everyone he is a good person and win a medal.

CY-BUG SHOOTERS: Ralph (John C. Reilly) is reprimanded by Sergeant Calhoun (Jane Lynch) after a disastrous session of Hero's Duty gameplay in the animated film Wreck-It Ralph. Image: Walt Disney Animation Studios.

As Ralph sets off on his quest for a medal, he enters Hero’s Duty, a first-person shooting game that involves wearing heavy military gear and carrying high-powered assault weapons while shooting at cy-bugs that kill, eat and multiply quickly. Ralph disguises himself as a character in Hero’s Duty and meets the tough and relentless commander of the team, Sergeant Calhoun (Jane Lynch). After a bumbling effort by Ralph during the gameplay, Sergeant Calhoun scolds him but Ralph eventually earns the medal by stealth. However, things go horribly wrong when Ralph accidentally steps on a cy-bug egg. Ralph is catapulted into another video game called Sugar Rush where he meets Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman), a little “glitch” character who shows him that it takes more than a medal to become a hero and a good-guy.

GOOD-GUY GAMER: Ralph (John C. Reilly) finally feels like a hero and good-guy after receiving a gold medal in the video game Hero's Duty in the animated film Wreck-It Ralph. Image: Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Wreck-It Ralph is an entertaining and fast-paced adventure animated film that moves swiftly from one reality (world) to another in a natural and spontaneous way. The animation of the characters and their reality (world) matches the style of video game they “work” in. For example, in the video game Fix-It Felix Jr., the characters appear pixelated or as 8-bit characters in the game. While the characters in the newest video game Hero’s Duty are high-definition computer graphics inside and outside of the game.

GLITCHING GIRL: Vanellope Von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) sets out to prove she can be a winner in the Sugar Rush cart-race despite her glitches in the animated film Wreck-It Ralph. Images: Walt Disney Animation Studios.

Although most animated films are made for children, this is one of the films that blend complex adult themes of sexuality and philosophy into the story. In the first third of the film, we are introduced to two very masculine characters representative of very stereotypical masculine qualities of manliness. Ralph’s physique is one that many males aspire to attain. Ralph is violent and angry in the video game, and these traits are usually associated with male aggression. Hence, Ralph is seen as the bad-guy or villain in the game. Felix also has masculine traits where he is seen doing male-oriented things like fixing/mending things with a hammer (phallic symbol).  Therefore, Felix is seen as the good-guy who comes to the rescue and fixes things. For two thirds of the film, there are depictions of females and males in the video game Sugar Rush who represent stereotypical feminine traits of caring, sweetness, bitchiness and ambition. It is during his stay in Sugar Rush, that Ralph gets the opportunities to display qualities such as nurturing, caring and being considerate of others. 

REGAL RACER: King Candy (Alan Tudyk) reigns over the video game Sugar Rush and rules the speedway in the animated film Wreck-It Ralph. Image: Walt Disney Animation Studios.

The film uses many ideas of existentialism, particularly philosophy from German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche. For example, Nietzsche’s ideas of nihilism, which has nothing to do with pathological conditions of a person’s mental state or depression, but is a reasoning for finding grounds to support your values. Hence, Nietzsche’s ideas about two types of nihilism are depicted in the film. The first is nihilism of despair, where a person is living in a world where their values cannot be realised. Therefore, there is nothing wrong with the world, only something wrong with them so they must change themselves in order to fit into the world in which they live. The second is nihilism of disorientation where a person’s values cannot be justified. This is when a person believes there is nothing wrong with them or their values so they want to change the world to fit them. 

Nihilism of despair is depicted when Ralph knows he can never be seen as a good-guy in his own video game world, so he has to go to another video game to prove he can be a hero and a good-guy. Nihilism of disorientation is depicted when King Candy from the video game Sugar Rush believes he is the best racing driver and makes extreme changes to his own video game world to suit himself. The overall message in the film conveyed by these ideas is to be yourself, and be happy with who you are. When you learn to be yourself, then you will love, accept and approve of your life and the lives of others around you. 

RACING RIVAL: Taffyta Muttonfudge (Mindy Kaling) is Vanellope's nasty rival in Sugar Rush's cart-race in the animated film Wreck-It Ralph. Image: Walt Disney Animation Studios.

A fun aspect of Wreck-It Ralph is trying to spot the cameo appearances of other characters from various arcade video games in the film: such as Pac-man and Clyde the orange ghost, Street Fighter’s Zangief, Bowser from Super Mario Bros, Sonic the Hedgehog and the long-nosed orange character named Q-Bert. Wreck-It Ralph is fabulous fun for the whole family who enjoy seeing a mix of lightness and shade in animated films. 

The songs are equally fun, such as the end credit songs Sugar Rush by Japanese girl group AKB48 and the title song Wreck It, Wreck-It Ralph by musical duo Jerry Buckner and Gary Garcia. Keep watching the end credits as the characters Wreck-It Ralph, Fix-It Felix Jr., Vanellope and Sergeant Calhoun are shown in various styles of video gameplay.  

Wreck-It Ralph received an Academy Award nomination for Best Animated feature and won a total of five Annie Awards (the animation industry’s highest honour) including for Best Animated Feature, Outstanding Achievement For Directing An Animated Feature, and Outstanding Achievement For Music in An Animated Feature. This Disney film is highly recommended viewing for fans of innovation and originality in film animation and story-telling.

Director: Rich Moore

Writers: Rich Moore (story), Jim Reardon (story), Phil Johnston (story and screenplay), Jennifer Lee (screenplay), John C. Reilly (story contributor), Sam J. Levine (story contributor), Jared Stern (story contributor)

Voice Cast: John C. Reilly, Jane Lynch, Jack McBrayer, Sarah Silverman, Mindy Kaling, Alan Tudyk, Skylar Astin, Ed O’Neill, Joe Lo Truglio, Edie McClurg, Rachael Harris, Adam Carolla, Horatio Sanz, Dennis Haysbert, Rich Moore, John DiMaggio, Craig Smith, Maurice LaMarche, Katie Lowes, Gerald C. Rivers, Stefanie Scott, Kevin Deters, Martin Jarvis, Brandon Scott, Jess Harnell

Producers: John Lasseter, Clark Spencer, Monica Lago-Kaytis

Original Music Composer: Henry Jackman

Film Editor: Tim Mertens

Running Time: 1 hour and 40 minutes

9 (2009); animated fantasy adventure film review

Poster artwork for the fantasy adventure animated film 9.

Harming or Helping Humanity by Linh

9 began as an animated short from director Shane Acker, which was nominated for an Academy Award, before it was expanded into a feature film. Director Tim Burton jumped onboard as one of the producers for 9, and his influence is strongly felt throughout, as the characters have echoes of Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas.

ENERGY SOURCE: 5 (John C. Reilly) and 9 (Elijah Wood) inspect the talisman symbol in the animated film 9. Image: Focus Features, Madman Entertainment.

Set in a post-apocalyptic time in the aftermath of a war between humans and machines, the story follows the restoration and renewal of humanity in the tiny hands of nine rag dolls or 'stitchpunks' which are handcrafted by a scientist as a last attempt to defeat the machines and save what's left of humankind.

The scientist creates a machine so powerfully intelligent that it not only works for humans, but also creates other robots to do work for the government. As the scientist was close to giving the machine the ability to empathise, the Chancellor orders the scientist to surrender the machine and forces it to work in a factory creating war machines. The machine rebels and turns against humanity, creating destruction and devastation - virtually wiping out the entire human population.

In an effort to save humanity, the scientist makes nine stitched dolls which he knows will survive the poisoned and desolate wasteland better than the remaining humans, and gives each stitchpunk a piece of his soul. He also gives each one a number (using the myths and workings of numerology) that represent their character traits. He dies as he completes his final stitchpunk, and the last doll plays an integral role in the story.

SACRIFICE: 1 (Christopher Plummer) must decide the next move with 8 (Fred Tatasciore) and 9 (Elijah Wood) in the animated film 9. Image: Focus Features, Madman Entertainment.

Despite the convoluted storyline, there is much to enjoy in the eighty minutes of 9. The computer-generated animation is created by Starz Animation and although not as polished as Pixar or dynamic as DreamWorks, it still succeeds in bringing a sense of gloom and sadness among the vast, desolate wasteland. It also achieves in showing the glimmering sense of hope instilled in the characters who must work together to save the future of civilisation.

The voice cast is a curious choice with Elijah Wood as 9, the number which represents humanitarianism, so it was obvious for his character to be the hero of the film.

As the number 1 represents 'protection', Christopher Plummer's character becomes the self-declared leader who can at times be cowardly and domineering, or dutiful and self-sacrificing, depending on the situation; Martin Landau gives a brief yet great performance as 2,the kind and gentle inventor and explorer of the group, but is the first of the group to be sacrificed to the Beast; 3 and 4 are the mercurial and delightful twins who only communicate visually and are constantly processing, programming and preserving information for their historical records. Although they are unvoiced, the pair are remarkably expressive and entertaining to watch; John C. Reilly continues to expand his talents in all genres of films and his contribution here is the caring and loyal 5, who is a healer and engineer; Crispin Glover (most (in)famously remembered for kicking David Letterman in the head while appearing as a guest on the talk show) voices the visionary recluse and artistic 6; the lone female of the group is 7, who's a brave, self-sufficient and quick-witted stitchpunk and voiced by Jennifer Connelly and Fred Tatasciore is the muscle-bound and not too bright 8, the guard who wields a meat cleaver and half a scissor.

DANGER: 9 (Elijah Wood), 7 (Jennifer Connelly) and 5 (John C. Reilly) avoid the wrath of the Beast in the animated film 9. Image: Focus Features, Madman Entertainment.

The film has many binaries such as good versus evil, science versus spirituality and man versus machine, but the message regarding the extent of technology's impact on society is one that may escape younger audiences.

The use of animation to deliver adult themes to a younger audience seems to be a trend that would continue, mostly to attract a wider demographic. The side effects may be fewer youth-oriented animated films, less diversity in storytelling technique and fewer people who are willing to take risks in animation filmmaking.

CAUTION: 6 (Crispin Glover), 5 (John C. Reilly), 9 (Elijah Wood) and the twins 3 and 4 take measures against the Machine in the animated film 9. Image: Focus Features, Madman Entertainment.

Shane Acker's first feature animated film is a solid effort with plenty of imagination and creativity used to concoct a fine mix of audio and visual effects to accompany the action and story.

The philosophical and complex concepts of the narrative may make this film quite a confusing mess for some audiences and children wouldn't easily grasp the plot. However, 9 remains an entertaining film with some fantastic visuals and engaging characterisations. 

CONFRONTATION: 9 (Elijah Wood) faces off with the Machine in the animated film 9. Image: Focus Features, Madman Entertainment.

Director: Shane Acker

Writers: Pamela Pettler (screenplay), Shane Acker (story)

Voice Cast: Elijah Wood, Christopher Plummer, Jennifer Connelly, Martin Landau, John C. Reilly, Crispin Glover, Fred Tatasciore, Alan Oppenheimer, Tom Kane, Helen Wilson

Producers: Tim Burton, Jim Lemley, Timur Bekmambetov, Dana Ginsburg, Jinko Gotoh, Mary Clayton

Cinematographer: Kevin R. Adams

Original Music Composer: Deborah Lurie

Production Designers: Robert St. Pierre, Fred Warter

Art Directors: Kevin R. Adams, Christophe Vacher

Running Time: 1 hour and 20 minutes

Walk Hard - The Dewey Cox Story (2007); music comedy ficto-biopic film review

Poster artwork for the music comedy ficto-biopic Walk Hard - The Dewey Cox Story.

Pastiche Parody by Linh

Walk Hard - The Dewey Cox Story is a mockumentary with ironic pop culture references, and crass sexual humour. It's a parody on the musical biopics like Ray and Walk The Line, with the lead character encompassing the musical and personality traits of Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, Elvis Presley and Bob Dylan.

The film follows the life of Dewey Cox who accidentally chops his brother in half with a machete, then becomes one the most successful musicians from the 1950s to 2007. Along the way to musical stardom, Dewey Cox experiences all the drugs, sex and rock 'n roll, with hysterical results and running gags.

Co-writer and producer Judd Apatow (Knocked Up, Anchorman, The 40 Year Old Virgin), combines his flair for satirical absurdity with director Jake Kasdan's tongue in cheek approach to create a spoof which pokes fun at every element of Hollywood biopics, albeit with a serious tone.

John C. Reilly shines and is convincing as he sings and plays guitar in his role as the hardworking and impressionable Dewey Cox.

Jenna Fischer plays the seductive and sprightly Darlene Madison and Fischer's interpretation of her character cleverly combines the passion of June Carter and the sex appeal of Marilyn Monroe.

Tim Meadows is hilarious as the drummer of Dewey's band whose delivery of one-liners are sharp and deadpan.

Raymond J Barry gives a solid performance as Pa Cox who's unwilling to forgive Dewey for killing his brother and effectively delivers the emotionally frustrating line "The wrong kid died!" throughout.

Guest appearances and cameos make the film a hoot with Jack Black as Paul McCartney who clashes with Paul Rudd as John Lennon; Jack White (lead singer of the rock band The White Stripes) plays Elvis Presley; 1960s soul and r'nb group The Temptations, Eddie Vedder, Jackson Browne, Jewel and Lyle Lovett appear as themselves.

The music and songs throughout 'Walk Hard' cleverly reflects the respective decades and pays homage to some of the industry's greatest musicians, while the lyrics are ridiculously funny. Highlights include the duet of Dewey Cox and Darlene Madison Let's Duet, Walk Hard, Hole In My Pants and Beautiful Ride.

Walk Hard - The Dewey Cox Story is a film filled with soul/blues and rock 'n roll, witty punchlines aimed at everything about the music industry and brilliant performances from a stellar ensemble cast.

SPOOFING IT UP: Darlene Madison (Jenna Fischer) and Dewey Cox (John C. Reilly) parody country music couple Johnny Cash and June Carter in a scene from Walk Hard - The Dewey Cox Story.
Image: Columbia Pictures

Director: Jake Kasdan

Writers: Jake Kasdan (screenplay), Judd Apatow (screenplay)

Cast: John C. Reilly, Jenna Fischer, Raymond J. Barry, Margo Martindale, Kristen Wiig, Tim Meadows, Chris Parnell, Matt Besser, Craig Robinson, Jack McBrayer, Harold Ramis, Ed Helms, Jane Lynch, Frankie Muniz, Eddie Vedder, Jack White, Lyle Lovett, Jack Black, Paul Rudd, Jason Schwartzman Patrick Duffy, Morgan Fairchild, Paul Feig, John Michael Higgins, Jonah Hill, Cheryl Ladd, Cheryl Tiegs,

Producers: Judd Apatow, Jake Kasdan, Clayton Townsend, Carey Dietrich, Melvin Mar, Andrew Epstein, Lewis Morton

Cinematographer: Uta Briesewitz (Director of Photography)

Original Music Composer: Michael Andrews

Film Editors: Tara Timpone, Steve Welch

Production: Jefferson Sage (Production Designer), Domenic Silvestri (Art Director), Claudette Didul (Set Decorator)

Costume Designer: Debra McGuire

Running Time: 1 hour and 35 minutes