[Movie] I'M GONNA WRECK IT!

So much of me was excited for this movie, and so little of me left disappointed. Disney's in-house animations have been stale for a while, but between Tangled and Wreck-it-Ralph, their rejuvenation is palpable.

The concept sold me from the moment I heard about it. How could I not be excited about an animated flick about an arcade character? I mean COME ON. I was a little let down to ultimately find out that it was to be yet another CG animated film, but I guess expecting a full-on 2D animated film in the style of 8-bit arcade goodness was asking a bit much of the film gods.

Thankfully, the animation is wonderfully-done and directed with a masterful touch. Little flairs show that this was crafted with care and not just another assembly-line kids flick, notably the animation on some of the characters. The denizens of Fix-it-Felix Jr. move with a jittery grace that adds a beautiful retro touch to their movements. It's hard to describe, but you'll know exactly what I'm talking about when you see it.

Obviously I was looking forward to the various video game cameos, and I was not disappointed. The film was very front-loaded with the cameos and in-jokes, but it fit the narrative, and there are still little things thrown in throughout that are either overt or subtle, but all of them tickled the gamer in me pink. It will take many viewings to pick out every character in Game Central Station, and will be a gift that will keep on giving when this hits home video.

A lot of folks have correctly compared this to Toy Story, especially in the beginning. Its setting is largely the same, in that its set in a world where our toys have a world of their own when they're not being played with. The arcade backdrop gives it a few very interesting twists, such as the idea that these arcade characters are essentially on the job for the hours that the arcade is open, and then have, like, nights off. In Toy Story, our toys always had to be on call, but the world of Wreck-it-Ralph is very much structured like that of a typical adult life. But the similarities stop there.

When the arcade closes, the characters are free to travel about the arcade via a surge protector, or as it's called in the film (and as I'll be calling them from now on), Game Central Station. They have public transportation to and from their games and are free to roam about as long as they return to their game by opening time. At one point you find Ralph having a bar at the Tapper arcade machine with folks like Ryu from Street Fighter hanging out in the background. Having the film take place in their world made it all the more fantastical and unique. There was a lot of opportunity to play with these worlds, and I don't feel let down even though they only really visit a handful. I'm sure there will be plenty more to explore when eventual sequels are made.

This is far from a simple kids flick. The story focuses on Ralph coming to terms with being a bad guy (but not necessarily a BAD guy), but weaves in numerous subplots expertly, and very unexpectedly for a film aimed at children. I'm not ashamed to admit that I legitimately had no clue where this film was going for most of it, and was delighted when it all came together at the end.

I can't really say enough good things about Wreck-it-Ralph but I'll probably just stop now. This is one of the best animated Disney flicks I've seen in a long time, absolutely on a Pixarian level in the level of craftsmanship on display in every category. I knew it would at least make me giddy, but I'm genuinely impressed by how great it is. I can't recommend it enough.

Jam it back in, in the dark.