Wreck-It Ralph

When I first heard there was a movie called Wreck-It Ralph, I thought it would be something like Bob the Builder, and I had no interest in it whatsover. Then, through a convoluted twist of events that led to Elegyrl and me driving all around Woodland Hills, Westlake, and finally back to Simi in search of a movie to watch, I ended up seeing Wreck-It Ralph. Elegyrl told me it was about video game characters, so that didn't sound too bad.

I was delighted by Wreck-It Ralph. I was thoroughly and pleasantly surprised at everything: the graphics, the plot, the sound effects, the characters, the voice acting, the way the characters moved, everything! Since Wreck-It Ralph has become available on DVD, I have purchased it and watched/listened to* it more times than I'm willing to admit. It cracks me up every time. It makes me sniffle every time, too. I just love it.

***Note: possible spoilers ahead.***

Here are some of the good messages you can draw from Wreck-It Ralph, in no particular order:

• You cannot do things just because you wish it. You have to learn and practice and work to get better. Even people who have inherent talents and gifts have to start somewhere.

• Sometimes what you think you want is not really what you want. Like when Ralph gets the medal, it doesn't do for him what he thought it would do.
   
• CONSTANT VIGILANCE! (That's not spoken, exactly, but it's implied--see General Calhoun's story.)
   
• If you have a weakness/problem, it doesn't have to ruin you; you can turn it into a strength by figuring it out and getting it under control.
   
• Don't be mean to people, because the person you're mean to may turn out to be someone unexpected, someone you'd be ashamed to criticize.
   
• Do what's right. I love that Ralph does what he feels is right, even when he knows how much it'll hurt his friend. And when he discovers he was wrong, he does what he needs to fix it.
   
• Put others first. By the climax of the movie, Ralph has told Felix that he'll never try to be good again. It's clear that Ralph's really a Good Guy though, when he shows he's willing to give his life for the benefit of others.
   
• Be appreciative of all the people in your life, even your enemies. The Nicelanders didn't appreciate Ralph, but they soon realized how much they needed him once he was gone.
   
• If you have the means, give to those less fortunate than you, whether that means giving food, money, or the opportunity to work (such as Ralph and Felix give to Q*bert).
   
• Everyone has certain duties in life, and they're not always glamorous, but they're important. Everyone who plays a part in our lives, everyone we meet, is important. What we do matters.
   
• Mentos and Diet Coke (just in case you didn't know).
   
• Even when it seems like things have gone horribly wrong, like when Ralph and Vanellope were in the go-kart bakery, something good can still come of it.
   
• Don't believe everything you're told. Find answers.

 Some other things I like about the movie:

•  The princess is an anti-princess. She wears green, not pink, and she's smart enough to know that her value lies in being her true self, not in putting on an artificial label and a pink poofy dress.
   
• The music and sound effects are great. I love the doyng (doing? doiing?) of the coins hitting the bouncer before they go into the trophy cup, and the donk of the medal hitting the game cabinet screen when Ralph throws it. I also like the sound of the lollipops stuck to Ralph's feet when he's covered in green goo, and all of the video game sounds, like when Felix bounces or uses his hammer.
   
• Of course, I enjoy the fun hidden messages, things you can only see by pausing the Blu-Ray every five seconds or so. The inside of Ralph's helmet is especially amusing.
   
• The entire plotline was engaging to me. I never felt like the movie was dragging.
   
• The whole movie is just a visual feast. There's so much to look at.
   
• Sour Bill. That guy cracks me up.
   
• If you're looking for some good swear word substitutes, there are plenty to choose from in Wreck-It Ralph.
   
• There's a good ratio of male/female characters and roles.
   
• The credits are fun.
   
• The names of the Sugar Rush racers are amusing. Rancis Fluggerbutter? Someone had fun naming these kids.

• The graphics artists did such a great job of making each of the games look and sound true to the time period in which they were created.
   
• The Sugar Rush song is in Japanese. For real!
   
• The Wreck-It Ralph website is super fun. It's like a game in itself, and you get points by clicking on different links. Aside from learning about the characters and video game worlds, you can also play online versions of Fix-It Felix Jr, Sugar Rush, and Hero's Duty. I wasn't very good at Hero's Duty, and I didn't much care for Fit-It Felix Jr, but if I had a lot of time to kill (and a good internet connection) I'd have spent longer playing Sugar Rush.

So, those are some of the things I like about Wreck-It Ralph. Maybe I loved it so much the first time because my expectations were so low, then it ended up being so amazing. Kind of like the opposite of what happened with Les Misèrables.

Anyway, if you're looking for a fun movie to watch, try Wreck-It Ralph. Even though I've watched it many times now, I still notice something new each time I see it.


The end.

*I put audio tracks of movies on my iPod so I can listen to them (and "watch" them in my head) as I drive. It's actually very interesting to listen to a movie, because I always hear things that I never noticed while watching.

All images copyright Disney. Downloaded from http://disney.go.com/wreck-it-ralph/