Arts & Entertainment
'Wreck-It Ralph' is Retro-Pop Family Fun
The bad guy in an old video game is about to become the good guy in a new movie. It's a wreck the whole family should enjoy.
The bad guy in a low-resolution '80s video game is a reluctant villain who tears down buildings with his sledgehammer fists. He's ready for a change in today's high-resolution world in Wreck-It Ralph in 3D.
In order to break out of his bad-guy image, Ralph travels to grand game central where there is access to every video game in the world. If he can win a few levels, who knows, he may become that good guy he has always wanted to be.
The movie's clever writing and strong character development meets a solid voice-over cast that includes John C. Reilly as Ralph, Sarah Silverman as the voice of Vanellope and Jane Lynch as Sgt. Calhoun. There are dozens of retro games for the grown-ups and a solid storyline for the kids.
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As in the tradition of Toy Story, this film does a great job of imagining the secret lives of children's playthings. Wreck-It Ralph is clever, action-packed and original. But there are nearly 190 unique characters in this movie, and that does clutter things up a bit for my taste.
The Flick-O-Meter gives Wreck-It Ralph a four out of five. The film is – like so many other Disney movies – about being comfortable with yourself. That's what the three or four main characters try to convey but they all got lost toward the end of movie, competing for screen time with dozens of other throw-back characters.
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DINNER SELECTION
We haven't tried Fork in the Road, which opened recently in Northlake Mall. Check it out and tell us what it's like. Then it's a short jaunt south to AMC North DeKalb Mall 16 to check out the movie. Showtimes.