WRECK-IT RALPH
Directed by Rich Moore
It has become something
of a fact that Pixar is next to only thing you should know about modern-day
animated films. Which is understandable: apart from the tedious Cars misfires, Pixar hasn’t really done
much wrong. Last year’s unjustly maligned Brave,
for instance, was actually quite good (despite that inane mother-bear plot line).
Still, it’s Walt Disney Animation Studios, of all animation studios in the
world, that made a 2012 film worthy of almost any Pixar you can think of.
Wreck-It Ralph was clearly the most inventive, imaginative cartoon
of the year. They took a great idea (‘real’ life of video games’ characters)
and explored it to the point where your brain might just go numb – particularly
at the very end, when all hell breaks loose and you give in to your childish
doubts about how on Earth they are
going to resolve all that?!?
If there are similarities
with Monsters Inc. (bulky and ‘scary’
main hero on a path to goodness; hilarious and fidgety girl; corporate culture
of all sorts of monsters and freaks hanging out in their own non-video game
world; even a certain amusing ball-shaped character), I’m willing to forgive
them. Not because Monsters Inc. is
only second to Toy Story 3 as the
world’s greatest cartoon, but because Wreck-It Ralph really does take its story
to completely different, no less exciting places. And does it with lots of
charm, humour and amazing little ideas that will remind you why you are
supposed to enjoy this kind of entertainment in the first place.
For instance, the moment
Ralph says at the end that being thrown down has become his favourite part of
day, is pure gold. Behind all the technological brilliance (not quite
Pixar-level, but still) there is enough heart and joy to satisfy both children
and adults. But above all, it’s the imagination of Wreck-It Ralph that makes it such an unforgettable experience.
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