Enter the world of video games where every character has a specific job that they do and good guys and bad guys are pre-scripted. This is the world of Ralph, who has begrudgingly played the bad guy in his popular video game, Wreck-It Ralph, for decades.
But, when he isn’t invited to the game’s anniversary party where Fix-it Felix Jr. is being honored as the star of the game, Ralph sets off on a mission to show everyone that he’s simply misunderstood. His journey takes him into the taboo world of arcade game-hopping where he tries his best to prove himself to be a true hero at heart while learning the ropes of each new game.
Shenanigans and hijinx ensue when Ralph leaves his pre-scripted life for one of adventure and unknowns. Along the way he meets new friends and new predicaments that teach him that his role in his game is vital, and that even “bad guys” can have a big heart.
Since I had missed the movie when it was in theaters, I have been eagerly awaiting the release of Wreck-It Ralph on Blu-ray Combo Pack so we could watch it as a family. For months I’ve been hearing Wreck-It Ralph references and hearing what an awesome family film it was and had been counting down the days until March 5th.
But, even though I was prepared to like the film based on all of the reviews I had heard, I didn’t expect that my 4 year old daughter would love it as much as she does. Her world these days revolves around fairies and princesses and unicorns, so I thought a film about a video game was going to be a hard sell. I was pleasantly surprised when she ended up loving the movie and that the show sparked a whole series of questions about video games and arcades and why Ralph was in Grand {Game} Central Station.
I personally thought the film was hilarious and I loved that there was humor that only us parents that grew up with arcades and 8-bit video games could appreciate. Even though I'm no gamer by any means, I still got all the references and ended up laughing along with most of the movie. But, even though my son has zero experience with video games, he still really loved the film and all the silly catch phrases and one liners.
The DVD and Blu-ray combo pack also includes something for everyone with bonus features that take you even deeper into the world of video games. Over an hour of all-new bonus material is featured on the Digital and Blu-ray Combo Pack, including deleted and alternate scenes, the theatrical short “Paperman” that everyone has been raving about, and much more.
Other features include:
* Bit by Bit: Creating the Worlds of “Wreck-It Ralph” – Fans of the film will get a look at five new worlds created for “Wreck-It Ralph.” The short takes viewers into Game Central Station with the artists who brought Sugar Rush, Hero’s Duty and Fix It Felix Jr. to life.
* Alternate & Deleted Scenes – Four separate scenes are highlighted with an introduction and optional audio commentary from director Rich Moore.
* Video Game Commercials – Viewers can check out the commercials created for the video games featured in the film - Fix It Felix Jr., Sugar Rush, Hero’s Duty and Fix It Felix Hammer.
* “Paperman” – This animated short film played in theaters before “Wreck It Ralph.” It tells the story of a young man in an office who sees the girl of his dreams in a skyscraper window across the street. But how can he get her attention?
And of course, my favorite new feature, Disney Intermission. Wreck-It Ralph comes with Disney Intermission: The Gamer’s Guide to “Wreck-It-Ralph” – When the Blu-ray is paused, host Chris Hardwick appears on screen to guide viewers through a series of 10 video segments offering an inside look at the many video game references, Disney references and other hidden surprises featured in the film.
If you are looking for a great family film for boys and girls, I highly recommend picking up a copy of Wreck-It Ralph. It's been compared to many other Disney "greats" since its release and I am not alone in feeling this is destined to become a family classic.
A big thank you to Disney films for sending Wreck-It Ralph to facilitate this review. As always, all opinions are 100% ours.
