Wreck-It Ralph

In Wreck-It-Ralph, the villain is the star of the story. One day, Ralph, a video game character perennially playing the role of the bad guy in a video game called Fix-It Felix, becomes tired of the way things are. Felix gets all the love, friends, niceties, rewards, and the good reputation among players. For so long, Ralph has been wanting to take the spotlight, or at least share it with Felix. And for once, he decides to do something about it.

And so, he sets off on a journey across the arcade, hopping from one game to the next to find a place in the video game world. Along the way, he meets Vanellope von Schweetz, a glitching character in candy-brimmed racing game Sugar Rush, who’s also having trouble fitting in and finding a place in her own world. Together, they forge an unlikely friendship and slowly and painfully discover the true meaning of being a hero.

Wreck-It-Ralph may have some of Disney’s storytelling tropes, but it’s far too unique and smartly written to be labeled as common Disney fare. It’s endlessly creative, filled with humor some of which only adults will understand, and it offers up a heartfelt story of what it means to be someone’s friend, to be a hero, and to be there for somebody else at all costs. There are no powerful anthems here like Let It Go in Frozen, but there’s an abundance of things to love here, including Ralph himself, whose own journey proves that no matter who you are, you deserve a place in the world.

Director: Rich Moore – Screenplay: Rich Moore, Phil Johnston, Jim Reardon, Jennifer Lee, John C. Reilly, Sam Levine, Jared Stern – Cast: John C. Reilly, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch – Run Time: 1h 41m