Bad guys can be heroes

Rating: 9/10 (24 February 2013)

I used to spend countless hours (and much money) in video-game arcades as a youth so I was naturally attracted to this original idea from Disney and I am so glad I saw it.
It would be easy to see how this could be passed over as a simple kids film about characters in video games, but it is a lot more than that. The story is intriguing and engaging and deals with adult concepts such as jealousy and revenge alongside the more simple desire to be loved and appreciated. The dialogue is excellent and the characters are perfectly realised with the actors, particularly John McGinley, Jane Lynch and Sarah Silverman, putting the perfect pitch of emotion into their avatars.
If I were to be really picky I could say that the film spent too much time in only two or three of the games in the arcade. I suppose the story would be complicated too much if the action were spread over many more games. I was also a little unimpressed with the 3D - I would advise anyone thinking of going to see it to stick with 2D.
Minor quibbles though - this is a very enjoyable movie with a lot of heart and emotion and some magnificent action set pieces, especially the hectic "Hero's Duty" game - thoroughly recommended.
I should also mention the exquisite short that preceded the film, "Paperman," a b/w silent love story set in 50s New York - which ends just exactly the way you want every love story to end! A beautiful little cartoon - please, Disney, let's have many more like that.