"Wreck-It Ralph" will appeal to gamers but might lose steam with other viewers

Rating: 7/10 (5 March 2013)

I don't play video games. Although I work at a store that specializes in movies first and video games second, I get the strangest looks from people when I tell them that. My first reaction is hand gestures that define how much of the store is made up of Blu-rays and DVDs in relation to video games. I didn't get the job there because of my love for video games. That's why I can't say I was all that excited when I saw the trailers for "Wreck-It Ralph."
After 30 years of playing the bad guy in his own video game, Ralph (John C. Reilly) is ready to move on to bigger and better things. All he wants is to be accepted by the other characters of the game and be recognized as a hero instead of a villain for once. In order to prove he can be just as good as he can be bad, Ralph embarks on an adventure to other video game worlds to win an award and the respect of his associates. His journey pits him against the ruler (Alan Tudyk) of a racing game obsessed with keeping a glitching character named Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) from participating.
I'm more than positive that "Wreck-It Ralph" pleases gamers with its homage to video games past and present. The characters are all charming and filmmakers did a wonderful job capturing the looks of different types of old and new games. The only thing I couldn't quite get over was why Ralph and Felix looked so new, but their companions from the 30- year-old game still stuttered a bit when walking and talking.
One thing that impressed me was how animators found a way to keep the style of the different characters consistent while being from different games and decades. Each game had a unique look but still somehow fit together in the grand scheme of the film. A good example of this was the blending of the vastly different "Hero's Duty" and "Sugar Rush" worlds.
The voice cast for "Wreck-It Ralph" is an interesting mix of actors. Instead of the usual Disney TV stars and A-list celebrities we're used to, filmmakers dug a little deeper here. John C. Reilly ("Step Brothers") lends his voice to the title character while Jack McBrayer ("30 Rock") plays his nemesis, Fix-It Felix, Jr. Sarah Silverman ("Crank Yankers") takes on the role of mischievous racer Vanellope von Schweetz. Jane Lynch ("Glee") voices Sergeant Tamora Jean Calhoun from "Hero's Duty." It's quite a "mature" casting choice for a family film, but it works.
Although being a bit complex for younger viewers, "Wreck-It-Ralph" will win children over with its mesmerizing animation and appealing characters. Its family-friendly fun which parents who used to play "Pac- Man" and "Super Mario Bros." can find something humorous in as well. However, it might not have the same appeal to those who never played video games.