Wreck-It Ralph
By Kelly Schryver,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Game-themed movie mixes potty humor with strong messages.
A Lot or a Little?
What you willāand won'tāfind in this movie.
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Wreck-It Ralph
Community Reviews
Based on 76 parent reviews
Concerns weren't met
Spoiled by the violence.
What's the Story?
After 30 years of playing the villain in the arcade game Fix-It Felix, WRECK-IT RALPH (voiced by John C. Reilly) decides he needs to prove that he has what it takes to be a good guy. He sneaks and stumbles his way into other consoles -- specifically, an alien-invasion, first-person shooter game and a Candy Land-esque racing game -- in search for a hero's medal, which he believes is his one-way ticket to being accepted within the arcade community. With the help of characters like Sergeant Calhoun (Jane Lynch) and Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman), Ralph's journey becomes much more than a quest for peer validation. His friendship with Vanellope, in particular, helps him realize that, at the end of the day, there's nobody he'd rather be than himself. The DVD release includes the short film The Paperman, plus deleted scenes and other extras.
Is It Any Good?
Kids, adults, gamers, and tech newbies will enjoy Disney's imaginative interpretation of code, pixels, avatars, and wires, as well as the movie's many references to iconic video game characters. Like Toy Story and Monsters, Inc, Wreck-It Ralph takes place in a magical world that only exists behind closed doors -- one in which video game characters come to life in arcades after hours.
There are a few missteps: The movie could definitely have cut back on its rude humor, which sometimes overshadows Wreck-It Ralph's meaningful messages about being an underdog and discovering who you really are.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Wreck-It Ralph portrays video game violence. What's realistic? What's not? What are your family's values when it comes to violence in the media?
What are the movie's female characters like? Do they challenge stereotypes about girls and "girly" video games? How so?
Talk about the ways that Ralph and Vanellope are mistreated and misunderstood. What could other characters have done to be more inclusive and more accepting? In what ways could they have shown more compassion and empathy?
How do the characters in Wreck-It Ralph demonstrate perseverance and integrity? What about self-control and teamwork? Why are these important character strengths?
Movie Details
- In theaters: November 2, 2012
- On DVD or streaming: March 5, 2013
- Cast: Jane Lynch , John C. Reilly , Sarah Silverman
- Director: Rich Moore
- Inclusion Information: Female actors, Gay actors
- Studio: Walt Disney Pictures
- Genre: Family and Kids
- Character Strengths: Compassion , Empathy , Integrity , Perseverance , Self-control , Teamwork
- Run time: 108 minutes
- MPAA rating: PG
- MPAA explanation: some rude humor and mild action/violence
- Last updated: April 22, 2024
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