The Task: Watch and write about every movie on my shelf, in order (Blu-rays are sorted after DVDs), by June 10, 2015. Remaining movies: 3 Days to go: 5
Movie #437: Wreck-It Ralph
It’s not immediately obvious — in fact, I wouldn’t have guessed it at all — but Wreck-It Ralph is a Disney animated feature. There’s even a new Disney princess introduced, and yet I kind of doubt we’ll see Vanellope Von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) included in any princess features any time soon. She definitely doesn’t fit the profile. Vanellope, though, is delightful regardless, and even though the movie is ostensibly about Ralph (John C. Reilly), she’s the one who steals my (and his) heart.
Vanellope may be made entirely of code, but she’s one of the most authentically kid-like kids in any Disney cartoon, second only to Up‘s Russell. She’s precocious, incorrigible, annoying and an innocent. She’s playful and likes to trade insults, but only with the ones she loves. Vanellope is representative of all outcasts, of all kids who don’t fit into the cool clique, but who have it in them to be really great. (And Mindy Kaling, by the way, is fantastic as head Mean Girl Taffyta Muttonfudge.) She just wants to be given a chance, and she fights for her opportunity to make it happen, even when she has to build her cart herself out of scraps.
Vanellope is also a metaphor for anyone who is differently-abled or has a chronic condition that can be limiting. She’s a glitch, and sometimes her glitches get in her way, but other times she finds a way to use them to her advantage, to make the most of them, and to not let them hold her back. Her glitches are a part of her, but they don’t make her incapable of reaching her goals, of racing and winning, and they don’t make her unlovable or unpopular. I’m a person who thinks Sarah Silverman is a genius and an awesome comedian in general, but Vanellope transcends even that to be just an all-around amazing, fun little girl. I adore her.
As for the rest of the film, I have to admit I don’t think Ralph is entirely off-base for being angry and hurt by the Nicelanders of his game. They are pretty rude and dismissive of him, even if he is an unwieldy, hot-tempered menace most of the time. It kind of goes both ways and falls into a vicious circle of mistreatment and resentment. That said, he does make a mess of things and almost costs Sugar Rush its entire game environment because he acts rashly and in his own interests. So I don’t begrudge Calhoun (Jane Lynch) chewing him out at all.
Calhoun is pretty badass and awesome herself, as female video game characters go, even with her impossibly small waist and comically huge boob armor. I also love her romantic subplot with Fix-It Felix Jr. (Jack McBrayer), just for being goofy and mismatched and fun. And to round out the rest of the major characters, King Candy (Alan Tudyk) is kind of a great, unexpectedly terrifying, maniacal villain. Don’t let the fungeon fool you!
Wreck-It Ralph is just a really fun, inventive and creative movie that understands video games of all genres and lovingly pays tribute to them. It’s also incredibly rewatchable, and, if you’re looking for a Disney princess to break the princess mold, it definitely fits the bill.
Viable Option 