"Wreck-it Ralph" : An Arcade Villain Seeks Redemption

For a while now, Disney has deviated from its tradition of films based on classic tales, or princess inspired plots. Probably to fit in with the demands of a new type of audience, kids are now technology-savvy, and they live surrounded by high-tech devices, and digital universes, which makes it harder to evoke in them any sort of amusement with old school cartoons. Therefore, it appears as a logical choice to create a story than involves the world of video games as the arena for a heartwarming story with the familiar theme of "be-yourself". Kid friendly films have become edgier and edgier each year, what might have seem inconceivable a decade ago, its now widely accepted as "appropriate", and adult are taken into account for this films  as much as children.  Director Rich Moore, whose background includes the adult-oriented animated series The Simpsons, Futurama, and the outrageous Drawn Together, seems like a prime candidate for the task of creating a cameo-packed, 90's childhood satire, product placement darling animated feature. In his feature film debut "Wreck-it Ralph" , he had to tone down the sexually deviant, and extremely violent situations of his previous work. Nevertheless, there is various glimpses here of his tonal style and pop-culture flavor.

The protagonist in the film is a video game bad guy who is tired of being defined by his line of work. Wreck-it Ralph (voice by John C. Reilly) wants to know how it feels  to be the hero for once, instead of being thrown out from a roof everyday and never getting credit for it. His counter part in the game is Fix-it Felix Jr. (Jack McBrayer) enjoys being the good guy but also feels like his personalty defines him, including his power to "fix" everything he touches, at times is more a course than a blessing. They are both part of a bigger gamin universe that involves all the games in the arcade, connected by a central station that has its own rules: If you die outside your game, you don't regenerate. Ralph desperate to fit in decides to leave his game in the quest of a medal that will prove to his game dwellers, that his indeed a good guy. On the road he finds a Call Of Duty-like game that seems like his way to a medal. Once he has his prize, Ralph finds himself trapped in a girly, pink-hued candy world named Sugar Rush, where he meets the tomboyish, sassy Vanellope (Sarah Silverman). This rowdy little girl needs Ralph's help to win a race that will give her back her status as part of the game. The charming relationship of these two misfits is almost like a father-daughter love, and really is enhanced by the amazing job Reilly and Silverman do. The villain here is King Candy, a seemingly nice ruler that hides a very dark, and not so sweet past. Aide by Fix-it Felix, and Jane Lynch as Sergeant Tamora Jean, Ralph and Vanellope will try to earn the place they deserve in the video game
world.

The film is a nostalgic bonanza. There is plenty of great cameos by video game celebrities from Street Fighter, to Sonic, and Pac-Man. It is an homage to those great games for those of us who grew up in the 80's and 90's. The vision and inner workings of the video game world are also very clever, characters traveling through the chords, connected to greater realm of games, and the great illusion of temporary death in the digital world. "Wreck-it Ralph" appeals to those great memories, and find its greatest moments in the back-and forth spit talk between Ralph and Vaneloppe, but sadly there are some "glitches" in the code of the film. There is an excessive amount of ads here, product placement at its most clever. Sure, one cant think of childhood without the love for candy, but here it becomes so obvious its sort of offensive. A cup from Subway, clearly at view for a couple seconds in the arcade, a clearly labeled Nestquick river, a cherry coke bottle-shape mountain, dancing Oreo cookies, a laffy-taffy jungle, all called by their brand name, with no intention of being subtle about it. Honestly, seems like a too-clever, unethical way to get business out of kid-friendly film. Besides that, to counterpoint the exaltment of consumerism, there is a very pushy reinforcement of the "be-yourself" policy that is well known in these type of films. Nevertheless, on the positive side there is very memorable scenes, like the group therapy session for bad guys at the beginning of the film, and the unlikely romance between Fix-it Felix and Lynch's character. It is nice to see that adults get thrown a couple gags in the film too, that despite its flaws, it is entertaining.

With a well thought-out concept, inventive characters, and hilarious situations, "Wreck-it Ralph" its a good addition to the Disney family, perhaps it will not be as memorable as this year's "Frankenweenie" but still will be a good choice for a trip to the movies. At times with signals of not so kid-friendly jokes ( when a villain rips a zombie's heart out to prove a point), but with enough sweetness and a bit of spice to be enjoyable for all ages. If you can make your kids not want candy or any other product advertised here, during or after the movie, then go ahead and enjoy the ride. Now out in theaters. Grade B+

"Frankenweenie" : Spooky Resurrection Of A Loyal Pal

Death is the last realm for the reach of human technology. It is definite and irreversible. What comes after we cease to exist is one of the most debated and unexplainable questions. Furthermore, to toy with the possibility of returning from this final trip is even more disconcerting, it goes against all the accepted truths of life, human or not. Once you are gone you are gone. But if there is a chance to bring those we love, or even oneself back from the land of the deceased, would it be morally correct to do it? This existential puzzle is nothing new for the human mind, the idea or hope that one day technology could bring back the death has disturbed our minds forever, because it also rises the question of what is the status of those who come back, are they fully themselves again? or would they be a mere embodiment of what they used to be? The quintessential example is the classic novel by Mary Shelley which title "Frankenstein" would become a synonym with a monstrous creature brought back to life through lighting. The original story is dark and provocative, ahead of its time and always current in a world that searches to extent life as much as possible.

To present this bizarre and spooky concept as a dark comedy, stop-motion animated film is a feat only fit for one strange artistic vision : Tim Burton. The script for "Frankenweenie' is based on his original idea from a live-action short he directed early in his career, its a touching, family friendly, but still edgy and fresh adaptation of the terrifying original novel. True to his artistic sensitivities, he made the film in exquisite black and white, in a beautiful technique like stop motion, giving it heart and laughs to make it a complete package. This film about a kid who brings his beloved puppy back from the underworld, feels really alive despite all the dead in it.

Victor Frankenstein (Charlie Tahan) is a introverted kid who keeps to himself and has as his only friend his dog Sparky. Victor spends the time making stop-motion films of his own, and creating things in his attic, always followed and helped by his loyal pet. In school he is surrounded by many strange characters starting with his subversive yet caring teacher Mr. Rzykruski, and his classmates. Among them his love interest Elsa Van Helsing (Winona Ryde),  a hunchback, malicious kid named Edgar (he is a version of Igor, Dr. Frankenstein's sidekick) , and a huge-eyed, weird looking girl who carries a psychic kitten named Mr. Whiskers (who in my book steals the show every time he is on screen). When the science fair  approaches, all the kids seek to partner up with Victor, but when an accident kills his beloved Sparky, then it all takes a different turn. Devastated by the depart from this world of his canine friend he remembers a lesson on how bodies react to electricity even after death. Honoring his name and using lighting he brings Sparky back only to notice this is just the beginning of his problems. Hiding his resurrected pal becomes difficult as his parents, his classmates, and his sneaky New Holland-obsessed neighbor Mr. Bergermeister are following his steps. Set in a "normal" suburban town with a cast full of gloomy eccentricism , the movie still manages to be very, very fun. Sparky is just a lovable dog, he is far from being a cartoonish depiction of an animal, instead he acts as irrationally and free as a real pup, which is something I personally appreciate, Burton made him something real and not an unnatural, overly intelligent creature. In the middle of this dark, unrealistic animated adventure we have two very ordinary characters that ring true, a lonely kid and his dog.

Now that I'm done dealing with what the movie is about on the surface, we can get into all the nerdy and great little details and funny bones (no pun intended) Burton throws at us. This is Burton's homage to not only "Frankenstein" but to an era in filmmaking. This is his love letter to what has inspired him throughout his career, all those B-pictures about campy monsters and fantastic worlds. From his choice of making it in black and white to the film Victor's parents watch on TV. Every character's name, look, and behavior are carefully created to reinvent "Frankenstein". Probably, a very funny one is the name of one of the kid's turtle, who he calls "Shelley", a double meaning referring to a turtle's shell and to the name of the 19th century writer who created the original story, Mary Shelley. The story has multiple gags dealing with classic monster pictures like the Mummy, Godzilla, and obviously Pet Sematary, but it all seems so nicely weaved into the universe of New Holland. All this great touches are not bane, the story does have a real message, perhaps greatly expressed through Mr. Rzykruski's speech towards the school's parents. He speaks of the fear they have towards innovation, their ignorance to face the questions science rises, but their hypocritical willingness to benefit from what such sciences discover. I would dare to say the film in a way, just like the original novel, is concerned with the ethics of science, and when it becomes too much like playing God. Lots of great things packed into a 100 minute film.

Technically impressive, and as usual with Tim Burton's work, stylized and dark. In fact this film really brings back what some other recent Burton films were missing, a more intimate view into his mind and obsessions, without being visually overpowering, or too abstract in concept. It seems like with this trend of dark, monster-friendly  animated films the Oscar battle for the Best Animated feature will include both "ParaNorman' and "Frankenweenie". Although I loved both, it feels like this would be the perfect excuse for the Academy to give Burton a deserved lifetime award under the skin of Sparky. Out in theaters now. Grade A.