First Look: Wreck-It Ralph

By DOUGLAS TSENG

Starring the voices of: John C Reilly, Jane Lynch, Jack McBrayer, Sarah Silverman

Directed by: Rich Moore

Why watch: It’s like Toy Story, except the ‘toys’ here are video game characters.

The low-down: After 30 years of wreaking havoc, Donkey Kong-like arcade game heavy Wreck-It Ralph (voiced by John C Reilly, pictured) quits his ‘day job’ for greener pastures elsewhere in the digital domain so that he can be a good guy for a change.

The buzz: If the premise sounds kiddie, it isn’t. Beneath the pixelised eye candy, the Disney ’toon is about a loner going through a mid-life crisis, pondering his station in life: “Isn’t there more to life than the role I’ve been assigned?” In other words: It’s an existential conundrum anyone, not just video gamers, can relate to. On a lighter note, there’s a treat for avid gamers: check out the cameos by familiar personalities from Mortal Kombat, Streetfighter, Sonic the Hedgehog and Pac-Man. Hmmm, an Expendables for joystick geeks?

Opens: Dec 20