Wreck-It Ralph

The adventures of an arcade game villain who is fed up watching everyone else get rewards and medals whilst he is always portrayed as the baddie. "Ralph" decides that the time has come to abscond and try and emulate his pal "Fix-it-Felix" in the feel good, popularity, stakes. His first encounter is with the no-nonsense "Sgt. Calhoun" in a shoot-em-up but instead of thriving, he manages to destroy just about everything there and soon threaten the entire arcade. How to stop this catastrophe? Well that might be down to his new, enthusiastic pal "Vanellope". She's what is called a "glitch" from a neighbouring racer game - where everything looks like it's straight out of "Wonkaland" - and the two must work together and race to thwart the increasingly evil ambitions of "King Candy". It's OK, this film. perhaps gamers will get more from it, but I'm not a gamer so was rather unimpressed with the rather predictable messages of undervalued person seeking validation and affection in a cruel, uncaring, world. Some of the animation is great fun, it features a bit of Pac-man nostalgia and there is plenty of lively action packed into one hundred minutes of characterful storytelling - it's just that the story, for me anyway, was just thin and procedural and there is way too much dialogue. Sorry.