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WRECK-IT RALPHMovie Reviews
Animated family comedy about a video game character who travels through the arcade trying to become a hero instead of always being the bad guy. Cast:John C. Reilly, Jack McBrayer, Sarah Silverman, Jane Lynch, Adam Carolla, Jamie Elman, Rachael Harris, Dennis Haysbert, Mindy Kaling, Edie McClurg, Ed O'Neill, Horatio Sanz, Stefanie Scott, Alan TudykDirector:Rich MooreRelease Date:November 2, 2012DVD Release:March 5, 2013From:Walt Disney PicturesRating:PGLength:1 hr 38 minIn 3D
Wreck-it Ralph played to very good reviews. • Colin Covert wrote in the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, "Zany, rambunctious and visually stunning... John C. Reilly delivers an inspired vocal turn." • And Michael Phillips wrote in the Chicago Tribune, "...exhaustingly dazzling." More Reviews Below...
Wreck-it Ralph Positive Reviews (43 Reviews, reviews below)
Alynda Wheat, People: VERY GOOD(cg) "Think of it as 'Toy Story' for the Super Mario generation.... has clever touches and cool 3-D animation, even if it isn't as funny or as touching as a certain toy-centric classic."(See all of Alynda Wheat's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 129 words, 11/01/12
Keith Staskiewicz, Entertainment Weekly: EXCELLENT(cg) "...the real success of the film is its emotional core and the relationship between the two misfits... there's a lot of heart packed into these zeroes and ones."(See all of Keith Staskiewicz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 242 words, 11/02/12
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: VERY GOOD(cg) "...director Rich Moore brings a video junkie's passion to the movie game, and it's hilariously infectious.... Plus, you'll get all the jokes that go over the kids' heads."(See all of Peter Travers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 210 words, 10/26/12
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "I have a complaint, and it's my usual one: The whole movie comes down to an interminable high-velocity race and chase... I suppose that goes with the territory."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 534 words, 11/02/12
James Rocchi, MSN Movies: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...while it might seem speedy and stuffed to bursting, all of the story and craft and cleverness never overwhelm the sincere and rewarding heart..."(See all of James Rocchi's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 721 words, 10/30/12
James Berardinelli, Reel Views: VERY GOOD(cg) "...never does anything groundbreaking... but it's cute and clever and evokes nostalgia for gamers of the '80s and '90s.... It seems like a game designer's wet dream."(See all of James Berardinelli's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 741 words, 10/31/12
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (13 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: VERY GOOD "...a 93-minute blast of color, noise, ingenuity and fun... touching as well as silly, thrilling and just a bit exhausting. The secret to its success is a genuine enthusiasm..."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 764 words, 11/02/12
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: EXCELLENT "The movie's subversive sensibility and old-school/new-school feel are a total kick.... blows in like a fresh 21st century breeze."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 928 words, 11/02/12
Kyle Smith, New York Post: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...visually dazzling, intermittently funny.... Ralph is funny and endearing, and the film's 3-D animation is spectacular, but the movie goes wrong..."(See all of Kyle Smith's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 574 words, 11/02/12
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...exhaustingly dazzling.... You'll either love it or you'll admire it, while wishing it would calm down and, I don't know, maybe pick up a book for a while."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 619 words, 11/02/12
Frank Lovece, New York Newsday: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...blends poignancy and a piston-powered plot that revels in both visual inventiveness and a vaudevillian sense of timing."(See all of Frank Lovece's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 312 words, 11/02/12
Bilge Ebiri, New York Magazine: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...initially makes for some reasonably entertaining antics... It's all mostly predictable stuff... mostly enjoyable... Still, it does eventually become a bit tedious..."(See all of Bilge Ebiri's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 469 words, 11/02/12
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "I have a complaint, and it's my usual one: The whole movie comes down to an interminable high-velocity race and chase... I suppose that goes with the territory."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 534 words, 11/02/12
Nick Schager, Village Voice/LA Weekly: FAIR "...disappointing.... the themes don't develop by branching out in wild, unpredictable ways; instead, they become narrower and more monotonous..."(See all of Nick Schager's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 259 words, 10/31/12
Linda Barnard, Toronto Star: MODERATE(cg) "...crashes thanks to a sugar overload. And the race game's boss, King Candy (Alan Tudyk), works a strange, effeminate vibe that's kind of creepy."(See all of Linda Barnard's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 745 words, 11/02/12
Dave McGinn, Toronto Globe & Mail: VERY GOOD(cg) "...so well constructed in its plot and imagery that it moves brilliantly along, leaping from one perfectly rendered world to the next..."(See all of Dave McGinn's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 573 words, 11/02/12
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...surges ahead when Ralph ventures into the hell of a Halo-style first-person shooter and then drags when he reaches a candyland racing game..."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 161 words, 11/01/12
Carrie Rickey, Philadelphia Inquirer: VERY GOOD(cg) "Naturally the villain rehabilitating himself comes to the aid of the girl trying to redeem herself. Like a video game, Rich Moore's 3-D film is colorful, noisy, and pixel-deep."(See all of Carrie Rickey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 416 words, 11/02/12
Bill Goodykoontz, Arizona Republic: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...flies off in all sorts of directions, all of them rewarding. But the best trick is how screenwriters Phil Johnston and Jennifer Lee bring everything back together..."(See all of Bill Goodykoontz's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 686 words, 11/02/12
Ty Burr, Boston Globe: MODERATE(cg) "...the details are clever and occasionally delightful, the visuals dazzling, the film as a whole drably predictable... It made me want to go read a book."(See all of Ty Burr's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 566 words, 11/02/12
Stephen Whitty, New Jersey Star-Ledger: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a comical, pop-culture casserole... the terrific John C. Reilly does a fine job with this lovable lug's voice, and Jack McBrayer is perfect as the gee-golly-whiz Felix."(See all of Stephen Whitty's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 342 words, 11/02/12
Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle: VERY GOOD(cg) "...the enjoyment is in the experience, not the critical analysis of the plot.... If it's not the Pac-Man of animated movies, it's definitely in Dig Dug territory."(See all of Peter Hartlaub's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 532 words, 11/02/12
Steve Persall, Tampa Bay Times: EXCELLENT(cg) "The movie's first half is its funniest... The second half is cleverly designed, high-fructose eye candy, with typical Disney lessons..."(See all of Steve Persall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 414 words, 11/01/12
Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: VERY GOOD(cg) "...the humor is broad and pitched to young viewers. But the visuals are never less than eye-popping, and the video game theme will hold the attention of older viewers..."(See all of Rene Rodriguez's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 461 words, 11/02/12
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (8 Reviews)
Nick Schager, Village Voice/LA Weekly: FAIR "...disappointing.... the themes don't develop by branching out in wild, unpredictable ways; instead, they become narrower and more monotonous..."(See all of Nick Schager's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 259 words, 10/31/12
Eric Eisenberg, Cinema Blend: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...the layered universe created for the movie is breathtaking, both in theory and execution... fun and ridiculous... it's held together with a wonderful amount of heart."(See all of Eric Eisenberg's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 689 words, 10/31/12
Brett Michel, Boston Phoenix: MODERATE(cg) "Reilly gives a terrific vocal performance... Too bad the obligatory bromide of being yourself wrecks the pleasure of character cameos from gaming's past and present."(See all of Brett Michel's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 152 words, 11/01/12
Tasha Robinson, AV Club: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a wildly exciting ride... But it's also a surprisingly ambitious, crafty gimcrack that piles subplot upon subplot, building a teetering tower of ideas..."(See all of Tasha Robinson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,422 words, 11/01/12
John Semley, Slant: WEAK(cg) "...built on licensing.... warmed-over wink, nudge fare... an all-encompassing super video game mega-branded under the Disney banner. Save your quarters."(See all of John Semley's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 881 words, 10/28/12
Norman Wilner, Toronto Now: GOOD (NOT GREAT)(cg) "...surges ahead when Ralph ventures into the hell of a Halo-style first-person shooter and then drags when he reaches a candyland racing game..."(See all of Norman Wilner's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 161 words, 11/01/12
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...supremely compelling and suspenseful and, unlike any other videogame movie I've ever seen, makes me itch to get into an arcade."(See all of MaryAnn Johanson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,038 words, 11/05/12
HIGHBROW PRESS (4 Reviews)
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: MODERATE "It's a lovely pretext for dazzling visuals, yet the production is diminished by the clumsiness of an 8-bit script... character gets trampled as the action goes turbo..."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 428 words, 11/02/12
A.O. Scott, New York Times: VERY GOOD "...a 93-minute blast of color, noise, ingenuity and fun... touching as well as silly, thrilling and just a bit exhausting. The secret to its success is a genuine enthusiasm..."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 764 words, 11/02/12
Scott Tobias, NPR: VERY GOOD "...pop nirvana, a headlong rush through classic arcade games that's not too busy playing spot-the-reference to keep from paying off in laughs and heart."(See all of Scott Tobias's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 693 words, 11/01/12
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: EXCELLENT "The movie's subversive sensibility and old-school/new-school feel are a total kick.... blows in like a fresh 21st century breeze."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 928 words, 11/02/12
MOVIE INDUSTRY (6 Reviews)
Peter Debruge, Daily Variety: OUTSTANDING "...brilliantly conceived, gorgeously executed... bonus points for backing nostalgia with genuine emotion.... finds an inspired way in by focusing on an affable antihero..."(See all of Peter Debruge's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 908 words, 10/25/12
Justin Lowe, Hollywood Reporter: VERY GOOD "Fortunately the more sugar-coated sentiments are mostly dialed back in favor of genuine character development and rousing, digitally realistic 3D action."(See all of Justin Lowe's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 890 words, 10/25/12
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: EXCELLENT "The movie's subversive sensibility and old-school/new-school feel are a total kick.... blows in like a fresh 21st century breeze."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 928 words, 11/02/12
Emanuel Levy, Cinema 24/7: VERY GOOD(cg) "Some of the saga's characters are memorable and appealing, but they are not always placed in an easily believable or relatable world, particularly for the very young..."(See all of Emanuel Levy's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 743 words, 10/29/12
A.O. Scott, New York Times: VERY GOOD "...a 93-minute blast of color, noise, ingenuity and fun... touching as well as silly, thrilling and just a bit exhausting. The secret to its success is a genuine enthusiasm..."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 764 words, 11/02/12
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: MODERATE "It's a lovely pretext for dazzling visuals, yet the production is diminished by the clumsiness of an 8-bit script... character gets trampled as the action goes turbo..."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 428 words, 11/02/12
18.6 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
Wreck-it Ralph's reviews are separated by an average 18.6 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
Wreck-it Ralph (43 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:Wreck-it Ralph's reviews cover 84.0% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 23,766 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 553 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
Wreck-it Ralph Coverage, Volume & Length (43 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 24.0 Hours Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
Wreck-it Ralph's reviews on average broke 24.0 hours before opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is Wreck-it Ralph's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
Wreck-it Ralph (43 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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