John C. Reilly gives a terrific vocal performance in this computer-animated look at the secret lives of video game arcade characters (like Tron by way of Toy Story), directed by Rich Moore, a veteran helmer of The Simpsons and Futurama. Reilly is Wreck-It Ralph, the Donkey Kong-like villain of the game he headlines, and after 30 years of smashing things to 8-bits, he's tired of being overshadowed by the peppy, player-controlled hero, Fix-It Felix (Jack McBrayer). Ralph's existential angst drives him to leave his game in search of glory. After a promising jaunt through a sci-fi-themed first-person shooter, he ends up in the candy-coated cart racer, Sugar Rush, where he gains a sidekick, annoying little shit Vanellope von Schweetz (annoying big shit Sarah Silverman). Too bad the obligatory bromide of being yourself wrecks the pleasure of character cameos from gaming's past and present. If only the Konami Code could fix this script.
