Wreck-It Ralph

Disney's variant on themes from Pixar's Toy Story is a mixed bag of frantic action, humorous antics and blunted satire pitched squarely at the juvenile. Tired of playing the same role for 30 years in the arcade game Fix-it Felix Jr, the Donkey Kong-style villain of the piece (voiced with winning gruff vulnerability by John C Reilly) abandons his destructive day job and decides to become a hero, inadvertently wreaking havoc as he travels through other games in search of meaning to his pixellated existence. Video-game legends such as Sonic the Hedgehog and Pac-Man add to the chaotic fun and Wreck-It Ralph's game-hopping showcases some witty clashes in style as the heartfelt "Be Yourself" message is pushed relentlessly. Ultimately, it's all rather exhausting, and this nostalgic tribute to retro games directed by Simpsons veteran Rich Moore does flag on the home stretch, though it is a colourfully cute romp for kids.