Game-themed movie mixes potty humor with strong messages.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 7+?
Any Positive Content?
Violence & Scariness
some
In one scene, a first-person shooter video game comes to life. Characters from this game (who are more realistic looking than some of the others) fire big guns at aliens, which end up invading other games. In a brief and comic-toned scene, a character impulsively grabs a zombie's heart out of his chest, but no real damage is done. In another flashback, a character is eaten by an alien bug. Calhoun and Ralph are the most aggressive characters; they occasionally punch others and destroy their surroundings. Cautionary tales about characters' deaths (if a character dies in a game outside of their own, they can't regenerate) and homelessness (games that are put out of order) may be upsetting to younger kids. One character does die, but it's in his own game, so he regenerates.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.
Iconic video game characters -- like Pac-Man, Bowser, and Sonic the Hedgehog -- make cameo appearances. There are also many references to candy/cookie/sweets brands (Oreo, Devil Dogs, NesQuick, Laffy Taffy, Mentos, etc.).
Drinking, Drugs & Smoking
a little
In one scene, a game character pours himself a martini. Another scene takes place in a game called Tappers, in which characters drink root beer from beer mugs. Characters are also briefly seen drinking at a dance party.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.
Rude humor and frequent name-calling includes insults like "I hate you," "shut your chew hole," "brat," "pussy willows," "doody," and "numbskull." The song "Shut Up and Drive" by Rihanna plays during one scene. Other iffy language includes "frickishly" and "butt load."
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.
Two game characters fall in love and get married. They exchange a smooch, as well as a more passionate kiss in another scene. One iconic game character, a male wrestler, wears only his underwear. In one scene, Ralph disrobes an unconscious space commander to steal his suit.
Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.
Characters show integrity and learn to embrace the way they're programmed, rather than change themselves for others. Characters also discover the importance of empathy and walking a mile in someone else's shoes before judging them. Themes of inclusivity/exclusivity and selflessness/selfishness are woven throughout the story in many ways. Teamwork, perseverance, and self-control are additional themes.
Positive Role Models
a lot
Ralph's quest for peer approval turns into a journey about becoming proud of who he is and what he's able to contribute. He doesn't let his official "bad guy" status overshadow the qualities that make him good: He's compassionate, resourceful, and sticks up for the underdog. Despite her potty-mouth insults, Vanellope is a spunky, clever, and determined character. In a game that's stereotypically girly, she challenges the status quo. She finds a way to channel her "defectiveness" as a game "glitch" into something positive.
Educational Value
very little
Kids are introduced to tech terms and concepts like game code, consoles, and avatars.
Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that Wreck-It Ralph brings video games to life in a way that will appeal to both kids and adults. The story is about a "bad guy" who deserts his classic arcade game to prove that he's not so bad after all, turning Disney's animated adventure into the tale of an underdog searching for a new identity. The movie is accurate in the way it presents popular games/game genres, so you can expect some action-packed scenes, especially in the parts of the movie that take place in a first-person shooter game (guns, aliens, etc.). Game characters can die, but it's only permanent if it happens outside their home game. In one scene presented comically, someone grabs a zombie's heart out of its chest. There's also a little bit of drinking and kissing -- and a fair amount of potty humor/language ("butt," "doody," etc.) -- amid the movie's deeper messages about identity, compassion, loyalty, and challenging the status quo. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails.
I was very hesitant to let my 8- and 6-year old kids watch this, since I had heard it had disturbing levels of violence. My 6-year-old is very sensitive, and we have been careful to make sure the kids are not exposed to violence on TV. Although I watched this movie with the remote at the ready, in case I had to fast forward, I found this fine for my kids. The scene with the zombie that is mentioned happened so quickly that I don't think it registered with the kids at all, and although there are many guns during one sequence, they are largely not directed at people. So, in short, kids really enjoyed it, and I was relieved that my concerns were not borne out.
The movie would have been more enjoyable if the violence was eliminated. For a film aimed at younger viewers, you need to know that violence is portrayed as a natural condition of individual and social interaction.
What's the Story?
After 30 years of playing the villain in the arcade game Fix-It Felix, WRECK-IT RALPH (voiced by John C. Reilly) decides he needs to prove that he has what it takes to be a good guy. He sneaks and stumbles his way into other consoles -- specifically, an alien-invasion, first-person shooter game and a Candy Land-esque racing game -- in search for a hero's medal, which he believes is his one-way ticket to being accepted within the arcade community. With the help of characters like Sergeant Calhoun (Jane Lynch) and Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman), Ralph's journey becomes much more than a quest for peer validation. His friendship with Vanellope, in particular, helps him realize that, at the end of the day, there's nobody he'd rather be than himself. The DVD release includes the short film The Paperman, plus deleted scenes and other extras.
Kids, adults, gamers, and tech newbies will enjoy Disney's imaginative interpretation of code, pixels, avatars, and wires, as well as the movie's many references to iconic video game characters. Like Toy Story and Monsters, Inc, Wreck-It Ralph takes place in a magical world that only exists behind closed doors -- one in which video game characters come to life in arcades after hours.
There are a few missteps: The movie could definitely have cut back on its rude humor, which sometimes overshadows Wreck-It Ralph's meaningful messages about being an underdog and discovering who you really are.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Wreck-It Ralph portrays video game violence. What's realistic? What's not? What are your family's values when it comes to violence in the media?
What are the movie's female characters like? Do they challenge stereotypes about girls and "girly" video games? How so?
Talk about the ways that Ralph and Vanellope are mistreated and misunderstood. What could other characters have done to be more inclusive and more accepting? In what ways could they have shown more compassion and empathy?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
suggesting a diversity update.
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
By Kelly Schryver
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
