After what feels like an age, but is actually less than 3 years ago, I wrote and published my first ever film review on Ralph Breaks The Internet, the follow up to what is, in my humble opinion, one of Disney’s best films. Although the sequel was a rather massive disappointment, and my review wasn’t that great either, the original still holds up almost 10 years later.

After thirty years as the wrecking guy for classic arcade game, Fix-It Felix Jr., Ralph is feeling a little disillusioned with his role as the bad guy expressing his feelings at Bad-athon, a self help group for fellow bad guys including the likes of Bowser, Zangeif and Dr. Robotnik. When Ralph isn’t even invited to the anniversary party for his own game, he decides to prove to everyone that he is capable of being a hero, and winning a medal to prove it.

After game-jumping to Hero’s Duty, a Call of Duty/Gears of War inspired first person shooter game packed full of bugs that know nothing more than to eat, kill and multiply, Ralph manages to scale the huge tower and retrieve the ‘Medal of Heroes’ but he accidently activates a number of Cybug eggs. In his attempt to escape the swarm of bugs, he jumps into an escape shuttle but a stowaway Cybug causes them both to crash into the Mario Kart-esque racing game Sugar Rush.

When “child of the candy corn” Vanellope Von Schweetz steals his medal to pay for entry into the next race, he sets out to recover his prize but after witnessing the residents of Sugar Rush bullying Vanellope for being a ‘glitch’ he realises they have something in common and the two embark on a journey that builds an unlikely friendship. But all is not sweet in the candy covered world, and the escaped Cybug threatens to destroy the game for good.

Video games and cinema have something of a tumultuous relationship, with more than a few adaptations falling short of both the standards set by movie-goers and the expectations of the game players. Wreck-It Ralph manages to bridge this gap by giving us a wholly original story and throwing in a number of easter eggs to satisfy all generations of gamers. Unburdened by the artistic freedom this gives him, director Rich Moore delivers a perfect blend of originality and nostalgia.

The story itself is great fun, full of heart and perfectly cast. John C. Reilly’s warm dulcet tones feel as though they were made for the character of Ralph and he brings out the lovable goofball that is just below the bad guy wrecking ball surface. His performance is wonderfully complimented by the hyperactivity that Sarah Silverman brings to Vanellope. Together they make for a great partnership, bringing the best out of each other.

For those of you who enjoy a bit of a romantic subplot, well, Wreck-It Ralph has you covered with the hilarious yet somehow well suited match up between Jack McBrayer’s nice guy and friendly neighbourhood handyman, Felix, and the high-definition bad ass Sergeant Calhoun voiced by the ever brilliant Jane Lynch.

As good as the story may be, what sets this film up for greatness is the attention to detail both visually and musically. Whether it be the chime of Sonic’s rings or the waka waka of Pac-Man, the sound effects fill you with a warming sense of nostalgic goodness and the music is perfectly synonymous with the mix of theme tunes that bombard you when you enter a gaming arcade.

Visually, the animation is something special building a world inside the mechanics of arcade game consoles and changing in styles depending on the genre or era of the game that we are experiencing. The simple 8-Bit resolution of classic games such as Pac-Man and Tapper sits alongside the complex high-definition world building of Hero’s Duty and Sugar Rush, immersing you into the film from beginning to end.

The biggest compliment that I can give Wreck-It Ralph, is that it would not be out of place amongst Pixar’s catalogue of films, which coming from me is a mahoosive compliment. Regardless of whether you have seen this film or not, add it to your watchlist again and snuggle up for a fun and thoroughly entertaining watch.

Wreck-It Ralph is available to stream on Disney Plus.