Did Not Expect-It Ralph

From Walt Disney Animation Studios comes 'Wreck-It Ralph', a hilarious, arcade-game-hopping adventure.  For decades, Ralph has been overshadowed by Fix-It Felix, Jr., the good-guy star of their game who always gets to save the day.  Tired of playing the role of a bad guy, Ralph takes matters into his own massive hands and sets off on a journey across the arcade through multiple generations of video games to prove he's got what it takes to be a hero.

As I wait (rather impatiently) for Les Miserables to hit theatres on Christmas Day, I'm glad I've had all my 'Night of the Chupacabra' book promotion to keep me busy - never expecting that another film would come along before Les Mis to distract me from the musical powerhouse coming not-soon-enough to a theatre near me.  Today I attended a media screening of 'Wreck-It Ralph', which I never thought would be about an hour and 45 minutes of pure genius.  Really... WOW!  I mean, I expected to like this movie, but I did not expect to love it!  Yes, I am an obsessed fan.

'Wreck-It Ralph' has to be one of the funniest animated films I have seen in a long time - granted, if you're not a child from the 1970's and 1980's, some of the jokes may leap and bound over your head like a Mario brother.  But alas, there is still plenty for every generation to laugh out loud about as the writers and producers did a fine job of making sure their target audience was not simply children and their parents but teenagers and the over 50 crowd as well.  I guess what I'm trying to say is if you know who Q-bert is then this movie, filled with innuendos and cliches and fads across multiple decades (and you would need to view this film 10 times to catch every one) is a little extra special.

But it's not all Pac-Man and Oreo jokes, the producers made the best move from the start by casting - what I believe to be - the best voice cast for this film.  Very smart.  As much as I knew how much I would worship Jane Lynch's (Glee, Best in Show) voice for Sergeant Calhoun, she did not stand too tall next to everyone else.  I don't think any other actor could have voiced Wreck-It Ralph better than John C. Reilly (Stepbrothers, Walk Hard), the big lug with a bad temper who has a heart of gold, nor Sarah Silverman (Sarah Silverman Program) as the feisty spit-fire-wire Vanellope on Schweetz (aka Glitch) or Jack McBrayer (30 Rock) as Fix-It Felix, Jr. who would have been the star if this film would it have been about the good guy.  But I think the actor who shocked me the most was Alan Tudyk (Suburgatory, Firefly) who played King Candy and characterized his voice to sound amazingly similar to the Disney-staple character voice actor, Ed Wynn, who voiced the the Mad Hatter in "Alice in Wonderland", the Toymaker in "Babes in Toyland", and Uncle Albert in "Mary Poppins".  (I know you can hear his voice in your head.)  Plus I have to not only give huge kudos to the director, Rich Moore (The Simpsons, Futurama) but to the writers as well (Phil Johnsont & Jennifer Lee) for finding a big twist to this storyline and being able to recollect so many nuances from our past; however, I'm sure the cast helped some in their improvs - you know I'm looking at you Jane Lynch.

Lastly, the film is precluded by a black and white short, "Paperman", which I thought was cute but at one point crossed a line between a story that started as realistic and believable to fantasy.  Still, it was fun but not even remotely as fun as Wreck-It Ralph.  Five Stars!  Highly Recommended!  Must See!  'Nough Said!

Madagascar 3: Paramount's Most Funny

Okay, I'm sort of cheating on my own rules here as I just attended the media screening for Madagascar 3 today, and although I think it's the best of the series, it's still no Disney/Pixar film and I'm not obsessed with it.  However, this is the second time I've seen the movie (having participated in an audience reaction screening back in January 2012) so with the exception of a few frames of film that were not completed, I knew what I was in for and I still attended the media screening.  That has to account for something, right?

And since some of you readers have appreciated my thoughts on films I've viewed in advance, I thought I'd give my two cents before you decide to spend (or blow - depending how you like the movie) your hard earned money.  And because I'm obsessed with my readers, I can write this post because I'm thinking of your well-being.  There! That's my angle.

First, the blah-blah-blah:   Madagascar 3: Europe's Most Wanted:  Alex (Ben Stiller), Marty (Chris Rock), Gloria (Jada Pinkett-Smith) and Melman (David Schwimmer) are still fighting to get home to their beloved Big Apple.  Their journey takes them through Europe where they find the perfect cover: a traveling circus, which they reinvent - Madagascar style.

Yes, all the originals are back plus a few new characters from the aforementioned traveling circus, including Bryan Cranston (Malcolm in the Middle, Breaking Bad) as the Italian seal Vitaly and Jessica Chastain (The Help, The Tree of Life) as the cougar (maybe cheetah) Gia.  But my favorite newcomer and the character that steels the show for me is the villainess Captain Chantel DuBois, voiced by the fantastic Frances McDormand, who will stop at nothing - and I mean NOTHING - to claim her prize.

Now, I'm not a big fan of the Madagascar franchise at all.  In fact, I only saw the first two once because I did not think they were worth watching a second time, however not only do I find this to be the most entertaining in the trilogy, but the funniest as well.  Sure, it gets slow in the middle (sometimes painfully so) but overall it is a good time that should be enjoyable to both kids and their parents. 

But be warned... the songs in this film are highly contagious.  Don't be surprised if my next, "I Can't Get XYZ Out Of My Head!" is a song from this film.  Yikes!

The Return of a Timeless Classic

Welcome to my first ever movie review, although it may be my only movie review because I never planned on doing film reviews until I was invited to watch an advanced screening of Disney's Winnie the Pooh.

Walt Disney Animation Studios returns to the Hundred Acre Wood with "Winnie the Pooh.", featuring the timeless charm, wit and whimsy of the original featurettes, in this all-new movie which reunites audiences with the philosophical "bear of very little brain" and friends Tigger, Rabbit, Piglet, Owl, Kanga, Roo… and last, but certainly not least, Eeyore, who has lost his tael… tail.

Upon taking my seat to watch a film with a handful of my most beloved childhood characters returning to the big screen, I was excited; however, a bit skeptical that the creators of this new animated feature would not keep entirely true to the overall essence and imagining that author A.A. Milne, and original Disney animators created some 35 years previous.

Within the first ten minutes of the film, but after the very cute short film The Ballad of Nessie, all of my skepticisms were washed away in a wave of pure honey delight.  What I found myself watching was every bit as much of a classic Winnie the Pooh tale as if Disney had created it while making the original tales 35 years ago then sealed this print in their vault until this weeks release in 2011.  The film not only has the same watercolor look while created in today's digital age, but the same play on words that, quite literally, fall off the page.  There is even a clever take on the classic Abbott & Costello bit, "Who's on first?", but instead of "who", a word that I may or may NOT tell you.

Executive Producer, John Lasseter (CEO, Walt Disney and Pixar Animation Studios) and directors Don Hall (artist, Tarzan & Brother Bear) and Stephen Andreson (artist, Emperor's New Groove & Chicken Little) were faced with the challenge of improving on a classic when they took on a film with characters known worldwide.  The directors stated that the trick was keeping the treasured classic qualities while adding contemporary touches that would enhance the fun for today's audiences.

I have to say that the contemporary nuances were so subtle and unobtrusive that I actually found myself questioning if I had just seen or heard something that I would deem contemporary.  However, there was one moment that was all too obviously taken from today's film standards by adding a bonus scene after the final credits rolled up into oblivion.  I had not anticipated this in the slightest coming from this film and immediately thanked, applauded, patted myself on the back, for not leaping out of my seat during the end credits to go use the facilities.  I highly recommend staying until the house lights come back up and the screen goes dark.

So, being my first film review ever for this blog, I am more than delighted for it to be Disney's "Winnie the Pooh", a fantastic new blast from the past filled with charm, humor and imagination that will be a real treat for any parent, grandparent, Aunt, Uncle, 5th generation cousin, which grew up with the original featurettes, while entertaining today's youngster generation.  I seriously cannot rave enough about this film nor thank the creators enough for… well, creating it.  The 2011 version of Winnie the Pooh will surely be a little obsession of mine for years to come.

Recommendation:  Definitely "bother"