Why I Saw It: I wouldn’t consider myself a “gamer”, but I’ve played video games throughout nearly my entire life, and the characters incorporated into the trailers of this film caught my eye immediately. Then I got hooked with the premise and immediately included it onto my list of films to watch.

What Was It About? “A video game villain wants to be a hero and sets out to fulfill his dream, but his quest brings havoc to the whole arcade where he lives.“

Rating: 8.1 out of 10

Favorite Parts: The group therapy sessions were great, featuring some classic villains all in one room together. Seeing them interact is something I won’t soon forget. The racing scenes towards the end were great call-backs to Mario Kart games, which really hit home with me. Just about all of the scenes with Qbert? Hillarious.

The Regrettable Aspects: The film’s plot got too convoluted and dragged on a bit too long. It really could have been a classic in the making, but along the way, things just fell flat. Though I liked the film, it was a disappointment due to the expectations I had going into it, and its potential for being a great film. There just weren’t enough good characters in the film, and the ones who were entertaining were side characters who played very limited parts in the film.

Would I watch it again? I won’t be buying it on DVD like I was expecting to happen prior to my first viewing, but when I see it show up on the television’s guide at some point, I’ll stop in for a few minutes.

To Whom Would I Recommend It? Anyone who really enjoys games like Street Fighter, Donkey Kong, Mario Kart or Q-bert should give it a watch.

Other Recommendations:

– INDIE GAME: THE MOVIE – So you like video games? How about watching a really good documentary about how some independent game makers put long hours into making one of their own? (full review)

– SCOTT PILGRIM VS THE WORLD – True video game fans will see influences from various games all over this film, and it’s done so well that it’s one of my favorite movies. Of all time.

– GAMER – I didn’t love it, but some people did, and it had a very interesting premise and was decently put together.

If you’ve got recommendations for alternatives to WRECK-IT RALPH, or for other similar films, let me know!

Next up… DIRTY GIRL!