My 4 1/2 year-old daughter Sadie has evolved into quite the cinema buff this year.  Indeed, at this time last year she would barely sit through previews, and now she insists on staying til the bitter end (including the credits - she must be keen on familiarizing herself with the most popular key grips).  I've therefore become a bit more adventurous with the types of movies to which I bring Sadie, knowing that she's now up for pretty much anything.  Case in point?  Sadie not only lasted the duration of the new Walt Disney Animation Studios film "Wreck-It Ralph", but thoroughly enjoyed the film as well, even laughing at humorous references that I thought she would be far too young to understand.  Indeed, both Sadie and I were absolutely captivated by "Wreck-It Ralph", which is sure to appeal to kids and adults of all ages with its innovative storyline, brilliant animation and tongue-in-cheek humor.

"Wreck-It Ralph" belongs to the very select group of movies that have left me scratching my head and wondering what creative genius comes up with these ideas.  Seriously, it's an absolutely brilliant concept.  And a well-executed one to boot.  If you haven't yet heard about this gem of a movie, here's a synopsis.  "Wreck-It Ralph" follows video game character Ralph (voiced by John C. Reilly), who is tired of being overshadowed by Fix-It Felix (voiced by Jack McBrayer), the "good guy" star of their game who always gets to save the day.  After decades of doing the same thing and seeing all the glory go to Felix, Ralph decides he's tired of playing the role of a bad guy.  He takes matters into his own massive hands and sets off on a game-hopping journey across the arcade through every generation of video games to prove he's got what it takes to be a hero.  On his quest to shake his bad guy persona, Ralph meets the tough-as-nails Sergeant Calhoun (voiced by Jane Lynch) from the action game "Hero's Duty," and develops an unlikely friendship with the feisty glitch-plagued Vanellope von Schweetz (voiced by Sarah Silverman) from the cart racing game "Sugar Rush," whose candy-coated world is threatened when Ralph accidentally tracks in with him a deadly enemy that threatens the entire arcade. 

If you grew up playing Atari and classic arcade games, you're going to get a huge kick out of this movie, which references characters (Q*bert, anyone?) and games (including Pac-Man, of course) that have long since been replaced with high-tech mega jaunts, but which nevertheless retain a special place in the heart of a generation of gamers.  Older kids and teens will likely love the nod to more contemporary games, and everyone will appreciate the clever dialogue, well-executed action scenes and stellar signature Disney animation.  Each role in the movie is perfectly cast, with Sarah Silverman really stealing the show as the quirky misfit Vanellope.  Sadie and I were fortunate enough to see the movie in Disney Digital 3D, and while the 3D features certainly weren't necessary to enjoy the movie, they definitely enhanced our experience.  "Wreck-It Ralph" is quite violent in parts (especially during the scenes when Ralph wanders into the military-themed "Hero's Duty" game), which likely is reflective of the violent video games on the market these days and thus perhaps a bit too mature for someone Sadie's age (although she seemed unfazed by it, which perhaps should bother me!), so if your little one is on the more fearful side, this might not be a perfect fit.  But for the majority of audiences, "Wreck-It Ralph" provides a fun-filled romp that pays homage to a classic pastime in a humorous and innovative way. 

"Wreck-It Ralph" opens in theaters everywhere on November 2nd and can be seen in Disney Digital 3D in select theaters.  For more information, and for fun "Wreck-It Ralph" activities, visit the official "Wreck-It Ralph" website.