As we continue to progress farther into the digital age, video game culture is becoming increasingly more prevalent, and who better to put this culture into film than Disney?

Wreck-It Ralph is the bad guy of the retro arcade game Fix-It Felix Jr. His one and only job is to wreck things, something he does remarkably well. Unfortunately, Ralph doesn’t get much appreciation for his line of work and decides to leave his game in search of a hero’s medal. You can guess where things go from there: fun new characters get involved, something happens that threatens the game world and Ralph goes on a journey of self-discovery. But just because the overarching plot is predictable doesn’t mean it isn’t emotionally engaging. There are scenes that will break your heart and ones that will make you swell with joy.

John C. Reilly was the perfect choice to voice Ralph. While you may know him from goofy films like Step Brothers, he is actually a very dedicated and talented actor who always adds a healthy dose of humanity to his characters. Even being animated, Ralph is no exception, and Reilly reminds us that nobody can play the misunderstood but loveable loner like him. The supporting characters are just as great, especially Jane Lynch as the tough-as-nails military sergeant who’s been programmed with the most tragic back-story ever.

Don’t get me wrong, “Wreck-It Ralph” is about video games, but you don’t have to be a gamer to enjoy the movie. Sure, it’s littered with gaming Easter eggs, cameos and references, but it’s never enough to distract from the story or the characters, and it doesn’t alienate those who have never picked up a controller in their life. I will say though, if you are a gamer, you’re going to have a hell of a fun time picking out all of the little nods and inside jokes throughout the film.

It’s certainly not Disney’s best work. It falls into the trap of being overly action-oriented for fear of losing the attention of its young demographic. Dreamworks animation is terrible about this, and I hope Disney isn’t too keen on following suit. And unfortunately, due to most of the movie taking place inside a game called Sugar Rush, it feels like most of the action takes place in Candy Land instead of an actual video game, but overall, none of these things override the sheer fun of Wreck-It Ralph.

It’s a well-known fact that movies based on or about video games generally suck. Don’t bring up “Tron” or “Wargames.” I said “generally,” meaning the majority of them suck. Why is this? Personally, I think it’s from a lack of understanding the medium and its importance to people. Fortunately, this is exactly what “Wreck-It Ralph” gets right. The people at Disney are masters of nostalgia. They understand that, for those of us who grew up with them, characters like Mario, Samus Aran and Sonic the Hedgehog have, in a way, become the Tom Sawyers and Frodo Baggins of our generation.