Ratchet and Clank

Films based on video games have historically not been very well received. A lot of this is probably down to the focus on game-play, rather than story, but somehow Ratchet and Clank works. The film is essentially a retelling of the events of the first game, released in 2002 for the PS2. It follows Ratchet, a cat-like alien, as he meets Clank and teams up with the Galactic Rangers to stop the evil schemes of Chairman Drek and Doctor Nefarious. For fans, it’s a pretty tight adaptation, though there are a few changes. For kids, it’s a dream. 

The world of Ratchet and Clank is brightly coloured and the animation is great; what’s really winning here, though, is the movie’s sense of humour. Ratchet and Clank takes the original series’ slightly wry sense of humour and runs with it, throwing in a more modern jokes and few wink-wink moments for the audience. A lot of the humour is definitely aimed at a younger audience and it’s the type that kids will eat up, but there are a few moments of pure gold. The voice cast is interesting and varied: Paul Giamatti steps up as Chairman Drek, Bella Thorne and Rosario Dawson voice rangers Cora and Elaris respectively, and Sylvester Stallone has a role as Drek’s lieutenant. James Arnold Taylor reprises his role from the games as Ratchet, and he’s great in the role, but the character is the kind of earnest, heart-of-gold hero who’s pretty dull compared with the rest of the cast.

It’s by no means a masterpiece of comedy, but the film has a certain sense of humour about itself and a kind of naive sweetness that makes it a fun space romp, bursting with character and charm.

 

Natasha Furlong

Ratchet and Clank is released nationwide on 29^th April 2016

Watch the trailer for Ratchet and Clank here: