I still remember the glorious early days of the PlayStation 2 and all of the amazing games arriving. At the time, it was a thrill to be watching television, and see the commercial for a new PlayStation game. it was a time when video games weren’t quite as accepted as they are today, and a time well before Youtube. Among the dozens of commercials, for games like Grand Theft Auto and Metal Gear Solid 2, Ratchet and Clank made its appearance. The commercial featured a bunched of young adults, filming their use of a zany weapon from the franchise, including the chickenator.
It was around this time when I got around to buying the original game in 2002. From its humor to the amazing, colorful space fiction world, I was absolutely hooked. The levels were varied, the comedy was funny, and the action was thrilling. It had the light-heartedness of Futurama with the attitude of an action game. I became a fan ever since and have always appreciated the franchise, especially as the studio, Insomniac Games, who lent their weapon building talents into the Resistance Trilogy on the PlayStation 3. To give a perspective, many have regarded the Ratchet and Clank franchise as the closest thing to a Pixar movie without being made by Pixar. Among gamers, the franchise has been lauded and praised as important and culturally influential, in the world of video games.
Seeing that there is now a full-fledged Ratchet and Clank animated movie filled me with excitement! For the first time in a long while, a movie, based off a game, was arriving in theaters. This was the opportunity for audiences and moviegoers to get their glimpse into a world brought together by gamers and their passionate loyalty to an entire gaming universe. The end result, while flawed, was very entertaining.
Ratchet and Clank is a movie, based off the PlayStation franchise, to which has lasted for more than a decade. Celebrating the universe and the fans of that universe, Ratchet and Clank, the movie, hopes to engage both fans and general audiences alike. The movie was animated by Rainmaker Entertainment, the makers of such classic animated franchise such as Beast Wars: Transformers, and ReBoot. With support from Sony PlayStation and Insomniac Games, Ratchet and Clank aims to be itself and be different in a movie world of Superheroes and comic adaptations. For fans of the games, PlayStation gamers, and those looking for a general film going experience, Ratchet and Clank is entertaining. Though, for those that are avid about the galactic duo’s adventures and those that are experienced with other animated films, the experience will leave audiences wanting more.
For fans of the beloved franchise, all of the elements that made the video game franchise such a smash hit are here. Crazy weapons, witty humor, interesting characters, solid voice work, all make it on-screen. The games were always lauded for the visual splendor and designs, all of which make it on-screen. Rainmaker Entertainment did an incredible job with re-creating the galactic color palette the series is known for. The films protagonists, Ratchet and Clank, look just as they do in the games, with sharp details and textures. The other characters such as Chairmen Drek and Captain Quark all look solid for their theatrical debut. The movie also has a diversified setting. Our heroes travel into space and to other worlds, giving more life to the galaxy to which it is set in.
Ratchet and Clank also features a solid array of voice-casting as well. Distinguish voice actors James Arnold Taylor and David Kaye reprise their roles as Ratchet and Clank respectively, delivering a passionate performance to their characters. Paul Giamatti voiced Chairmen Drek, to a solid performance as well. Surprisingly, John Goodman, famous for his role as James P Sullivan in Monsters, Inc, finds himself as Grimmroth Razz in a supporting role. Furthermore, Sylvester Stallone is the voice of Chairmen Drek’s combat robot, Victor.
The movie was made for fans by fans, and viewers will see plenty of nods to PlayStation, as well as other Ratchet and Clank games. Mentions of other adventures and even subtle hints in the writing make this a movie that fans will most certainly enjoy. One instance that I enjoyed, in particular, was a clever use of the PlayStation bootup sound effect that was most profoundly heard when powering on the original PlayStation. Another was a clever use of the classic Wilhelm” scream, that movie enthusiasts are familiar with. Various things happen throughout the course of the film, never leaving a dull moment. There is plenty of action and humor, as well as a fluidity to the world. However, Ratchet and Clank does suffer from a rather critical flaw, and that is a lack of focus.
Ratchet and Clank suffers from a lack of focus in the story. While the movie is entertaining and has a nice story arc, the movie doesn’t focus on the unique friendship between Ratchet and Clank. In a sense, the movie suffers from the symptoms that plagued The Amazing Spiderman 2 and Batman v Superman. That symptom was simply over-stuffing too much content in such a short runtime. The movie runs for 90 minutes, which allows for subplots about Ratchet’s origins, Dr Nefarious, the galactic rangers, to be dotted throughout the film. Because of this, it becomes rather disappointing that the focus didn’t remain on the friendship between Ratchet and Clank, which is the movie’s title. The two have plenty of time on-screen, but not enough together. The focus of the series was the bond these two shared. While that is there, the lack of focus doesn’t set up enough for us to see why the movie is called Ratchet and Clank. Perhaps this is in the hopeful setup for future installments, which the movie does tease during the credits. However, it simply becomes too stuffed. As a fan that was enjoying the movie, this lack of focus is underwhelming
Ratchet and Clank’s release sets a waypoint for other, non-established animated films. Rainmaker Entertainment has a Sly Cooper movie in the pipeline, in addition to a resurrection of the classic ReBoot TV series. While Ratchet and Clank does stumble in its focus on story-telling, it does strike a solid ground in the opening of a larger universe, as well as the hopes for more films of this nature to happen. From its solid animation to its entertaining story and good action, Ratchet and Clank represents a solid leap in bringing the world of video games to everyone.