Ratchet and Clank ***

Unless you’re a PlayStation fan, the names Ratchet and Clank will fail to register. They are, however, the established animated stars of a sci-fi gaming franchise and now, of a family movie of the same name. Gamers will find nothing new with the big-screen outing. But kids seem to respond to the characters, which are made for a big-screen adventure. Just as well as this is all it takes to will them – and the film – along on its (rather predictable) trajectory.

Squirrel/cat cross Ratchet (voiced by James Arnold Taylor) works at a garage but longs for the day he can join the much lauded Galactic Rangers who defend the Solana Galaxy. He gets his chance to try out for the crew but fails to impress.

Meanwhile, an evil alien called Chairman Drek (Paul Giamatti) is intent on destroying all the planets, with the help of a robotic army created by sidekick Dr Nefarious (Armin Shimerman). One defective robot called Clank (David Kaye) encounters Ratchet, and the two join forces to stop Drek on his dastardly mission.

This rehash of the popular gaming plots is both a comfort and a curse – great to see something familiar played out on film but lazy in ideas when the writers really needed to deliver fresh ones to rival a Pixar production, say. In its defence, they have merely recreated the environment fans are used to seeing Ratchet and Clank in, so it’s hardly surprising either.

Like all family films, everything is on speed, including the leads. Thankfully, the studio decided not to cash in on family 3D ticket prices or they would have had to dish out painkillers afterwards for the oldies. It also means small kids can enjoy the frenetic pace without tackling over-sized 3D specs throughout.

Though the film delivers absolutely nothing new – in fact, it’s like watching a hyper-animated Star Wars version of WALL.E at times, it does have some funny lines and observations to keep adults sane and chuckling. For example, the culture of texting every detail of one’s existence gets a ribbing here, though the joke becomes as tired as Dad’s puns in the end.

Ratchet and Clank themselves cannot fail to be likeable, with the latter and his grounded principles a great role model for the kiddies and sporting new converts straight after the viewing – much like WALL.E did. Drek and Dr Nefarious are carbon ‘baddie’ copies from other films but have enough collective villainy to satisfy the average plot – and Giamatti and Shimerman obviously had fun bringing them to life.

Ratchet and Clank is an enjoyable but too safe reproduction (in effects and plotline) designed to introduce newbies to the characters – as the ending suggests a follow-up is on the cards. They do get you on side straightway with their infectious enthusiasm to put wrongs to right. Now we’ve met them, can we please give our unlikely heroes a meatier, more substantial adventure to go on next time around?

3/5 stars

By @FilmGazer

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