Ratchet and Clank (U): Reviewed

I’m often filled with some trepidation when going to see the movie version of a popular video game.

The studios very rarely pull it off and the audience end up being bitterly disappointed.

The movie is based on a Playstation 4  ‘Shoot ‘Em Up’ Space adventure called Ratchet and Crank.

Ratchet (voiced by James Arnold Taylor) is last remaining Lombax, a sort of raccoon type animal who works as a mechanic with his Guardian Grimroth (voiced by John Goodman). But he aspires to joining the Galactic Rangers, a collection of hero characters who fight for justice in a Galaxy far far away.

Ratchet wants to be just like his long time hero Captain Qwark (Jim Ward) an upstanding but narcissistic action man who is also aided by two curvaceous young women Cora (Bella Thorn) and Elaris (Rosario Dawson) plus a big strange creature in Ranger costume.

Ratchet wins a trial to be part of the Galactic Rangers and finds himself indoctrinated into the team along with a little robot friend called Clank (David Kaye).

The Rangers are tasked with stopping a mad evil alien named Chairman Drek (Paul Giamatti) and his giant robot bodyguard (Sylvester Stallone)  from destroying every planet in the Solana Galaxy. Drek has a dangerous weapon capable of destroying entire planets, and The Galactic Rangers are the only ones who can save the Galaxy.

It’s not the most original plot and unfortunately it doesn’t really expand on this. The storyline is very flimsy and confusing in parts. I think it may be a case of gamers knowing more that the average cinema goer who’s not savvy to the Playstation game.

The main problem is that the filmmakers appear to be trying far too hard to be funny with too many one liners but alas many of the quips fall flat. There is an odd sub plot with one of the characters switching sides and the introduction of a second evil alien called Dr. Nefarious (Armin Shimerman)

It’s a shame that the film seems so devoid of any character development or message and has no heart. This is the type of film that Disney would have grabbed by the horns and made it a successful cross over with enough clever and well thought out gags and characterisation to please adults and children alike.

It’s not as if this film didn’t have enough voice talent with the likes of Paul Giamatti, Sly Stallone, Rosario Dawson and John Goodman.

It didn’t do it for me but then again I’m probably not the target audience.

In cinemas from April 29.