Ratchet and Clank Movie Review (Spoiler Free)

Are you ready for some asteroid-kicking fun? The first feature-length film starring the video-game heroes Ratchet and Clank just landed, so get ready for launch!

Genre: Action / Animation / Sci-Fi

Director: Kevin Munroe, Jericca Cleland

Cast: James Arnold Taylor, David Kaye, Paul Giamatti, Jim Ward, Sylvester Stallone, Bella Thorne, Dean Redman, Rosario Dawson, Armin Shimerman & John Goodman.

Run Time: 94 min.

US Release: 29 April 2016

UK Release: 28 April 2016

German Release: 28 April 2016

Ratchet & Clank is a computer-animated feature film based on the successful PlayStation game franchise of the same name. I am a big fan of the games, having played the first, third and sixth instalments, and I was therefore looking forward to watching this animated feature. Kevin Munroe (who is currently filming Sly Cooper, another game adaptation) and Jerrica Cleland (cinematographer for Finding Nemo and Arthur Christmas) direct this animation, based on the duo’s first game adventure. These are some of the most popular PlayStation games that combine silly jokes, both for adults and kids, with a lot of action. The question is, does that recipe transfer well to the silver screen?

The plot is a retelling of the first game and focuses on the Lombax Ratchet (Taylor), a feline alien who dreams of becoming more than a simple starship mechanic at Grimroth’s (Goodman) shop. Meanwhile, the evil Chairman Drek (Giamatti) is using a devastating weapon that destroys planets and, with the help of Dr. Nevarious (Shimerman), develops an army of robots to combat the Galactic Rangers, an elite group of policemen who keep order throughout the galaxy. Clank (Kaye), a malfunctioning robot, is accidentally created and is shot down on the way to warn the Rangers. He is found by Ratchet, and together, they set upon an adventure to save the Galaxy.

Sadly, this film isn’t exactly what I was hoping for, which surprises me because I thought that if there is any chance for a good movie adaptation of this video game, it would be as an animated flick. Yet, Ratchet & Clank’s biggest issue is that it has a completely forgettable premise! I am writing this mere hours after watching it in cinemas and am already experiencing problems remembering parts of the plot, especially things that happen during the second and third act. An explanation for this is that the story is not that interesting, lacking emotion. A shame because the games always had entertaining value plus heart.

The uninspired story is not the only reason for this animation’s indifference. A big factor contributing to the narrative’s blandness is its messy structure. As with Batman v Superman, there is way too much going on for a film with such a short runtime, which is distracting!

That said, it contains some redeeming aspects, especially if you are a fan of the games! Ratchet & Clank retains its fun and humorous tone throughout the movie’s length, using a lot of funny pop culture references, including a hilarious scene that pays tribute to the Wilhelm scream. Children and adults alike will have fun with the in-jokes, especially because a lot of them have double meaning. I also like how the story stays true to the source for the largest part, retaining its juvenile soul, while other aspects are modified to suit the narrative.

The cast and characters work mostly to the film’s benefit, and I was really happy to see that the studio kept the main voice actors of the games. This retains a familiarity between fans of the franchise and the characters, so that the audience wouldn’t need to re-adapt to new voices. Minor characters, on the other hand, are bestowed with the voices of Hollywood's better-known stars, spicing up the casting roster a little bit.

James Arnold Taylor returns as Ratchet. The voice-over actor has lent his voice to the Lombax since the second game, Going Commando. As in the games, Ratchet can be quite headstrong and juvenile, getting him into trouble quite often. He doesn’t know where he is from and therefore dreams of joining the Galactic Rangers to make the galaxy a better place, to leave a positive mark in history. David Kaye voices Clank since the first game, so it is nice to hear his voice in this film. Clank has always been my favourite character of the two. He is smart, inventive and is always a true friend to Ratchet no matter what. 

Further voice actors who return to speak their roles are: Jim Ward as Captain Qwark, the most annoying character, and Armin Shimerman as the villainous Dr. Nefarious. Qwark’s story has been changed from the original in the games. He is stupid, easy to manipulate plus his big ego makes him unbearable. Nefarious feels like he is being shoehorned into the story, since he is the most prominent villain in the games. His character should have been saved for a possible sequel, instead of wasting it in this first cinematic outing.

Paul Giamatti voices the primary villain, Chairman Drek, and although he is really funny, his character isn’t fleshed out one bit, making him a mere one-dimensional baddy. Sylvester Stallone, on the other hand, plays Dreks second in command Victor Von Ion, and although his character is not explored either, it is that mystery that makes Von Ion such a threatening antagonist. Ratchet’s mentor Grimroth is portrayed by John Goodman.

The cinematography by Anthony Di Ninno is fantastic and makes for a beautiful-looking animated flick, but I went in expecting nothing else. Ratchet’s fur and eyes are depicted in all detail, and Clank's bolts, wires and metallic body look like actual metal. The few action sequences are designed magnificently, and left me in awe as I watched the spectacle unfolding in front of my eyes. The 3D-effects are merely “alright”, but I would not recommend watching it in that format, since 2D is sufficient enough.

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Verdict: The film adaptation of Ratchet & Clank is not a big disappointment, but a letdown nonetheless. The plot is a structural mess, and the main story is lacking excitement, making this a forgettable cinematic experience. However, I was happy to see the original voices of the characters return for this adaptation, and the cast in general does a convincing job, even if some of the characters aren’t sufficiently fleshed out or straight-up annoying. The animation and effects are beautiful, but the 3D-transition is barely noticeable. Overall, I believe that fans of the franchise will have some limited fun with this animation, but others might get a little bored. I will therefore give Ratchet & Clank a 6.0 out of 10!

Let me know what you think, should you decide to go and watch this flick. Did you think it holds up to the games? As always, thank you so much for reading my review & if you liked it, make sure to share and like!