Rating summary

Movie		3.5
Video		5.0
Audio		5.0
Extras		1.0
Overall		3.5

Ratchet & Clank Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Martin Liebman August 13, 2016

While PlayStation fans eagerly await the long-anticipated film featuring the adventures of Uncharted's famed explorer Nathan Drake, another of the brand's exclusive franchises, Ratchet & Clank, made the leap to the silver screen instead. While none of the PlayStation's game brands enjoy quite the same broad appeal and name recognition as many of those owned by Nintendo and even Microsoft, many of Sony's in-house games seem naturals for the screen, including Ratchet & Clank, and particularly in the era of the cinematic digital revolution. Ratchet & Clank started life back on the PlayStation 2 game console in 2002 and has since spawned numerous sequels over the years. The 3D platforming action game franchise is easily one of PlayStation's most recognizable names, but would its popularity amongst Sony console enthusiasts result in a good return at the box office? Apparently not. Despite a tremendous amount of polish, high end digital animation, nice touches to the games, exciting Sci-Fi action, and a fun and tidy pace, the film was a box office flop, failing to regain even its modest $20,000,000 budget. That's a shame, because the movie works well enough as an enjoyable standalone feature and a fan-friendly compliment to its button-pressing franchise.

New friends.

The Galactic Rangers need help! With the Blarg threat clear and four planets destroyed at the hands of the evil Chairman Drek (voiced by Paul Giamatti) and Dr. Nefarious (voiced by Armin Shimerman), Rangers leader Captain Qwark (voiced Jim Ward) holds open tryouts for anyone who thinks they have what it takes to join the galaxy's most heroic foursome. Amongst the eager hopefuls is Ratchet (voiced by James Arnold Taylor), a one-of-a-kind creature -- a "Lombax" -- who dreams of fighting alongside his favorite galactic heroes. Unfortunately, Qwark is not in the least bit impressed with him. He's too reckless, dangerous, and small to make a great Ranger. Ratchet dejectedly returns to work at a mechanic shop operated by his friend Grimroth Razz (voiced by John Goodman), but fortune smiles on him when he rescues a small robot that was defectively manufactured for Drek's evil purposes but escaped before it could be destroyed. He carries information vital to the safety of the Rangers and the universe: an invasion is coming, and Qwark needs to know. Now. Ratchet calls the little 'bot "Clank" (voiced by David Kaye) and the two set off for adventure in what may be Ratchet's one and only chance to prove his worth to his heroes and save the day from unspeakable evil.

Ratchet & Clank does suffer from a serious case of unoriginality. The story is simple and borrows from a galaxy's worth of cliché and characterizations. Star Wars is a clear inspiration, from wipes to a scene clearly molded after The Phantom Menace's pod race. That's not even to mention the planet-destroying space station and a small robot that carries information of critical importance to saving the galaxy. The story centers on the heroic arc of a nobody with big dreams who, alongside a helpful robotic companion, plays a large part in the heroics necessary to win the day. That basic story of the hero's rise, his fall to self doubt and fears of failure, and return to glory to save the day hardly inspires or engages the imagination. But the movie is plenty fun. It's simple, yes, and rather lean, but it's well done and enjoyable thanks to a playful presentation and occasionally inspired zany moments of comedy, exciting action, and quality character camaraderie. The film never wants for a laugh, often through exaggeration, and it counterbalances its levity with just enough action and character depth -- particularly in, and between, Ratchet and Qwark -- to give the movie a full, complete feel, doing well enough to mask the warts and emphasize the good-time vibe that oozes from most every scene.

Yet much the same can be said of many of the recent releases in the surge of digitally animated films. It's still a wonder the movie didn't perform better than it did simply on character cuteness and general approachability. Whether it was poor marketing, character obscurity, release window, or a general rejection from the core video gaming audience is anyone's guess. No matter the reason, it's safe to say the movie deserved a better fate. It's no diamond in the rough, but it is entertaining and, for fans of the game franchise, there's plenty of reasons to be excited. The movie captures many of the same easygoing narratives alongside over-exaggerated humor blended with over-the-top action. Many familiar characters pop up, including a cameo from Mr. Zurkon(s). Bolt and ammo crates dot almost every environment, but never are they seen broken. Familiar weapons and places are commonplace. Technical construction is stellar, too. It's every bit as big, detailed, and lovingly put together as most any other of the recent digital behemoths that racked up many more box office dollars. It's certainly a curious case of failure for a movie of this type, particularly as it stands, in this reviewer's opinion, as one of the finer video game-based cinematic ventures out there.

Ratchet & Clank Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Ratchet & Clank's 1080p transfer is nothing short of gorgeous perfection. Universal's presentation captures the finest animated textures and smallest details with incredible ease and proficiency. The image is extraordinarily clear and crisp. The finest metallic surface wear -- on Clank and Victor Von Ion in particular -- are amongst the transfer's best assets. Clothing is likewise amazing, including the meshy fabric on part of Qwark's uniform and some of the more leathery surfaces on Ratchet's. The hero's furs is likewise fine and impeccably presented, yielding an appreciable complexity that's evident in every close-up. Colors are also superb. Qwark green, enemy red, Lombax yellow. All of it pops and dazzles in every scene. Even some of the more shadowy moments can't keep the palette from springing off the screen. Black levels are perfectly deep. Banding appears in extremely fine traces but it's a struggle to spot. Otherwise, there are no problem areas to report. It's a shame Universal didn't release this alongside a UHD version. It would be interesting to see how it could possibly improve on a practically flawless 1080p presentation.

Ratchet & Clank Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Ratchet & Clank's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack is every bit as good as the 1080p video, and a wonderful compliment to the movie. Even without the added value and support of extra rear and/or overhead channels, there are few, if any, gaps in coverage. Space ships zip from front to back with seamless imaging. Ditto laser gun fire. Clanking and clunking metal sounds amazingly detailed and realistic. Surrounds are frequently active and alive with minor atmospherics and big-time action like. Music floats through with impressive spacing and easy immersion. Surrounds and subwoofer are engaged in perfect complimentary proportion. The Ranger tryouts celebration is a reference quality moment where lively dance music, surrounding chatter, cheering crowds, popping fireworks, and other elements mix together in perfect harmony. Dialogue delivery is center focused, perfectly prioritized, and lifelike in clarity. Nothing wrong here.

Ratchet & Clank Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Ratchet & Clank contains two featurettes. A DVD copy of the film and a voucher for a UV/iTunes digital copy code are included with purchase.

• Ratchet & Clank: A Hero's Journey (1080p, 7:32): Cast and crew discuss the movie's themes and Ratchet's character growth.
• Ratchet & Clank: Leveling Up (1080p, 4:21): This supplement begins with highlights from the Ratchet & Clank PS4 game and follows on with a quick look at the movie's structure and the blurring of the line between the movie and game, while still displaying moments from the game.
• Previews (1080p): Additional Universal titles.

Ratchet & Clank Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Ratchet & Clank is certainly no bastion of originality, but it's a lot of fun. Whether those coming from the games or fresh to the universe, there's plenty to like here, from the gut-busting humor to the top-line digital construction. The movie is better than its box office bomb stats suggest. Be sure to watch out for a Sly Cooper cameo (who is also getting his own movie) and one of the most creative "Wilhelm Scream" moments in movie history. Universal's Blu-ray features spectacular picture and sound. Supplements are minimal. Recommended.