In honor of the release of Wreck-It Ralph, Disney has produced a twenty-eight minute mockumentary based on the Fix-It Felix, Jr. game from the film. The whole video is up on the official Disney YouTube channel for Wreck-It Ralph. When I first came across it I wasn’t sure that I was willing to commit the time to it but just minutes in the little short film drew me in.
The mockumentary tells the story of Garlan Hulse, a middle aged man who once upon a time set the world record for Fix-It Felix, Jr. It chronicles his short rise to fame and how quickly he fell into obscurity. Within just six weeks of setting the world record his best friend from school nearly doubled the score. For the past thirty years Garlan has been working dead-end jobs, living with his mother, and lamenting the loss of the one good thing that had ever happened to him. When his former boss hooks up an old Fix-It Felix, Jr. cabinet in the lobby of his car wash it seems that fate is offering him a second chance. But it’s not that simple. A lot of things happen to thwart his efforts to beat the current record and a lot of characters from his past – including Diane, the girl of his dreams who left him for the best friend that had shattered his record. It’s definitely very much a mockumentary and it pokes fun at the various characters – Garlan especially. But it also ends on an up note that will have you smiling.
It has also has some great moments – such as Garlan’s mother’s reaction to his plans to try and set the high score on Fix-It Felix, Jr. all over again – and the dialogue has some gems like this one:
“I couldn’t celebrate Christmas for ten years because I didn’t want any other garland in my life but you!”
“There’s no D in my name.”
“It’s a silent D.”
“There’s no D.”
You won’t regret giving this little short a half hour of you life. And, honestly, I think Rich Moore missed his falling. He’s a fantastic narrator. He hasn’t done a lot of work in front of the camera but he did voice Zangief in the film. His other credits are pretty impressive, too.
If you’re interested in watching a real documentary in the same vein, check out the original inspiration for Garlan Hulse’s story: King of Kong: A Fistful of Quarters.
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