HOLLYWOOD'S turbulent relationship with the video gaming industry has frequently ended in tears, including forgettable big-screen renderings of the Mortal Kombat, Tomb Raider, Resident Evil, Silent Hill and Hitman franchises.
The visceral thrill of assuming control of a digitised protagonist, whose destiny is literally in your hands, can't be replicated at 24 frames per second.
This year promises four films inspired by hugely popular games including The Angry Birds Movie, Warcraft and Assassin's Creed, and the 2016 onslaught begins with Kevin Munroe and Jericca Cleland's computer-animated romp.
Ratchet & Clank is an energetic battle beyond the stars that affirms anyone can have a positive impact on the world.
"To be a hero, you don't have to do big things, just the right ones," sermonises one of the otherworldly characters, trumpeting a message of self-belief and courage that is hardwired into the linear and simplistic script.
There's no quibbling with the film's worthy intentions. It's just a shame that the quality of the animation, vocal performances and narrative sophistication couldn't have strived for greatness too.
Ratchet (voiced by James Arnold Taylor) is a furry, cat-like creature called a Lombax, who works as a mechanic on Planet Veldin in the Solana Galaxy, in a ramshackle workshop owned by his mentor and surrogate father, Grimroth (John Goodman).
While he may be a wizard with a wrench, Ratchet openly dreams of becoming a laser gun-wielding Galactic Ranger like his idols, Captain Qwark (Jim Ward), Cora (Bella Thorne) and Brax (Vincent Tong).
"Dream smaller, it leads to less disappointment," counsels Grimroth tenderly.
Unperturbed, Ratchet attends a trial for the Rangers.
"You may not have this chiselled jaw or God-given pectoral region but if you have heart, you may have what it takes," beams Qwark encouragingly to prospective candidates.
Soon after, diabolical Chairman Drek (Paul Giamatti) and his hulking robotic henchman Victor (Sylvester Stallone) invade Veldin with their war bots.
Ratchet and his cute mechanised sidekick Clank (David Kaye) unexpectedly save the day and their gallantry is rewarded with promotion to the esteemed ranks of the Galactic Rangers, which sows the seeds of Captain Qwark's jealousy.
Chairman Drek and his chief scientist, Doctor Nefarious (Armin Shimerman), exploit these divisions to destroy the Galactic Rangers from within before they unleash their aptly named superweapon: the Deplanetizer.
Ratchet & Clank is a solid and broadly comic introduction to the eponymous champions, who have appeared on various PlayStation platforms.
Locations, weapons and flimsy plot threads from the games are merrily woven together into a conventional clash between good and evil.
Heroes are immensely likeable and pantomime villains cackle at regular intervals as they set their fatally flawed schemes in motion.
Munroe and Cleland's picture encourages us to dream big, but its ambitions are extremely limited.
RATCHET & CLANK (U, 94 mins) Animation/Sci-Fi/Comedy. Featuring the voices of James Arnold Taylor, David Kaye, Jim Ward, Bella Thorne, Vincent Tong, Paul Giamatti, Sylvester Stallone, Armin Shimerman, John Goodman. Directors: Kevin Munroe, Jericca Cleland
RATING: THREE STARS
