Ratchet & Clank Christian Movie Review (2016)

Guidance: Low Concern

This animated sci-fi adventure stays in family-movie territory, but it includes repeated weaponized peril, planet destruction, and a few darker comic moments. Its strongest family discussion value comes from contrasting empty fame with courage, humility, and doing what is right.

Why This Guidance Level

The main concern here is not explicit content so much as the steady stream of sci-fi danger: planets are destroyed, villains talk casually about mass destruction, and several action scenes put characters in comic but real peril. The film otherwise remains fairly light, with little sexual material or strong language, and it offers worthwhile conversation points about pride, courage, and what makes someone a true hero.

Faith & Worldview Perspective

Ratchet & Clank leans toward a familiar family-film message: real heroism is not mainly about image, fame, or self-promotion, but about courage and choosing the good of others. That lines up in part with biblical humility and service. The film’s world is secular and action-driven rather than spiritually reflective, so parents may want to connect its better instincts to the fuller Christian picture that true courage and sacrificial service are grounded in truth and hope in Jesus Christ, not just personal ambition or public applause. Parents may want to discuss the difference between wanting to be admired and wanting to faithfully serve.

Truths Reflected

• Humility matters more than image and celebrity.
• Courage is shown by doing what is right for others in the face of danger.

Tensions to Discuss

• The story treats heroism mainly as personal bravery and achievement, which may need discussion because Christian hope centers on character formed under the lordship of Jesus Christ, not just success or status.
• Some authority figures are played for satire or incompetence, which may conflict with a biblical view of honoring authority wisely and may be worth discussing with children.

Content & Discernment Markers

Occult & Spiritual Content

• Occult material does not stand out here. The story uses science-fiction technology, alien worlds, and exaggerated villainy rather than magic, spellcasting, or spiritual instruction.

Sexuality & Relationships

• Sexual content is not a meaningful feature of the film. Relationships are not a major focus, and the humor in the available scenes is not sexualized.

Identity Themes

• Ratchet’s desire to become a Galactic Ranger ties identity to achievement and recognition at first. That can open a useful family conversation about whether our worth comes from applause or from faithful character before God.

Violence & Intensity

• A major villain announces, “Commence deplanetization! Ready the Deplanetizer!” and a news report follows with, “Planet Tenemule is no more.” The destruction is presented in animated sci-fi style, but the idea is still large-scale mass destruction that younger children may find intense.
• The villain also speaks casually about attacking the Galactic Rangers first and destroying them, framing violence as strategic and ruthless. Parents may want to discuss how evil often sounds polished or efficient while still being evil.
• A repair scene turns into comic danger when Ratchet’s modifications send a customer careening out of control. The dialogue includes panicked lines like “Hit the brakes! Those aren’t the brakes!” and “I’m too old to die!” The sequence is slapstick, but the fear and crash peril are real enough for sensitive viewers.
• One darkly comic moment implies off-screen violence when Chairman Drek has Victor deal with Stanley for texting during a speech. After growling, Stanley says “Mommy,” and the phone call reports “heavy breathing” and “chewing,” suggesting he has been attacked or eaten. The humor is brief, but it is darker than the rest of the film’s tone.

Language & Humour

• Language is generally mild. The sharper material is mostly insults or put-downs such as “small-time nobody,” along with sarcastic banter and frantic shouting during action scenes.

Other Content Notes

• The film satirizes celebrity hero culture through Captain Qwark’s polished recruitment messaging and image-driven presentation. That can be a helpful contrast point for Christian families: flashy confidence is not the same as godly character.
• There is some mild gross-out humor in the villain scene involving “heavy breathing” and “chewing,” played for a laugh even though it implies harm.

Notable Moments

• Planet destroyed: The villain launches a weapon and a news report confirms that a planet has been destroyed, establishing the scale of danger in the story.

  “Commence deplanetization! Ready the Deplanetizer!… Planet Tenemule is no more.”

• Dark comic threat: A texting subordinate is seemingly attacked off-screen by Victor, with the joke conveyed through growling, a frightened call to his mother, and chewing sounds.

  “I hear heavy breathing and… Ew! And chewing!”

• Comic crash peril: Ratchet’s reckless repair demonstration spirals into a dangerous runaway sequence with panic and near-collision humor.

  “Hit the brakes! Hit the brakes! Those aren’t the brakes!”

• Dreams and humility: Ratchet expresses a desire for bigger purpose, while Grim answers with caution about disappointment, setting up the film’s heroism theme.

  “I’ve always dreamt of being a Galactic Ranger, doing big things, like Captain Qwark!… Dream smaller. It leads to less disappointment.”

Discussion Prompts

• What makes a real hero?: Do you think a hero is someone famous and impressive, or someone who does what is right even when nobody notices?
  • Biblical guidance: Scripture points children toward humility and service rather than chasing praise. Jesus Christ shows true greatness through sacrificial love.
  • Scripture: Mark 10:43-45, Philippians 2:3-8
• Courage versus recklessness: When did Ratchet act bravely, and when did he act carelessly? How can we tell the difference?
  • Biblical guidance: Biblical courage is not impulsive showing off; it is wise, steady obedience to what is good.
  • Scripture: Joshua 1:9, Proverbs 19:2
• How evil can look normal: Why is it unsettling when the villain talks calmly and confidently about destroying others?
  • Biblical guidance: Sin often presents itself as clever or efficient, but God calls evil what it is and values every life.
  • Scripture: Isaiah 5:20, Genesis 9:6
• Where identity comes from: Have you ever wanted to be noticed or admired the way Ratchet wants to be a Ranger? What should matter more than recognition?
  • Biblical guidance: A Christian’s identity is not built on status or applause but on being known by God and living faithfully in Christ.
  • Scripture: Galatians 1:10, Colossians 3:23-24