Ralph, Vanellope, Felix, and the rest of the arcade gang are back for more adventures in the latest Walt Disney Animation Studios release: Ralph Breaks the Internet! Sequels can be a tricky thing. Viewers don’t want waste our time sitting through a thinly veiled attempt by the studios to make some cash. We want the return to a specific set of characters or universe to have independent value. I can confidently say that Ralph Breaks the Internet validates its existence very quickly, providing audiences with a clever story and an impressive message. 

Six years after the events of the original film, we find our video game heroes thriving in Litwak’s Family Fun Center and Arcade. Ralph and Vanellope have become inseparable best friends, but the predictability of their daily routine has started to wear on the Sugar Rush racer. Ralph’s attempt to mix things up for his bestie ends in disaster when Sugar Rush game breaks and cannot be repaired without a rare replacement part. The duo sets out to find the place called “Ebay” in the hopes of restoring the racing game before it is sent to the scrap heap forever. After experiencing the perils of online bidding, Ralph and Vanellope search for a way to make some money to pay for the item before their bid times out. With a little help from a pop-up advertiser named J.P. Spamley, they are tasked with acquiring a high value car from an online racing game called “Slaughter Race.” In an internet full of potential opportunities, Vanellope realizes she can dream bigger than staying at Litwak’s with the other arcade characters. Can Ralph come up with a way to convince Vanellope to return home with him before she decides to stay in Slaughter Race forever?

 

Ralph Breaks the Internet features the returning voice talents of John C. Reilly (Wreck-It Ralph), Sarah Silverman (Vanellope von Schweetz), Jane Lynch (Sergeant Calhoun), Jack McBrayer (Fix-It Felix Jr), Ed O’Neill (Mr. Litwak) and Alan Tudyk (KnowsMore). Reilly and Silverman once again stand out as a fantastic team, delivering some surprisingly emotional moments. Lynch and McBrayer are sidelined a bit in this adventure but still got in some of the best laugh out loud moments of the film. Tudyk returns to the world of Wreck-It Ralph, but this time takes on a new character named KnowsMore. This search engine turned ally was a solid addition to this universe, and was a great personification of this element of the internet. Once in the World Wide Web, they encounter characters voiced by Gal Gadot (Shank), Taraji P. Henson (Yesss), Bill Hader (J.P. Spamley), Alfred Molina (Double Dan), and John DiMaggio (Arthur – The Insecurity Virus). Gadot stole all her scenes as Shank, and her friendship and admiration of Vanellope added to some of the best character moments of this story. As if those names weren’t impressive enough, the creative team united all of the Disney Princesses to reprise their characters. This includes Jennifer Hale (Cinderella), Kate Higgins (Aurora), Jodi Benson (Ariel), Paige O’Haraas (Belle), Linda Larkin (Jasmine), Irene Bedard (Pocahontas), Ming-Na Wen (Mulan), Anika Noni Rose (Tiana), Mandy Moore (Rapunzel), and Kelly Macdonald (Merida), Kristen Bell (Anna), Idina Menzel (Elsa) and Auliʻi Cravalho (Moana). Fear not, the Princesses were not relegated to cameo status, but were given the opportunity to save the day and play a crucial role in the film. Challenging gender stereotypes and “damsel in distress” archetypes, Ralph Breaks the Internet provided these heroines with a chance to change perceptions on the historical portrayal of these particular Disney characters. If we don’t get a spin-off featuring this group, Disney would be missing out on a unique opportunity.

 

 

The first installment in the Wreck-It Ralph universe focused primarily on the world of video games, but the creative team took a different approach in the sequel and created a visual depiction of the what the internal workings of the internet could be. The ebbs and flows of the World Wide Web were masterfully crafted into a behind the scenes universe. From KnowsMore to Spam Pop-Ups to Viral Videos, the creative team and animators made sure that every element was not only justified but well executed. 

Aside from the stellar voice acting and amazing detail work from the animation team, the thing that most impressed me about this particular story was the underlying message about friendship in a digital age. Ralph and Vanellope both have very different dreams and goals, but it doesn’t mean that they can’t remain friends. This story focuses on personal growth, the challenges of moving away from your friends, but also how we as a society remain connected by the amazing technology that we have at our fingertips. I felt that this was a great message to share with kids that can also ring true for adults. 

Without spoiling anything, the social commentary included during the first post-credit scene had me dying of laughter. The process of marketing a film and the final product can sometimes go in different directions, and since this movie heavily featured internet culture as a whole, it was the perfect way to add one more layer of commentary and humor. 

While a majority of the film worked for me, not every element is perfect. I know that I am not necessarily the target demographic for the film, but with so much effort spent establishing the rules of the Internet, it felt odd that those elements were so easily discarded in order to wrap everything up with a nice bow for convenience sake. While this did not ruin the movie by any means, it was just felt like a weak point in an otherwise well thought out production.

Ralph Breaks the Internet is a worthy sequel to Wreck-It Ralph, but manages to stand alone as a story as well. Everyone involved with this production deserves praise for the well developed worlds, characters, and messages that led to the final product. This is a very unique story and it is well worth your time and money.