Ralph Breaks the Internet Review!

At the El Capitan Theatre there was a double feature which has “living internet projections” inside the theatre until November 25th. The opening day also had a “Special Collectible Popcorn Container” in the shape of Vanellope, a “Movie Themed Screen Wipe”, and a red Cinch Backpack which contained the two items. There were Wreck-It Ralph and Vanellope photo ops as well as a Sugar Rush video game that was only for taking pictures not actual game play. 

The first Wreck-It Ralph (review on it’s way!) was screened before the new movie. Rich Moore was the director on that film and continues here with Phil Johnston who were also writers on Zootopia (2016). The screenplay is by Johnston and Pamela Ribon who also wrote Moana (2016). It features as a story by the directors, Ribon, Jim Reardon and Josie Trinidad, both writers on the Zootopia (2016) story team. It seemed like the Wreck-It Ralph 2 sub-title was attempted to be put in the title, until the filmmakers decided they didn’t need it. This is also the return of the original voice cast with new additions.   

Morning at Game Central has Wreck-It Ralph (John C. Reilly) and Vanellope (Sarah Silverman) make jokes. Ralph treasures the candy necklace medal that Vanellope made for him that says “You’e My Hero.” I absolutely loved Ralph and Vanellope playing Tron light cycles! Their days end with sharing root beers with Tapper (Maurice LaMarche) offering advice and a quick root beer thrown down the bar. It is nice to catch up with the two characters and both Reilly and Silverman really have fun and get some dramatic arc that resembles the first film. They are interrupted by something new at the Litwak Arcade, it is not a new game, but WIFI.  This is something missing from Wreck-It Ralph, a strong plot line from the beginning.  

We also get that Vanellope has become bored with the Sugar Rush game and has mastered it.  Ralph is happy with his life in the Fix-It Felix game and the Game Central world.  He goes to build a bonus level track for Vanellope’s race.  She loves the thrill of the new track and the young girl who plays the arcade game finds Vanellope is taking control and fights her over it.  This causes the game’s steering wheel controller to break.  Mr. Litwak (Ed O’Neill) finds that the game’s company is out of business and puts the out of order sign on Sugar Rush, the same thing happened with Fix-It Felix, so now it’s Vanellope’s turn.  

All of the residents of Sugar Rush flood Game Central and Fix-It Felix Jr. (Jack McBrayer) and Calhoun (Jane Lynch) decide to act as parents for the young racers.  They were good characters in the first Wreck-It Ralph, but are cameos here. Ralph is unstoppable in trying to help his friend, they overhear from one of the girl gamers that a replacement steering wheel can be found on ebay, and leads her into the forbidden Wi-Fi. It is empty until Mr. Litwak logs onto his computer. We see his icon entering a neon cab to enter Wi-Fi. Vanellope follows him and Ralph doesn’t quite fit down the Wi-Fi tunnel, it is a cyberpunk world right out of Tron (1982), with company icons like Google and made up sites like BuzzzTube.  

Vanellope and Ralph wonder at this new world and get help from the search engine, KnowsMore, I sense Alan Tudyk doing his best impression of Ed Wynn. They find the steering wheel and decide to wildly bid thousands of dollars for it, but of course don’t have any money.  The duo is reminded of the time they have to pay for the item by eboy (Sean Glambrine), if not already, he should be a mascot for Ebay.  Ralph decides they may get help from JP Spamley, I think it was obvious that Bill Hader voiced him, who has a sign “Wanna Get Rich Playing Video Games?” He tells them that they just have to find game items that people will spend actual money on, the movie is filled with pointed jabs at internet culture, but the duo needs a big ticket item.  

Spamley tells them about Shank’s Car which will get them the money owned to Ebay.  This of course leads to Slaughter Race.There was of course a race, like Sugar Rush in the first movie, but this more intense, action movie level of a race that gives a nod to the Grand Theft Auto games and the Fast and Furious movies.  Shank is of course played by Gal Gadot, Gazelle in the Fast and Furious films, as an expert racer who sees defeating players as a necessary part of the challenge. She has a singing part with Vanellope later. Shank takes the place of Calhoun as an action character, but has more of a connection with the main characters.  Vanellope is impressed by Shank and is a kindred spirit.  

She loves the driving in Slaughter Race, but Shank is able to surround her with her gang.  Still, Shank has her flame throwing member of her crew, Pyro (Hamish Blake) use his equipment as a wind blower on Ralph’s face. Spamley refers Vanellope and Ralph to get the video on social media via BuzzzTube. The head of the site is Yesss voiced by Taraji P. Henson and she loves Ralph’s video that is going viral. Yesss is a great, fun character in the mold of Felix-It Felix as someone who helps the characters.  Her assistant is Maybe voiced by Flula Borg.  They can make money with views and Ralph decides to make videos of everything that is trending. Vanellope wants to help promote the videos and Yesss sends her out.     

Ralph Breaks the Internet, El Capitan stage, photo by the author. 

Ralph doesn’t want her sent to Slaughter Race so he sends her to the “pink castle.” The part where Vanellope goes to the Oh My Disney site is my favorite part of the film, the parodies and cameos are brilliant! The downside is that the audience downed out a few scenes with laughter. There is cameos by Marvel characters and Star Wars so it is a display of the franchises brought under the Disney banner and poking fun at them. Stormtroopers start to search for Vanellope and she glitches into the Princess room. This is fun with the Disney Princess brand with many of the original voice actresses. Jodie Benson as Ariel, Pocahontas (Irene Bedard), and Rapunzel (Mandy Moore) are featured, but there is also Anna (Kristen Bell), Elsa (Idina Menzel), Moana (Auli’i Cravalho), Tiana (Anika Noni Rose), Merida (Kelly Macdonald), Mulan (Ming-Na Wen), and Belle (Paige O’Hara). 

The classic princesses have new voices, but perfect fits with Snow White (Pamela Ribon, who also worked on the story!), Cinderella (Jennifer Hale), and Aurora (Kate Higgins), I hope they are all official voices for the characters.  This is the first time the princesses are together, it was amazing to see them on the D23 Stage.  They question Vanellope and then accept her as a princess when she says has problems with a male figure and they have a pajama party.  Vanellope has to find her place and Wreck-It Ralph has to not only help Vanellope and the Sugar Rush game, but understand her best interests.  Ralph also tries to find help in the Dark Web with Double Dan (Alfred Molina).  The third act also resembles the first movie, but it has one of the best conclusions!  There is also one of the best end credits scenes at the end of the movie.  A superior sequel!     

Four Glitches out of Five!   

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