We can’t believe it has been six years since the original Wreck It Ralph movie debuted in theaters. (We can tell we must be getting older when time seems to be going faster…) We loved the original story of “Bad Guy” Ralph wanting to be a hero. It featured a healthy dose of retro video game references, funny moments, and likable characters. When we heard Ralph and friends were coming back to the big screen to venture out of the arcade we couldn’t wait to see what would happen next. Last week we were invited to an early screening and are super excited to give you our thoughts before the film releases next week. Read on for our full review (and don’t worry, there are no spoilers to “Wreck it” for you!)
The movie starts out with some familiar faces like Fix-It Felix and Sergeant Calhoun.
Official Film Synopsis:
In “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” video-game bad guy Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) and best friend Vanellope von Schweetz (voice of Sarah Silverman) leave the comforts of Litwak’s arcade in an attempt to save her game, Sugar Rush. Their quest takes them to the vast, uncharted world of the internet where they rely on the citizens of the internet—the Netizens—to help navigate their way. Lending a virtual hand are Yesss (voice of Taraji P. Henson), the head algorithm and the heart and soul of the trend-making site “BuzzzTube,” and Shank (voice of Gal Gadot), a tough-as-nails driver from a gritty online auto-racing game called Slaughter Race, a place Vanellope wholeheartedly embraces—so much so that Ralph worries he may lose the only friend he’s ever had. Directed by Rich Moore (“Zootopia,” “Wreck-It Ralph”) and Phil Johnston (co-writer “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Zootopia,” writer, “Cedar Rapids”), and produced by Clark Spencer (“Zootopia,” “Wreck-It Ralph,” “Bolt,” “Lilo & Stitch”), “Ralph Breaks the Internet” hits theaters on Nov. 21, 2018.
Some of Julie’s favorite scenes of the movie feature ALL of the Disney Princesses (voiced mainly by original actors!)
Julie's Thoughts
Ralph Breaks the Internet starts off in the familiar world of the arcade. The characters are living their daily lives working in the games and then hanging out together at night. Ralph and Vanellope’s friendship is as strong as ever and we get a glimpse of what some of the other characters are up to as well. One day a mysterious new “game” is connected to the main station called “WIFI”, that is restricted. But when the Sugar Rush game is suddenly in danger of being shut down Ralph and Vanellope decide they must risk going to this new place to find a way to save it. They arrive into an amazing and expansive world that includes so many new places, characters, and interesting things to learn. As they navigate this new place and try to save Sugar Rush, the pair’s friendship is also tested along the way.
I just have to say that both of the Wreck it Ralph movies do an amazing job of taking something simple and turning it into a new animated world with story depth. I love seeing familiar brands and characters come to life in this world. Ralph Breaks the Internet is able to do this even more than the first because there is endless material to play with. Things like Amazon and Ebay become huge skyscrapers, and Pop Up ads become an annoying sales guy on the street. It all has been thought out so well and makes perfect sense.
Another interesting thing I found is the story kept me guessing. Many “kids” movies can be figured out pretty quickly: who is the bad guy, what is the lesson we are learning, etc. Throughout this film I really just kept wondering what was next. Characters were really engaging and interesting and there were so many funny moments. I also find when I start to care about an animated “person” is when I know a movie has hit a certain level of quality.
The highly anticipated Disney Princess scenes were everything I had hoped, and my inner princess fan girl was jumping for joy inside. I laughed a ton, enjoyed many childhood references, cameos, as well as modern day jokes. Plus the graphics were really mesmerizing from the main cityscape to the graphics of the racing game that reminded me of a Vice City. We really love Pixar movies as they tend to entertain adults just as much, if not more than kids and we feel Disney’s Ralph Breaks the Internet has achieved that same level of entertainment.
Her rating: 5 out of 5 “WiFi Signals”
Ralph meets new character Yesss (Henson), the expert in what is worthy of being viral.
Andrew’s Thoughts:
The second iteration of Wreck it Ralph is just as great as the first one. And also just like the first one, it is hard to imagine a creative, fulfilling story being told about a simple subject such as the internet, but the Disney storytellers pulled it off in a way few could. How they visualize simple tasks such as accessing the internet and clicking on a link, is incredible. They are also able to tell a great story without what would be considered a true antagonist. There are a handful of hurdles Ralph and Penelope must overcome but these aren’t created by one entity, rather by multiple obstacles.
Because of the great story, I was really sucked into this movie and found myself caring deeply and rooting for the main characters. It seemed a little long for an animated film but there was only about a 5 minute scene towards the end of the film that seemed to drag. Other than that, it was a perfectly paced movie with plenty of action.
The number of pop culture and just general internet and gaming references makes Ralph Breaks the Internet that much better. Disney even pokes fun at itself during the much anticipated Disney Princess scene. Speaking of pop culture references, stay until the very end of the credits. There is a funny scene about a minute into the credits but there is also an even better one at the very end. Trust me, you will not be disappointed.
His rating: 4.5 out of 5 “WiFi Signals”
Ralph and Vanellope end up in “Slaughter Race” where Shank (Gadot) and her crew rule the roads.
The movie is best for: everyone. If you were a fan of Wreck it Ralph, you will enjoy this one just as much. Everyone from kids to adults will find enough to enjoy about this movie. Ralph Breaks the Internet is a Thanksgiving break movie for the whole gang!
View the official movie website.
It seems everyone has been anticipating and talking about Director Christopher Nolans’s new film: Oppenheimer. Andrew has been so excited. As a World War II history enthusiast he couldn’t wait to see the story about the creator of the atom bomb. To be honest this wasn’t even on Julie’s radar, but she is always down for a good historical drama. We are both fans of the director’s previous work, and the cast seemed jam packed with talented folks. Let’s dig into what we thought…