Movie Review: ‘Ralph Breaks The Internet’

Review by Lauryn Angel

Fans of 2012’s Wreck-It Ralph know that the bar was set pretty high for a sequel. Luckily, Ralph Breaks the Internet delivers an equally clever family-friendly romp that is delightful to the very end – be sure to stay for the credits!

When we meet up with Ralph (John C. Reilly) and Vanellope (Sarah Silverman), six years have passed, and Ralph is perfectly content with his life. Unfortunately, this time around Vanellope is having an existential crisis and craving more adventure. When the arrival of WiFi in Litwak’s arcade and the accidental breaking of Sugar Rush – leaving Vanellope and the others homeless – Ralph and Vanellope sneak onto the Internet in search of a missing part. There, they find the missing part, but their misunderstanding of how eBay works leaves them looking for a way to pay for it. And here is where the fun really gets started, as the film targets all the things we love and hate about the internet. JP Spamley (an uncredited Bill Hader) shows the pair how to “get rich quick” playing video games, leading them to a very scary racing game and a tough-as-nails character named Shank (Gal Gadot). They next turn to making money by means of viral videos, under the tutelage of Yesss (Taraji P. Henson) with a scene that very cleverly skewers the genre. The best bit of the movie, however, is when Vanellope visits the Oh My Disney website – which felt much like visiting one of the Disney parks: long line to get in and so much visual stimulation that you know you’re going to have to watch the movie again just to catch all the cameos.

Adults and children alike enjoyed the film at the screening I attended, and like its predecessor, Ralph Breaks the Internet is destined to be one of those movies that children enjoy more as they grow up and get more of the references. And while the movie has plenty of jokes for the adults to enjoy, it’s never too adult. It’s a perfect movie for a long holiday weekend, so if you’re looking for a family outing once the leftovers are put away, Ralph Breaks the Internet is a great choice!