‘Ralph’ reboot
Arcade game pals go on amusing ‘Internet’ adventure
Six years after Disney’s “Wreck-It Ralph,” the animated 3-D sequel “Ralph Breaks the Internet” is one wild ride with one truly inspired gag.
“Ralph” begins when the “Sugar Rush” arcade game, driven round and round by cute little Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman, effortlessly reprising the role), goes kaput when its steering wheel controller breaks.
Only a hard-to-find replacement can bring “Rush” — and Vanellope — back to life.
So Wreck-It Ralph (again John C. Reilly), the bighearted lug who is Vanellope’s best friend, takes her in search of a replacement in the internet. As imaginatively depicted by co-directors Rich Moore and Phil Johnston, it’s like a giant “Blade Runner” cyber-city- scape, with older, forgotten internet signposts — dialup anyone? — buried beneath current monoliths like Google.
As Ralph and Vanellope search this new wonderland, they discover the replacement costs money, which this dynamic duo does not have.
Eventually, Ralph, the reformed bad guy, becomes an internet sensation, only to be puzzled by online bullies. Here he is guided by wise Yesss (Taraji P. Henson), a majestic hype-mistress on BuzzzTube, who cautions him about the mean people and how best to disregard them.
Vanellope discovers the violent, super speedy Slaughter Race and its starry driver Shank (Gal Gadot, mightily welcome), a feminist role model who takes to the brave little speed demon.
If Vanellope is a natural for this semi-dangerous driving and is eager to move on from simple “Sugar Rush” to a meaningful new life, what does that mean for Ralph and their friendship?
While they tour this bright, complicated new world, Vanellope wanders into an elegant room — and finds every Disney princess since Snow White (who is voiced by co-screenwriter Pamela Ribon), including Cinderella, Pocahontas, Mulan, Aurora, Belle, Ariel and Anna, and Elsa (all voiced by the original actors).
These semi-retired princesses are hilarious as they instruct this oddball “hoodie princess” on the rules and themes of their regal position. Smartly satirical, this great girl group lets Vanellope come into her own, complete with a new Alan Menken song.
Ralph, true to the title, eventually breaks the internet as he learns about friendship and moving on with Vanellope.
Delightful, dense and sweetly disarming, “Ralph Breaks the Internet” works, as the best Disney animated films do, on several levels, meaning parents can enjoy it as much as the kids.