Approx. Runtime: 112 minutes (2 hours, 2 minutes)
Language Watched: English
Type of Movie: Adventure, Comedy, Video Game
Overall Impression: It was great. Definitely worthy of being a sequel to Wreck-It Ralph.
SPOILER ALERT WARNING!!
This review will contain some spoilers -- or rather, there will be a "Spoilers" section at the end of the review to go into further detail about certain things. There may still be slight spoilers throughout the review, but I've tried my best to keep them at a minimum.
PERSONAL STANDING (Pre-exposures, thoughts, etc.)
I can't exactly recall how I first heard that Wreck-It Ralph was getting a sequel... but once I did, I knew I was going to watch it no matter what. I LOVED the first movie, Wreck-It Ralph, so... I just knew. :3
Speaking honestly, the teaser trailer made me a little uneasy. It looked like a light and fluffy adventure with superficial humour, and I just hoped that the movie would have more. I didn't watch any of the other trailers because I'm just like that.
JUST A NOTE: Since this is a review of the sequel to Wreck-It Ralph, there could be spoilers to the first movie, so be warned! I'll do my best to keep those to a minimum, though.
If you have watched Wreck-It Ralph and are curious at all, here is my review of the first movie: Here.
Speaking honestly, the teaser trailer made me a little uneasy. It looked like a light and fluffy adventure with superficial humour, and I just hoped that the movie would have more. I didn't watch any of the other trailers because I'm just like that.
The teaser trailer for Ralph Breaks the Internet.
This was the only trailer I watched before watching the movie.
JUST A NOTE: Since this is a review of the sequel to Wreck-It Ralph, there could be spoilers to the first movie, so be warned! I'll do my best to keep those to a minimum, though.
If you have watched Wreck-It Ralph and are curious at all, here is my review of the first movie: Here.
STORY
Ralph Breaks The Internet follows video game characters Wreck-It Ralph (whom I will refer to as Ralph for the rest of this review) and Vanellope as they go through the internet and try to find an arcade part to save Vanellope's game, Sugar Rush.
There. That's the surface plot and the main motivation for exploring the internet. It's a good motivation, too -- I didn't get that at all from the teaser trailer. Initially I was worried that Ralph and Vanellope were going to go through the internet just for the heck of it. I'm very glad that wasn't the case!
I call that the surface plot, because there's another plot in Ralph Breaks The Internet. Or rather -- there is an unraveling that happens throughout, and the surface plot does a good job of furthering that unraveling to a point where core ideas, character development, and themes come out and get addressed.
It was good. I really enjoyed it. :)
I'll mention the core ideas and themes in the "Spoilers" section.
Thankfully not too much from Wreck-It Ralph is brought up in Ralph Breaks The Internet so Wreck-It Ralph wouldn't be spoiled... but at the same time, almost none of the character relationships are explained in Ralph Breaks The Internet, making it a little difficult to connect or understand the characters at times. For example, Ralph and Vanellope are best friends in Ralph Breaks the Internet, but we don't know how they became such good friends or why they care so much about each other.
So... even though I think Ralph Breaks The Internet could be watched on its own, I highly recommend watching Wreck-It Ralph first! Wreck-It Ralph is a great movie, too, so why not? :)
There. That's the surface plot and the main motivation for exploring the internet. It's a good motivation, too -- I didn't get that at all from the teaser trailer. Initially I was worried that Ralph and Vanellope were going to go through the internet just for the heck of it. I'm very glad that wasn't the case!
I call that the surface plot, because there's another plot in Ralph Breaks The Internet. Or rather -- there is an unraveling that happens throughout, and the surface plot does a good job of furthering that unraveling to a point where core ideas, character development, and themes come out and get addressed.
It was good. I really enjoyed it. :)
I'll mention the core ideas and themes in the "Spoilers" section.
STANDALONE-FRIENDLY?
To an extent, I think Ralph Breaks The Internet could be watched on its own and enjoyed, BUT... in my mind I would be thinking, 'If you can set aside some time to watch Ralph Breaks The Internet... why not spend that same time watching Wreck-It Ralph first?'Thankfully not too much from Wreck-It Ralph is brought up in Ralph Breaks The Internet so Wreck-It Ralph wouldn't be spoiled... but at the same time, almost none of the character relationships are explained in Ralph Breaks The Internet, making it a little difficult to connect or understand the characters at times. For example, Ralph and Vanellope are best friends in Ralph Breaks the Internet, but we don't know how they became such good friends or why they care so much about each other.
So... even though I think Ralph Breaks The Internet could be watched on its own, I highly recommend watching Wreck-It Ralph first! Wreck-It Ralph is a great movie, too, so why not? :)
VARIOUS REFERENCES AND CROSSOVERS
Similar to Wreck-It Ralph, there are a lot of references and crossovers, though this time there were a lot more internet / pop culture references and crossovers. And again, just like in Wreck-It Ralph, they weren't overly used nor were they a distraction from the story, which I really like and appreciate.
I like that despite all the references and crossovers, Ralph and Vanellope still shine as brightly as they did in Wreck-It Ralph.
My favourite crossover moments and references will be listed in the "Spoilers" section.
The computer animation is awesome. Emotions are displayed on a character's face with subtle yet strong, telling expressions. The characters also move in very telling ways. Even though all the characters are in 3D, one could tell that some of them are from 8-bit era games because of their mannerisms and the way they move. Everything is very smooth and wonderful.
I like that despite all the references and crossovers, Ralph and Vanellope still shine as brightly as they did in Wreck-It Ralph.
My favourite crossover moments and references will be listed in the "Spoilers" section.
ANIMATION
A+. Everything that I said about the animation in Wreck-It Ralph is true here, too, so I'll just re-post it:The computer animation is awesome. Emotions are displayed on a character's face with subtle yet strong, telling expressions. The characters also move in very telling ways. Even though all the characters are in 3D, one could tell that some of them are from 8-bit era games because of their mannerisms and the way they move. Everything is very smooth and wonderful.
VOICE-ACTING/CHARACTERS
Another A+. Just like in Wreck-It Ralph, John C. Reilly and Sarah Silverman were great as Ralph and Vanellope. The new voices were great as well, especially Gal Gadot as Shank.
Ralph and Vanellope are still very likeable and relatable. And well -- while I couldn't get behind all of Ralph's actions... I understood them very well and could sympathize with his feelings.
Among the new characters, I really like Shank. She's such a bad*ss! But also thoughtful, wise, and kind. :3 <3
CHARACTERS
One thing that I really liked about Ralph Breaks The Internet was that even though Ralph and Vanellope were already developed characters from the first movie, there was still room for them to grow in this movie. And that character growth, in my opinion, allowed for the movie to break away from being "just a sequel" to something... much more.Ralph and Vanellope are still very likeable and relatable. And well -- while I couldn't get behind all of Ralph's actions... I understood them very well and could sympathize with his feelings.
Among the new characters, I really like Shank. She's such a bad*ss! But also thoughtful, wise, and kind. :3 <3
MUSIC
Just like with Wreck-It Ralph, I barely noticed the music... but I felt a variety of emotions, so I knew it was there working its magic of enhancing the scenes. If I could count all the times I cried during this movie, hahaha... ^__^''
And I'll also say: I really like "Zero", the song that plays in the credits. And also the song that plays at the very, very, very end! <3
And I'll also say: I really like "Zero", the song that plays in the credits. And also the song that plays at the very, very, very end! <3
CLOSING THOUGHTS
Ralph Breaks The Internet is awesome. It is hands down worthy of being a sequel to Wreck-It Ralph. Watch it. But make sure to watch Wreck-It Ralph first! :3 I'm going to list my favourite moments of Ralph Breaks The Internet in the "Spoilers" section.
Oh, and when you watch Ralph Breaks The Internet, make sure to stay till the very, very, very end of the credits! ;)
Thanks for reading! If you want some more input about something I didn't cover, feel free to ask. :)
Now I'll do the scrolly thing so you don't see the "Spoilers" section right away. Then I'll add some more scrolly things after the "Spoilers" section in case anybody wants to comment, but not see the spoilers.
Oh, and when you watch Ralph Breaks The Internet, make sure to stay till the very, very, very end of the credits! ;)
Thanks for reading! If you want some more input about something I didn't cover, feel free to ask. :)
Now I'll do the scrolly thing so you don't see the "Spoilers" section right away. Then I'll add some more scrolly things after the "Spoilers" section in case anybody wants to comment, but not see the spoilers.
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SPOILERS
I'll mention the core ideas and themes
If I'm wrong here, feel free to debate! But to me, the core ideas and themes revolved around friendships, and growing up.
I guess... it's nothing really ground-breaking... but for those themes to be in a kid's movie... and especially when the themes themselves are kinda painful to face (especially if you're a kid facing them)... I think it's really nice -- and brave. I kinda don't think anybody would want to think the best course of action for best friends is to be apart... but if it helps to achieve their dream / what they want... it just might be. It's a very honest and realistic approach to it.
About Ralph's jealousy / insecurity / not wanting to let Vanellope go... I completely understand it. Before Vanellope, Ralph didn't have any friends and was viewed as just a villain -- and that went on for 30 years. Vanellope was the first character to really appreciate him and see him as a friend and hero. Of course he would do whatever he could to not lose that bond. This is not me justifying his actions -- but I do understand them and can ultimately forgive them.
I'm glad Ralph was able to face his insecurities in the end, and to honestly voice "It's going to hurt a lot". In some ways, I kinda think that line was more for the audience -- for anybody who might be going through a similar situation -- to offer a bit of understanding / comfort, it that was possible.
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Favourite crossover moments and references
- The scene with the Disney Princesses and Vanellope was great. I loved that Disney was poking fun at its own "Princess" character type. Vanellope's reaction to all their questions was great, too. I also loved it when the Princesses got to relax in regular shirts and pants.
- I got giddy when I saw Baymax from Big Hero 6. Bayymaxxx!!! (>^w^)> <3
- I loved the interpretation of how Twitter works, with all the blue birds chirping the same things.
- Ralph as Bob Ross... hahahaha. That was completely unexpected xD
- Stan Lee... when I saw his cameo, my heart broke. This is what went through my mind: '...! It's Stan Lee! But he's gone now... did he get to see this before he passed away? ;_____;'. It's wonderful that he's in it, but at the same time, it makes me soooooo saaaaad, thinking that he'll never know he was in this amazing movie... *cries*
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Favourite moments
- When Vanellope hugs Ralph at the end before parting to Slaughter Race. Just like in Wreck-It Ralph, her expression with her eyes slightly watering, but voice not giving anything away, was so touching. Seeing Ralph reciprocate that expression did me in completely. And then the broken medal coming together like that... I cried a lot during that scene, hahaha... ^^''
- When Fix-It Felix Jr. and Sergeant Calhoun were sharing their secrets about good parenting. The joke became predictable in the end, but it was still really funny.
- The pancake scene after the first set of credits. I was actually waiting for that scene through the whole movie and started thinking partway that maybe it was just a scene in the trailer but not for the movie. Haha, touché!
- The Rickroll scene at the very end... omg, that was soooo hilarious!!! XD
- When Vanellope surrendered herself to save Ralph from being crushed by the virus. It really shows how much she cares for him. *sniffle*
- If I remember more, I'll list more favourite crossover/references/moments. :)
If you read my spoilers, thank for reading! Now to finish with more scrolly things. If you disagree with anything or just want to say something, feel free to comment :D
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