Ralph Breaks The Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2

This review may contain spoilers!

This isn't an especially necessary sequel but it is very well made. I would give Ralph Breaks The Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 a 7.5/10.

Ralph Breaks The Internet is the sequel to Wreck-It Ralph, in this feature our heroes Ralph and Vanellope venture into the internet in an effort to repair Vanellope's broken arcade game. This journey inevitably introduces them to some new things and changes the relationship between these two characters forever. This movie thrives whenever it attempts to get at the heart of the relationship between Ralph and Vanellope, the pair depend on one another a lot and to watch this fracture and mend itself over the journey is an extremely emotional story. The film is also littered with fun cameos and easter eggs that comprise the fair share of comedy in this film; the Disney princess scene is obviously a massive point of appeal for this film and it doesn't disappoint. The animation style is so colourful and creative; with the variety of video game characters and online companies, there's clearly a lot of room to have some variety in design which makes for quite a creative watch. The score for Ralph Breaks The Internet is very modern and has a lot of energy to it; even the soundtrack includes some fun tracks like "Slaughter Race" or Ralph performing a Rick-Roll.

John C. Reilly, who voiced Ralph, really lends a lot of heart to his character; this isn't a character who thinks first but definitely one who is always motivated by the best of intentions. Taraji P. Henson, who voiced Yesss, really does feel like the high-flying electric head of some internet tech company; Henson is wild and constantly making herself heard in any scene she's in. Alan Tudyk, who voiced KnowsMore, is very pretentious in this role which is entirely the point; this is a very smug know-it-all who drives the characters to the point of annoyance with his constant autofill function. Alfred Molina, who voiced Double Dan, really feels like a good antagonist for the film; his menacing demeanour and shifty attitude to the bargain he strikes with Ralph makes for an ominous scene. Bill Hader, who voiced J.P. Spamley, really finds a perfect way of personifying a pop-up ad; Hader's edgy Boston accent and deceptive presentation of himself makes for an entertaining role. Irene Bedard, Kristen Bell, Jodi Benson, Auli'i Cravalho, Jennifer Hale, Kate Higgins, Linda Larkin, Kelly Macdonald, Idina Menzel, Mandy Moore, Paige O'Hara, Pamela Ribon, Anika Noni Rose and Ming-Na Wen, who voiced Pocahontas, Anna, Ariel, Moana, Cinderella, Aurora, Jasmine, Merida, Elsa, Rapunzel, Belle, Snow White, Tiana and Mulan respectively, really come together for a smattering of lines but make for two of the best scenes in the film; Benson, in particular, stands out because her depiction of Ariel in this feature is exceptionally comedic.

However, the best performance came from Sarah Silverman, who voiced Vanellope. This role is just a barrel load of fun, always hurtling through scenes and getting the most fun she can out of a moment. Silverman really lends her sense of comedy to the role, making for a funny dork who always tends to leave the audience grinning. What I loved so much about her in this film is that she is constantly exploring her self, Silverman opts to make this role extremely introspective and it works a charm. You can see Vanellope wrestling with her own insecurities and finding her way through the challenges she faces. It's a great display of characterisation that Silverman lends herself to expertly.

This film doesn't mesh strongly with the original, a problem that stands as a bit of a sticking point for a sequel. In the last film the way we left Ralph and Vanellope there wasn't a lot of room to set up a film in which their newfound friendship would fracture and become a more distant one. The fact Vanellope goes on a journey in which she needs a change for herself is a good plot on its own but as a sequel plot, it really doesn't hold together strongly. Furthermore, most films that depict the main characters journeying through the internet just doesn't always completely work. This has to be one of the best depictions I've ever seen of this particular setting but it still grates watching a story attempt to personify data or corporate entities. Having entire plot points around buying a product from eBay or going viral is weirder than anything else. The worst case of this is when a computer virus is focused upon finding insecurities in others and then using that insecurity to shut down entire systems; a massive convenient plot point that was a little too simple for its own good.

Gal Gadot, who voiced Shank, is not really suited for voice acting; her character just doesn't have a lot to her and we're often told that she's badass but Gadot never makes us believe it. Jack McBrayer and Jane Lynch, who voiced Felix and Calhoun respectively, had a very fun subplot in the first film to watch but are really shortchanged this time around; the parenting plotline feels tacked on and is extremely disappointing. Phil Johnston, who voiced Surge Protector, has the blandest voice acting out of the cast; Johnston tends to a more monotonous tone which makes his more present character a pain to watch.