Sunday, June 23, 2019

Ralph Breaks the Internet

Movie Name: Ralph Breaks the Internet
Year of Release: 2018
Director: Phil Johnston, Rich Moore
Starring: John C. Reilly, Sarah Silverman, Gal Gadot, Jack McBrayer, Jane Lynch, Alan Tudyk, Alfred Molina, Ed O'Neill, Ali Wong, Taraji P. Henson, Timothy Simons, Rich Moore, Dianna Agron, Brad Garrett, Nicole Scherzinger
Genre: Comedy, Animation, Family
Score out of ten (whole numbers only): 7
View Trailer

Synopsis and Review:
After the success of "Wreck it Ralph" in 2012, writer/director Rich Moore, with Phil Johnston by his side, brought back the sequel to the adventures of Ralph and Vanellope. The film takes place 6 years after the original, with life in the arcade being quite tranquil, until Ralph decides to throw a wrench on Vanellope's game, "Sugar Rush". The outcome of that forces them both to venture into the internet, where they have to seek out e-bay, in order to get Vanellope's game back to work. However in the process of doing so, they end up being exposed to different online games, which allows Vanellope to see the world beyond Sugar Rush, something she always dreamed of. This in turn saddens Ralph, who yearns for things to stay the way they always have been. In a clumsy attempt to keep Vanellope to himself, he deploys a virus on the internet, threatening its very existence.
If "Wreck it Ralph" was a take on nostalgia underlying video games of the past and how unlikely friendships are established, this sequel takes that step a bit further, focusing the narrative on personal growth, and the fears that come with change. It's a film that is cleverly written, underlying the message of empowering and supporting your friends and their dreams, even if that means seeing less of them: the cost of altruism and real friendship. It's a film that is populated with humor, references to modern technology, the silliness and darkness that lies within that universe, all of this wrapped up in referential humor to Disney itself and the characters that have existed in these narratives/stories. The film is stunningly well animated and is aesthetically impeccable (even if a bit over saturated), also featuring a talented array of actors providing the crucial voice work. John C. Reilly is great as usual, but he gets great support from the always hilarious Sarah Silverman. A good film worth watching and savoring. 

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