Recently, I flew out to Los Angeles for the Ralph Breaks the Internet premiere thanks to a partnership with Disney. Along with a red carpet experience to remember, I also got to view the film with the moviemakers, talent, and their family and friends. So, what did I think of the movie and is Ralph Breaks the Internet appropriate for kids? I'm going to break it down for you.
When Wreck-It Ralph premiered 6 years ago, my son was just a few months old. Like any Disney fanatic, I took my copy of Wreck-It Ralph and put it in a safe place until he was old enough to watch it. When he was finally old enough to sit through a movie, I showed him Toy Story for the first time. Once we played that movie out (I mean that quite literally, I actually had to replace our DVD since he man-handled it so often), we moved on to Wreck-It Ralph. He was about 3-years old at the time and I didn't anticipate that some scenes would be scary for him (hello, Hero's Duty and those bugs!). It's been 6 years and I've got another 3-year-old in the house now. So, would I take her, and my 6-year-old, to see Ralph Breaks the Internet?
In Ralph Breaks the Internet, we start out with our old friends, Ralph (John C. Reilly) and Vanellope (Sarah Silverman). This unlikely pair of BFFs is just as cheeky and silly as we remember them from Wreck-It Ralph. Soon, their friendship is challenged when Vanellope's game breaks and the duo sets out on a search of a replacement part. But, where would one find a vintage video game part? The internet, of course!
This new world is full of unknowns for Ralph and Vanellope and as you can imagine, there is a lot to learn. From aggressive pop-ups to auto-fill search functions to live-auctions, the besties are soon over their head within the realm of the interwebs.
©2018 Disney.
Soon, the pair meets fun, new characters on their way to going viral (I don't want to give too much away here). The two most notable characters are YESSS (Taraji P. Henson) and Shank (Gal Gadot).
©2018 Disney.
YESSS scours the internet for viral sensations and Shank is a high-profile player in a "Grand Theft Auto" type of game called Slaughter Race. I like that both of these characters are strong and self-assured, sort of like Vanellope and Sergeant Calhoun. There really aren't any weak women here and I like what Disney is doing here. The only thing I didn't love about YESSS was her legs. For some reason, the animation of her legs really stuck out to me. They just seem so basic for such a unique character. Shank, on the other hand, is the perfect depiction of a tough heroine.
.©2018 Disney.
Speaking of new characters to the Wreck-It Ralph franchise, we actually run into a bunch of our old friends in Ralph Breaks the Internet. There is one incredibly epic scene where Vanellope meets all of the Disney Princesses. I actually got to sit down with Co-Writer Pamela Ribon (and voice of Snow White) to talk about how she came up with the idea. After meeting her, I can see why there are such cool women in Ralph Breaks the Internet. This scene and the scene with the princesses in their comfy clothes is actually reason enough to see the movie. I saw this clip for the first time at the D23 Expo in Anaheim and it was even better the second time around. I'm pretty sure I'll see something new every single time I watch this movie in the future. There are a lot of fun Disney Easter Eggs hidden throughout.
©2018 Disney
Aside from a few harrowing car chases, Ralph Breaks the Internet wasn't scary (to me, a 30+-year-old lady)... that is until the virus scene towards the end. I won't go into plot details, but Ralph encounters Double Dan (Alfred Molina), a member of the dark web. The picture above just does not do the creepiness of Double Dan any justice. He is pretty gross and actually a little distracting. While there's nothing vulgar or inappropriate about their interaction, or about Double Dan himself, I can see my 3-year-old being a little spooked during this scene.
Overall, the movie is entertaining and clever, just like Wreck-It Ralph was, but I think a lot of the humor is going to go over the heads of younger children. Most of the jokes could only be understood by someone who actually uses the internet. Like always, Disney does a good job of mixing in good, clean humor for the adults, it's just more prevalent in this film than others. I don't think my kids will mind and I'm sure they're going to enjoy the movie when I take them to see it in theaters. So, I suppose that answers the question. Yes, I will be taking my kids to see the movie. Will you be taking yours? OH, and be sure to stay through the credits, all the way to the end. Trust me on that one.
Ralph Breaks the Internet is in theaters everywhere NOW!
Check out the Ralph Breaks the Internet Trailer here:
Wreck-It Ralph on Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Instagram
Ralph Breaks the Internet is in theaters NOW.
Join the conversation using #RalphBreaksTheInternet
Also, be sure to check out my Ralph Breaks VR experience review to see if you should visit The VOID, Disney Springs, or Downtown Disney to try this new VR experience for yourself. I've also got a full post about the best Ralph Breaks the Internet and Wreck-It Ralph toys for kids!
Leave a Reply