Ralph Breaks the Internet [SteelBook] [Dig Copy] [4K Ultra HD Blu-ray/Blu-ray] [Only @ Best Buy] [2018]

I expected this to be The Emoji Movie 2.0. The trailers were frankly pretty terrible, the Disney brand-milking was super obvious, and even as a massive fan of the first movie (it's my favorite modern Disney film) I couldn't imagine a world where this would be even close to as good. Turns out, Ralph Breaks the Internet is just as hilarious, emotional, smart, and overall charming as its predecessor. Easily one of the most entertaining and heartwarming theater experiences I've had all year, and my whole family had an awesome time. My biggest fear for this movie was that the vision of the internet it showed in the trailers would be nonsensical and underdeveloped. One of the things I loved most about the first movie was how well-fleshed-out and rich the world of the arcade was; at least on every level it needed to, it made total sense. From the looks of the trailers, the internet wasn't gonna be that way; it looked a whole lot more gimmicky and shallow than it should be. All that said...I'm happy to report that I was dead wrong. I love everything about the vision of the internet presented here. Some things definitely had to be played up for the sake of plot and character (worthy causes, to be sure) but as a whole, the world the film presents makes a good amount of sense and it's also just a joy to watch onscreen. And beyond the intelligent logistical/visual presentation of the internet world - I really liked the depictions of Pop-Up ads and ad-blockers, btw - the thematic commentaries intertwined with it are really what make the whole film work. We're talking toxic masculinity, we're talking hate comments, we're talking viral video lifecycles, algorithms, and online personas vs. real life personas. Lots of this stuff is played for laughs, and it totally lands, but there's a good amount that really has some important things to say beneath the surface too. And best of all: the film doesn't feel out of touch. There's just enough brand recognition and IPs to keep it feeling like this is the *real* internet, but not so many that it feels like product placement. Even the fact that we're using knockoff Google instead of real Google is explained. I'd wager, actually, that this is Disney's most self-aware (and even humorously self-deprecating) movie to date. Stay all the way through the credits, you'll see what I mean. More than anything, this film works because it's so anchored in the emotional dynamic between Ralph and Vanellope - a relationship covered with juvenilistic jokes but layered with insecurities and self-doubt. Everything in the film feels like the natural evolution of their relationship from the first film; nothing is tacked-on for the sake of a sequel. And ultimately, the resolution we end on is surprisingly bittersweet (as was the first movie's ending) and very sincere. As a huge fan of the first Wreck-it Ralph, this followup may not have quite hit the perfection of the original, but about as energetic and emotionally consistent as a sequel can get.

Walt Disney Animation Studios is now in the stage of their resurgence that began in 2010 with Tangled and was cemented two years later with Wreck-it Ralph where they are hoping to maintain the momentum of this resurgence by beginning to produce sequels to the movies that helped solidify their name as an animation powerhouse once more; that Disney could still be Disney without Pixar. Whereas the former flourished in hand-drawn animation for years and years (obviously) the mouse house hadn't had much luck with their transition to computer animation (Chicken Little, Meet the Robinsons, and Bolt each largely failed both critically and commercially at the time of release) and in trying to re-capture the magic of their nineties hot streak with the hand-drawn Princess and the Frog in 2009 it only seemed the studio was moving backwards instead of forward. With Tangled though, things began to shift and, in many regards, the first Wreck-it Ralph was a confirmation that the Disney brand was back in full effect. Wreck-it Ralph, unlike the more traditional approach Tangled took, was a cool and hip concept that was both relevant and nostalgic, but most importantly it was an idea that-when you were a kid-would have loved to think could really be true. Like Toy Story, Wreck-It-Ralph was about what happens after the kids are done playing and characters must go on with their lives. This was all well and good and spurned a rather fantastic and inventive film about feeling insecure in the role society has assigned you and securing the confidence to break free of that mold and not only become whatever it is you aspire to be, but to gain confidence in and embracing what others might inherently assume about you. Though this wasn't exactly a stretch for the studio given it was ultimately a variation on the "be yourself" lesson countless pieces of children's entertainment have spouted, it worked well given the format. The catch was, Wreck-it Ralph told such a tight and compact story that it was difficult to imagine how directors Rich Moore and Phil Johnston would naturally extend the film into something new that felt organic and wasn't dark as all get out considering the inevitability of this arcade eventually closing and all of the games getting unplugged (which they'll have to address in the trilogy-capper, right?). And while the trailers hinted at something scarcely close to The Emoji Movie, Ralph Breaks the Internet is the rare, equally inventive sequel that strives to say something more even if what its saying gets somewhat lost in translation. Even still, the dynamite dynamic between John C. Reilly's Ralph and Sarah Silverman's Vanellope is enough to hold down the fort...or the internet.

As an avid Disney fan, I was excited about this film because of how nostalgic it was, from Star Wars and Marvel characters (Disney-owned) and Disney princesses - I laughed so hard during those scenes when Disney was poking fun of itself and its historic foul treatment of women - to everyday internet things not owned by Disney. The "cameo" of Stan Lee was a nice touch as well. The story of friendship and putting your friends' needs ahead of your own wants is a nice moral. While I definitely favor the 4K + HDR10+ display over the standard Blu-ray, I can't say I'm fully satisfied with this film over one simple fact: Disney finished it in 2.8K resolution instead of 4K, making it an "upscaled 4K" picture. This is done with a LOT of films, and it's not a mystery why: it takes tens of thousands of hours to render the computer-generated graphics at 2.8K, so can you imagine how much longer and how much more money it would take to render a 4K film? From a resources perspective, I totally understand why that decision was made, but for a format that displays a 4K resolution, why render it as 2.8K and upscale it to 4K?! (yes, I have a lot of pent-up anger about this...) That said, the colors in this animated feature really POP and look bold, even striking at time, and that's something that HDR10+ takes credit for, which won't be found on the standard Blu-ray format. As far as the audio goes, Disney has been dropping the ball with almost all of its home releases for the last couple of years, making the audio levels about 10-15 dB lower than other studio releases. Once you adjust your volume up, everything sounds awesome. The Dolby Atmos track - which is basically surround sound with added height - makes for an immersive experience, bringing the viewer into the world of the internet like never before. So if you want to get the most out of your 4K TV display, don't skip out on the 4K release of this funny family film. Even if you don't have a 4K player, the included digital code gives you a 4K digital copy on Movies Anywhere, Vudu, Apple, and other linked platforms. But if you're a disc person like me, odds are your 4K TV is programmed to do an incredible job of upscaling your standard Blu-ray to 4K display, the same way a Blu-ray player upscales DVDs. Even if you don't have a 4K TV yet, they are the future, and you should "future-proof" your collection for as long as possible. (Remember when future-proofing your movie collection meant buying the DVD instead of the VHS? lol)

So I very rarely buy movies without watching them first, but I enjoyed Wreck It Ralph so much that I decided not to "waste" money on renting this. What a mistake. On the positive side of the ledger, the portions of the movie involving the princesses are fantastic and are the reason this review is two stars instead of one; they are hilarious and insightful, other than the part where Merida is mocked based solely on having a Scottish accent (really Disney? you fire people for making inappropriate comments and then mock someone for their heritage?). The scene with "Oh My Disney" was also entertaining. Unfortunately, the movie promotes a lot of things I do not want my children exposed to at an early age. I don't want to spoil the movie, but the movie glorifies games and characters that I would prefer my young children NOT glorify or idolize. Also, the climactic scene is just... creepy. Not funny. Not interesting. Just plain creepy and weird. It was a super odd way to have a climax of a Disney movie. Finally, there is a big story arc/plot about codependency... which seems inappropriate and weird in a movie about friendship that is for kids. I understand codependency is not a good thing, but, again, I don't want my young children to learn about that fora while. Maybe if my children were at least 10-12 years old, I'd feel differently, but I would say this movie is not appropriate for kids until they are AT LEAST 10. Even for me, I'm sure I'll watch it again, if only for the "Oh My Disney" scene and the princess parts, but this is easily one of Disney's worst movies, with a moral that feels appropriate primarily for parents going through "empty nest" syndrome and a creepiness factor that is through the roof.

Synopsis: Directed by Rich Moore (Academy Award Ò-winning "Zootopia," "Wreck-It Ralph") and Phil Johnston (co-writer "Wreck-It Ralph," "Zootopia," writer, "Cedar Rapids"), and produced by Clark Spencer ("Zootopia," "Wreck-It Ralph," "Bolt," "Lilo & Stitch"), "Ralph Breaks the Internet" welcomes back favorite cast and characters introduced six years ago, including Reilly, who provides the voice of Ralph, and Silverman, who returns as the voice of Vanellope. Lending a virtual hand to Ralph and Vanellope is Shank, voiced by Gal Gadot, a tough-as-nails driver from a gritty online auto-racing game called Slaughter Race, a place Vanellope wholeheartedly embraces — so much so that Ralph worries he may lose the only friend he's ever had. Yesss, voiced by Taraji P. Henson, the head algorithm and the heart and soul of the trend-making site BuzzzTube, makes Ralph a viral sensation. Jack McBrayer and Jane Lynch return as the voices of Fix-It Felix Jr. and Sergeant Calhoun, respectively, and Disney Animation's good luck charm, actor Alan Tudyk was called on to voice a search engine named KnowsMore — literally a know-it-all — who runs a search bar and helps Ralph and Vanellope on their quest. Lots of exciting cameos are also featured in the film including a scene that reunites all of the original (living) Disney Princess voice cast.

The story of Ralph’s fatherly care of Vanellope continues in this sequal. The producers, script writers, and computer animators did a fantastic job in creating a clever internet world. The Disney website was hilarious, complete with Marvel characters being interviewed, a Stan Lee cameo, classic characters, and stormtroopers (complete with their trademark scream when hit). But the highlight of the Disney scenes are the princesses. Very well thought out and creative, from what makes one think they are a princess and to what water brings out their special singing abilities. The plot revolves around Ralph’s well intentioned to over protective care to finally realizing that she is “grown up” and about to move away from home. Parents whose children have graduated and moved out will have a connection with that scene. The extra features on how they created the internet was interesting. The other features are ok. Funny movie and very entertaining.

I am so disappointed. The first Wreck it Ralph movie was great. It was a heartfelt story with funny characters, all of whom learned, made mistakes and grew. Unfortunately, good writing was traded in for politics in this one. This movie is pure feminist propaganda. All of the male characters are bad and all the female characters good. The male characters are always wrong, always need to learn something, and always ruin everything. Luckily, there are always wise female characters around to save the strong males. This was a terrible movie. The ultimate irony, is that it still teaches young girls the wrong thing. They can pick any male they want to and they can reform him into something better. The biggest and most life ruining life Hollywood inflicts on girls. I really want my money back.

I am so disappointed. The first Wreck it Ralph movie was great. It was a heartfelt story with funny characters, all of whom learned, made mistakes and grew. Unfortunately, good writing was traded in for politics in this one. This movie is pure feminist propaganda. All of the male characters are bad and all the female characters good. The male characters are always wrong, always need to learn something, and always ruin everything. Luckily, there are always wise female characters around to save the strong males. This was a terrible movie. The ultimate irony, is that it still teaches young girls the wrong thing. They can pick any male they want to and they can reform him into something better. The biggest and most life ruining life Hollywood inflicts on girls. I really want my money back.