ReelBob: ‘Ralph Breaks the Internet’ ★★★

By Bob Bloom

A cynic would view “Ralph Breaks the Internet” as a 114-minute promotion for the Disney empire, as well as product placement for eBay, Google and various social-media sites.

Others may see it as a satire about the dangers of the Internet and people’s reliance on it.

Many, of course, will simply see it as a Disney kids’ movie, returning to popular characters from “Wreck-It Ralph.”

And in a sense, all three interpretations would be spot on.

“Ralph Breaks the Internet” is a fun movie, but its running time — and some of its subject matter — may be over the heads of the youngsters who will probably clamor to see it.

The simple plot could have been condensed by about 20 minutes without losing much.

The story basically finds Ralph (voiced by John C. Reilly) and his best friend, Vanellope von Schweetz (voiced by Sarah Silverman), at a crossroads at Litwak’s Arcade.

Ralph is happy doing the same video-game actions day after day, while Vanellope is bored by the monotonous predictability of her Sugar Rush racing game.

Trying to help his friend, Ralph creates a situation that breaks Sugar Rush and threatens Vanellope’s very existence.

To make amends, Ralph decides to traverse the Internet to find the part needed to fix Vanellope’s game.

Vanellope tags along with Ralph. They enter the Internet and find a dazzling world where — it seems — everything is at their fingertips.

They seek help from various residents of this digital world to help in their quest.

Vanellope, meanwhile, discovers Slaughter Race, an online auto-racing game that she wholeheartedly embraces, and which Ralph believes is too dangerous for his little pal. He also sees it as a threat to their longtime bond.

The best parts of “Ralph Breaks the Internet” follow Ralph as he becomes an Internet sensation, with the help of head algorithm Yesss (voiced by Taraji P. Henson), while Vanellope bonds with Shank (voiced by Gal Gadot), the champion driver of Slaughter Race.

The highlight of the movie is Vanellope’s interactions with the various Disney princesses — Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Pocahontas, Mulan, Ariel, and so on. They accept her as one of their own because of their similarities — none of them has a mother, for example.

A sequence in which Vanellope must elude a squad of “Star Wars” stormtroopers also adds a nice touch.

These sequences, though, really have nothing to do with the main objective — Ralph and Vanellope securing the part they need to fix her game.

“Ralph Breaks the Internet,” at times, feels too adult. Also, it seems to meander from kid-friendly to more mature satiric jabs.

The movie is basically a sweet confection that, like this year’s “Ready Player One,” relies heavily on nostalgia and pop-culture references to propel it.

Grownups will see it as a wholehearted embrace of technology and gadgetry, as well as apps and name brands.

Overall, “Ralph Breaks the Internet” is a dazzling, colorful and delightful confection. It simply needed to be more focused and streamlined.

I am a founding member of the Indiana Film Journalists Association. My reviews appear at ReelBob (reelbob.com) and Rottentomatoes (www.rottentomatoes.com). I also review Blu-rays and DVDs. I can be reached by email at bobbloomjc@gmail.com or on Twitter @ReelBobBloom. Links to my reviews can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Google+ and LinkedIn.

RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET
3 stars
(PG), action, rude humor