Smart & heartfelt Wreck-It Ralph sequel has a whole lot of fun breaking down the internet.

As surprising as it sounds for a major player in an industry that thrives on them, Disney don’t do sequels. Or at least, not proper ones. Of course, the 90s and 00s saw Disney’s sequel machine go into overdrive with a shedload of straight-to-video cash-grabs of varying degrees of rubbish; yet, in terms of theatrical releases, the studio have kept admirably quiet.

1990’s long forgotten The Rescuers Down Under represents the last proper theatrically released Disney Animation sequel (although you could count Fantasia 2000 is you really want to), so the road has been a long and winding one to where we are now with Ralph Breaks the Internet - the first full-blown animated sequel from the famous studio in a generation.

Upon its release, Wreck-It Ralph felt like a glitch in the Disney matrix. An anomaly for a studio that trades primarily in princesses, fairy tales, and singalongs; the film felt as awkward and out of place as its giant-handed protagonist, yet it worked perfectly for the direction Disney were about to head in. Against all odds, the film turned into an understated success, not necessarily in monetary terms (it made a solid $471 million at the worldwide box office), but certainly in terms of the animated doors it opened for its creators.

Even as a moderate success, Wreck-It Ralph blew the doors of what the studio could achieve story-wise and, for that alone, it more than earned its follow up. However, as is the case with any sequel - Disney or otherwise – can it possibly live up to the original’s high standards?

Now best friends after their exploits six years ago, Wreck-It Ralph (John C. Reilly) and Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) find themselves caught up in a brand-new adventure as they’re forced to leave the comforts of Litwak’s Arcade to save Sugar Rush from being switched off forever. Taking them to the vast, uncharted world of the internet, their quest sees them relying on the web’s citizens to navigate their way. In a race against time, Ralph and Vanellope must work as a team to traverse this strange new landscape, even as they’re drawn further and further into the internet’s many temptations.

Not many sequels make sense. In fact, the vast majority don’t when you think about it. There’s a good reason why Disney have gone out of their way to avoid theatrically released sequels to their animated properties. They know full well that flooding the market with illogical, subpar efforts does no one any favours.

There are of course exceptions, and Ralph Breaks the Internet is certainly one of them. It’s rare to come across a sequel that not only makes complete sense but has the imagination and conviction to expand on its predecessor, and Ralph Breaks the Internet does so perfectly.

The very setup of the Wreck-It Ralph made it the perfect canvas for further pixelated adventures and so it’s proved as the retro gaming hijinks of the first film gives way to an online extravaganza stuffed to the gills with colour, imagination, and more fun than you can shake a joystick at. Not only that, Ralph Breaks the Internet provides a satisfying evolution of the world and feels like a natural progression for both the characters and their narrative.

To put it bluntly, Ralph Breaks the Internet is the film The Emoji Movie wishes it was. While I regret scraping memories of that film up from whatever bargain bin it now resides, it’s more than a fair comparison to make as Ralph Breaks the Internet riffs on some very familiar beats, yet the execution is on a whole different level.

Using the inherent wonders/horrors/weirdness (delete where appropriate) of the internet as a platform to expand on the first film’s nostalgia-filled video game concept, Ralph Breaks the Internet sets about attacking what is an enormous and rather daunting world with gleeful abandon.

Without a doubt, the internet is ripe for something like this and, while there are far more scathing dissections of the web out there, Ralph Breaks the Internet’s light satire and pointed, yet gentile, commentary is both timely and easily relatable for all ages. Condensing such a satire into a two-hour family-friendly package is an unenviable task, yet the film never lets the pressure show.

From the incisive observations on online popularity, to the wry look at how we interact within this virtual world, Ralph Breaks the Internet is a smart, witty, colourful take on the web that should strike a chord with all of us. Like any good family-friendly animation, it does all this as a light-hearted, fun-filled adventure that will effortlessly retain younger audience’s attention, while giving adults the subtly and substance needed to keep them engaged.

The key ingredients to Ralph Breaks the Internet’s success - ones that many lesser animations fail to grasp - are verisimilitude and a large helping of patience. While it would be easy for the film to cut to the chase by throwing Ralph and Vanellope into the internet without explanation or build-up, the filmmakers go to admirably great lengths to ensure the world is both believable and well-rounded, without feeling forced.

And what an ingeniously constructed and thoroughly authentic online world it is. Like any cinematic universe worth its salt, Ralph Breaks the Internet makes believability its top priority, and the result is an expansive world full of smartly realised avatars, algorithms, viruses, clickbait, and annoying pop-up ads. Of course, it’s all high-concept fantasy, yet everything makes perfect sense within it and as Ralph and Vanellope venture deeper into uncharted Wi-Fi waters, the more we become completely immersed within it.

It’s something the likes of Toy Story do so well, and Ralph Breaks the Internet has clearly learnt from the best as the film offers an inventive, innovative story that works perfectly within the world it has created, even if it tries to cram too much in at times. Clearly desperate to cover every corner of the internet, the film’s narrative often finds itself wandering as it jumps rather hurriedly from one setup to the next with barely time to draw breath.

Otherwise, Ralph Breaks the Internet is as sweet, funny, and heartfelt as the first film, with a touching riff on the nature of friendship at its heart and a smart take on the internet at its soul. As with the very best Disney (and by extension, Pixar) efforts, the film strikes a fine balance between its head and its heart, making for a thoroughly entertaining piece of cross-generational entertainment.

As they were in the first film, Ralph and Vanellope are the film’s heart and soul. As the film unfolds and their adventure develops, the duo’s relationship grows with it, adding a very satisfying layer to what could’ve easily been a one-note odd couple team. By its bittersweet conclusion, we’re offered a far more nuanced take on platonic love and friendship than you could ever wish to receive from such broad, family-friendly entertainment.

The two make for one of the best animated buddy duos since Buzz and Woody, as they come to terms with who they are, their ambitions, and – ultimately – their weaknesses. It’s a startlingly layered approach that should strike a chord with many of us and one that soulless efforts like The Emoji Movie so sorely lack.

Central to this success is the sterling voice work by John C. Reilly and Sarah Silverman as they one again embrace their characters and bring them to life so vividly. So often voice work can become lost in the mix with such loud and colourful efforts, yet both Reilly and Silverman shine through, adding so much personality to Ralph and Vanellope that they’re never in any danger of disappearing.

Helping the pair on their way, the writing crackles as we swing between smart observational comedy, broad slapstick, and quiet emotion with consummate ease. As we’re whisked through the inner workings of the internet, the writing rarely settles for the easy gag, instead happy to work hard for our affections and take its time while it gleefully pokes fun at the online world as and when necessary.

From start to finish, Ralph Breaks the Internet is a supremely funny film with plenty of jokes for all ages and tastes. Although it’s certainly a little predictable on occasion, the humour never fizzles out and always appears willing to push the limits of its PG rating as far as possible, while gently encouraging us to stop and think – even for a minute – on their own personal relationship with the internet.

Yes, the film does indulge in a spot of gratuitous self-congratulating as we take a detour into the wholly self-promotional world of a Disney fan-site, complete with Stormtroopers, Baby Groot, and every Disney princess ever. It’s perhaps the film’s only real sour note as the segment flies by in a blur of brash corporate branding like you’ve just been dragged through a Disney Store by someone a little too keen to show you everything they’ve got. Yet, ultimately, it’s hard to be too mad when the writing is this smart and refreshingly self-depreciating.

To praise Ralph Breaks the Internet as one of the very best Disney sequels feels rather backhanded considering their paucity, yet, even if you widen the Disney scope, the film holds up remarkably well to even the best Pixar has to offer. Much like Toy Story, the world of Wreck-It Ralph always felt ripe for further exploration and Ralph Breaks the Internet proves this as it cleverly expands on the first film’s premise by taking us from the provincial pleasures of the arcade to the madness of the internet without losing its heart. With John C. Reilly and Sarah Silverman once again bringing their characters to life so vividly, we’re whisked away on a smart and immersive adventure that manages to capture both the wonder and the horror of the internet perfectly.