“Ralph Breaks the Internet” (PG)

“Wreck-It Ralph” filmmakers Rich Moore and Phil Johnston” take the beloved 8-bit video characters to the dazzling new heights of life in cyberspace in “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” a spectacular sequel to the 2012 Best Animated Feature Oscar nominee. Completely avoiding the trappings that plague most sequels, Moore (director of “Wreck-It Ralph”) and Johnston (co-writer of the 2012 blockbuster) team for writing and directorial duties here – and take the premise above and beyond the arcade that housed the ingenious original film.

In “Ralph Breaks the Internet,” Wreck-It Ralph (voice of John C. Reilly) and Vanellope von Schweet (Sarah Silverman) start the movie in the 8-bit video game arcade from the first movie, until a crucial component breaks on Vanellope’s “Sugar Rush” game. With the game console at risk of being junked and leaving Vanellope without a home or purpose, the spunky race car driver and her best pal Ralph travel through the internet to eBay, where the rare replacement part for “Sugar Rush” is waiting to be purchased. But since neither really realize how dramatically different the 8-bit video game world and the information superhighway are, Ralph and Vanellope quickly find themselves on a very bumpy ride.

“Ralph Breaks the Internet” has everything fans could have hoped for as Moore and Johnston masterfully envision the inner-working of the internet, from its vibrant, jaw-dropping animation, clever story twists and turns, astute interpretations of the websites and applications that populate the internet, and hilarious visual gags and dialogue. The movie isn’t all fun and games, though, as Moore and Johnston in a non-preaching way expose the vitriol that has been polluting social media in terms that both kids and adults can understand. As a result, “Ralph Breaks the Internet” is every bit as entertaining as it is poignant, especially in an age where the world needs to get keep its civility and sense of common decency in check.

As far as the voice cast is concerned, Reilly and Silverman bring just as much joy to their voice roles as the original, and their work is enhanced by the additions of Taraji P. Henson and Gal Gadot to the cast. Perhaps the biggest thing that takes “Ralph Breaks the Internet” to the next level though, is the ingenious addition of Disney’s iconic princesses to the story, where many of the voice stars of the original films including “The Little Mermaid,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Frozen,” “The Princess and the Frog” and “Moana” lend dialogue to their iconic characters.

Be sure to stick around through the end credits as Moore and Johnston incorporate a rip-rollicking ending that could only take place on that crazy place known as the internet.

Lammometer 9 (out of 10)