The Inside Scoop Behind the Voices of “Ralph Breaks the Internet”

“If that little kid likes me, how bad can I be?” -Wreck it Ralph

I had the distinct honor of being considered media for a press junket for the new “Ralph Breaks the Internet” movie. If you are new to that term, it’s basically where the actors/actresses of a movie sit in front of the press and answer any questions we may have about the film. Only certain, select media are invited to the junket, so to say I was thrilled was an understatement.

It was such an exciting experience since my family and I are huge fans of the first movie “Wreck it Ralph” and we were so excited for it’s sequel “Ralph Breaks the Internet.” If you have been following me for a while you know we even got dressed up as the characters from “Wreck it Ralph” last Halloween. We have been waiting for this movie to come out for quite some time.

I will be doing a separate review of the film soon, but in the meantime today’s blog post is going to be all about how the voices behind the characters got vulnerable while at the press junket. It was a very enlightening experience to hear all about their own struggles and tribulations regarding some of the topics that are addressed in the film.

The question was asked “why revisit these characters?” At the end of the “Wreck it Ralph” movie it seemed like everything was going good and everyone was living happily ever after. The director, Rich Moore, agreed that all seemed well, except when you really looked at the last line of the movie. It was Ralph saying “If that little kid likes me, how bad can I be?” Moore said that at surface it seems like a pretty harmless line, but when the creators looked at it more in depth they realized that Ralph seemed to base his entire self worth around the opinion of just one person.

Enter the main topic of the film; insecurity. We get to take a super close look at Ralph and his insecurities, which are magnified when he and Vanellope enter into the world of the internet for the first time.

John C. Riley, the voice of Ralph, talks about how the arcade is the “childhood arena of their friendship (his and Vanellope’s) and the internet represents the world beyond as they grow and mature.” It is a story that many ages can relate to as we have all experienced friendships that change with time and life monuments.

(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)

Riley also talked about how the movie is really dealing with the “most important issue of our time.” He says that “our relationship to this technology, its power and its effect on us, we don’t even quite understand it yet. IT’S AS POWERFUL AS A NUCLEAR BOMB. To be able to talk about some of the issues in a really, real way” was very exciting to Riley. Like, “why do we crave the anonymous acceptance of people we don’t know.” This movie may be a cartoon, but in my opinion, the issues that they bring up are so important to us as parents and for our youth.

Riley hopes that kids are entertained by the movie but also learn that reaching out for acceptance from people they don’t know ultimately leaves you with a kind of an empty feeling. He hopes kids (and adults) can come to ask themselves “why am I doing that?” and that is the first step in recognizing you need to do something different.

(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)

All the actors talked about how working and recording together made such a huge difference in the connection that we feel to the characters. We really feel invested in the lives of Ralph, Vanellope, Felix, Calhoun, etc…they feel like a family to us because they feel like a family in real life. Their chemistry together during the press junket was so heart warming and very evident that they have enjoyed working together. Which makes watching Ralph struggle with his insecurities even more difficult for us as a viewer.

There was also a discussion about how the movie briefly jokes about the secret to parenting, which we never find out. So the media asked if the actors themselves had any secrets to parenting. Riley stressed the importance of getting to know each child separately and not assuming things based on the type of things your family always does. It shouldn’t be about what kind of school your family goes to, but what school does this child need to attend? Moore, one of the directors, said that he strives to never talk down to his child, to always talk to them as human beings. Phil Johnston, another director, says that just loving them, keeping them safe and not putting more pressure on them because the world already does that are his key components to parenting.

(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)

And to end with something a little more light-hearted, Sarah Silverman was asked about her moment getting a scene with all the Disney princesses and even getting her own princess song. She said that “it was a dream come true.” Plus, having the music written by Alan Menken and recording with an entire orchestra was “the thrill of a lifetime.”

(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Disney)

After the press junket was over we also got to play some of the old games from the movie, had a treat of milkshakes and pancakes (you will understand that more once you see the movie) and got a sneak peak of some of the newest merchandise for the movie.

It was such a surreal day being in the same room as all the actors from one of our favorite family movies. What is one movie you would love to interview the actors?