RALPH AND VANELLOPE
Ralph Breaks the Internet is the sequel to 2012’s animated blockbuster Wreck-It Ralph. It stars John C. Reilly as the title character of Wreck-It Ralph and Sarah Silverman as Vanellope Von Schweetz, a spirited racer and Ralph’s best friend. Together, they travel to the internet to save Vanellope’s game from being scrapped. Both Wreck-It Ralph and its sequel are directed by Rich Moore, who also directed Disney’s Zootopia.
THE CHEMISTRY OF RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET
At a recent press conference for the film Silverman was asked about the terrific chemistry between the characters and if she and Reilly recorded their parts together. Also, if they got to improvise. Silverman responded, “We did it together. Chumbo. Yeah. We get to record together with these guys [gesturing to Taraji P. Henson and Jack McBryer] and Pam [Pamela Ribon, the voice of Snow White]. And yeah. We get to improvise.”
“They give us a lot of freedom. We collaborate a lot and the script itself is so fantastic. And it’s really fun. I think they always book about maybe an extra hour of time than they need. Because we get real chatty. And there is definitely an album. Like a very rated-R comedy album [LAUGHTER] somewhere in the audio footage of recording for sure.” Director Rich Moore interjected, “At least an hour of chit chat, bawdy humor. Then focusing on the pages. Then changing the pages.”
RETURNING TO WRECK-IT RALPH
John C. Reilly added, “It was a real treat to get into the studio again with Sarah. In a way, like our friendship has aged five years since the last film. So, it tracks in a way with Ralph and Vanellope. Sarah is not my only friend. One of my only friends [LAUGHTER]. But it was a real treat to be able to start at a place of intimacy with Sarah and with Phil and Rich and Pam and everybody. We all kind of knew each other. And we learned how to work together on the first film. And we built these characters and the story together.”
“So, that when it came time to start this one, we could start from a very advanced place in terms of the kind of conversations we could have about the relationships and all that. And you can really see that in the film. I think I was one of the first people to insist that we try to be in the room together as much as possible. Because I know the way improv works, it works best in real time. So yeah. There’s a ton of improvised stuff, which Phil and Rich were very kind to just let us explore things every day. That’s one of the great joys of doing audio work. There is never the pressure of the sun going down.”
GIVING RALPH BREAKS THE INTERNET A SOUL
“You and Taraji recorded a lot together,” Moore said. “Yeah. Exactly. No. Jack and I recorded there. All of us recorded together. Definitely. Yeah,” Reilly answered. “Your question was specific about me and Sarah. But certainly, I think that’s what sets both of these movies apart is that feeling of heart and real emotion. It’s because we’re looking into each other’s eyes. I’ve done other animated work where I didn’t meet the other actor ever. And I’m sure there is sort of practical people that say it doesn’t matter. It’s just a voice. But to me it does matter. I think it does come across in the film. It gives the film a soul it might not have if we weren’t there together.”
