This glib and rambling sequel offers a few laughs at some pop culture references, but totally lacks the heart and excitement of the 2012 original. The movie’s well-meaning message, about the importance of developing friendships that are loving and supportive, not clingy and insecure, is repeated over and over to the point of absurdity.

Sugar Rush star racer Princess Vanellope von Schweetz (Sarah Silverman) has become best friends with Wreck-It Ralph (John C. Reilly) over the past six years, but she longs for change. When she discovers Slaughter Race online, a post-apocalyptic daredevil racing game, presided over by tough-as-nails racer Shank (Gal Gadot), Vanellope starts to wonder about what she really wants.

There are some great gags (including a few during the credits sequence), but most of these are covered simply by watching the trailer. There is something magical about reuniting original voice actors with their Disney Princesses (including Jodi Benson, Paige O’Hara, Mandy Moore, Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, and Auliʻi Cravalho), but they’re only used as window-dressing. There’s also a vomit-inducing amount of product placement throughout.

Pixar’s Toy Story 2 (1999) and Toy Story 3 (2010), as well as Finding Dory (2016) and The Incredibles 2 (2018), are all renowned, dynamite sequels. Even Disney’s live action Pirates of the Caribbean franchise has turned out many excellent sequels. But Disney’s best-loved animated movies have hardly ever created inspiring sequels, and this disposable cash-in just seems to be following the same trend.

Ralph Breaks The Internet opens in the UK on 30 November 2018, in IMAX, 3D, and 2D.