Ralph Breaks the Internet... and the Big Screen

So my movie for this week was Disney’s “Raph Breaks the Internet.”  The long awaited sequel to “Wreck It Ralph,” this film takes everything that was thoroughly enjoyable about the first: quirky characters, compelling story, and easter eggs galore, and makes it bigger… because… the internet.  While marketed as a kids film, many of the jokes hit home for the adult viewer as well, making it an engaging view for the whole family.

“Ralph Breaks the Internet” picks up six years after the events of the first film.  Ralph is content with his life; work in his game by day, hanging out with his best friend Vanellope at night.  Vanellope, however, is bored of driving the same tracks every day and wants something more.  When her game breaks, she and Ralph venture into the world of the internet to purchase the necessary piece on Ebay.  What follows is an entertaining ride though a colorful representation of the online world, replete with viral videos, pop-ups, online gaming, viruses, and every subsidiary company that Disney owns.

While it does not pay to take too close a look at the relationships between the characters in the story (Ralph’s relationship with Vanellope veers wildly between father struggling to let go, overly codependent boyfriend, and super possessive best friend), the emotional heart of the movie is about struggling with change and putting the needs of others ahead of your own, always an excellent message for both kids and adults.  Ralph and Vanellope’s friendship is put at the forefront of the story, meaning that many of the other characters are not given opportunities to grow and develop, and while I would have liked to see more of the subplot with Fix-It-Felix and Calhoun parenting 15 obnoxious teenage children, the fact that the story chose to put quality over quantity in their character development and focus so intently on Vanellope and Ralph is undeniably positive.

What makes “Ralph Breaks the Internet” shine is the abundance of easter eggs.  Disney pulled out all the stops for this film.  The fact that Vanellope is an unacknowledged Disney princess is played well for both feels and laughs.  Many of the original voices of the Disney princesses lent their voice talents to this film, and the inclusion of a brilliant song by Disney composer Alan Menken, both mocks the hype surrounding the Disney princess phenomenon while brilliantly selling everything that is great about the characters.  Disney further pulls out all the stops with characters showing up from Star Wars, the MCU, and other Disney properties including a hilarious interview with Baby Groot and a special cameo that made me slightly teary.

There was actually a surprising amount to analyze in this film, and I may come back to it at a later date, but for today, take the time to check out “Ralph Breaks the Internet.”  This funny, insightful, and energetic film does a lot right, while also miraculously outdoing films like the “The Lego Movie,” for product placement, easter eggs, and self-referential/self-deprecating humor.

Well, back to reality!