By Edward Baillargeon
Back in 2012, Wreck-it Ralph sounded like an awesome idea of being a combination of two of my favorite pieces of media from my childhood, Disney and video games. While many gamers went into the movie to see cameos from classic video game characters like Ryu, Bowser, Zangief, and Sonic, they stayed for a hilarious and fun adventure about a bad guy trying to prove that he can be a good guy. Heck, I would even consider this one of my all-time favorite animated Disney films right up there with Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Lilo and Stitch, and Mulan. And of all the recent films from Walt Disney Animation Studios, this one sounded like it would have the most potential for a sequel rather if Ralph goes into the modern gaming world or a new realm like the Internet. Now 6 years after the first film, Ralph is back to do some more wrecking with Ralph Breaks the Internet.
Six years after the events of the first film, the steering wheel controller on the Sugar Rush game console breaks, forcing Mr. Litwak to unplug the machine. Wreck-It Ralph and Vanellope von Schweetz evacuate all of the Sugar Rush residents to other games before it is shut down and use the arcade’s new connection to the Internet to go looking for a replacement steering wheel. While they find a source for a replacement wheel, they need money, leading them on a crazy adventure across the internet.
Ralph Breaks the Internet is another win from Disney that manages to be just as action-packed, hilarious, charming, and surprisingly emotional as the first one. Thanks to the film’s clever script, the movie packs so much fun into the world of the Internet when Ralph and Vanellope have to journey outside of the arcade. And before anyone brings up this comparison, this movie is absolutely NOT another Emoji Movie. Unlike Sony’s universally hated 2017 film, Ralph does use some product placement with websites like Google, Pinterest, YouTube, eBay, and a few others, they are mostly just in the background and not the main focused locations in the movie. The film also takes a few Internet rules into the story such as something as easy as not reading the comments sections of any website. The people at Disney Animation instead decide to make up their own locations in the Internet as the main locations each with their own personalities rendered beautifully in the usual fantastic animation to be expected from Disney. Rather if it is the dark and dreary look of the Dark Net, the unpredictable craziness of Slaughter Race, the YouTube-esque video sharing utopia of BuzzTube, or the colorful Oh My Disney. And speaking of Oh My Disney, there are a huge amount of cameos from across the Disney monopoly including characters from the Disney canon, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars, and will sure to make any Disney nerd like myself squee with glee when spotting a cameo. But for those who have seen any of the trailers, they would know one of the best scene stealing cameos would be when Vanellope has an encounter with all of the Disney princesses in a hilarious scene with some great meta jokes about if she fits the princess mold with the same cliches as them. All of the voice performances are great across the board with John C. Reilly and Sarah Silverman in particular having great chemistry with each other as Ralph and Vanellope that really carries the movie. All of the newcomers are also have a really fun and necessary presence in the movie like Gal Gadot, aka Wonder Woman, as Slaughter Race racer Shank, Taraji P. Henson as the BuzzTube trending algorithm Yesss, Bill Hader as pop-up ad Spamley, and Disney veteran Alan Tudyk as the Google-esque search engine KnowsMore. As funny and enjoyable as this movie is, there may be a few slight questions in regards to how well this movie will hold up over the next several years because of the ever-changing Internet and how trends and memes always come and go, and as a result could possibly make the movie slightly dated.
Overall, Ralph Breaks the Internet is a fun and hilarious film with all of the ingredients that made Wreck-it Ralph so great. It has a fun story, fantastic animation, lovable characters, and consistently hilarious humor. If you are a fan of the first film, want a great look into the weirdness of the Internet, or are just a Disney geek, then this is a must-see. Also, please take my advice into consideration to PLEASE STAY DURING THE CREDITS as the credits scenes this movie has are absolutely worth it. I’m going to give Ralph Breaks the Internet a 9/10 with the Edward’s Seal of Approval.
