Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)
One cannot begin to fully compartmentalize just how revolutionary the internet was to society. Incredibly complex and layered in both the positive and negative sides of its impact, the internet generated an unavoidable act of diastrophism within culture that naturally found its way onto the big screen. Cinema, in all genres and forms, is often where creators will wrestle and engage in dialogue with various concepts to find either a thesis on the concept itself, or a catalyst for another expression. Considering the size and extensive reach of the internet, it was only a matter of time until Disney took the space as a setting for a film with this materializing in Ralph Breaks the Internet. Coming as the sequel to 2012's Wreck-It Ralph, Ralph Breaks the Internet trades in an exploration of the world of an arcade to send Ralph (John C. Reilly) and Vanellope (Sarah Silverman) on an adventure through the internet as they are tasked in making enough money to buy a new wheel for Vanellope's game to save it from being thrown out. Along the way, Vanellope is forced to contend with her dreams for something new while Ralph, afraid of losing his best friend, desperately tries to convince her to stay where she is.
After having fun interacting with various video game characters and building an imaginative world within that space during the first film, the evolution to sending the characters off into the endless seas of the internet is not a bad move. While it is hard to say that the actual exploration of the internet within the feature is anything groundbreaking, the iconography of turning the internet into a futuristic large city is nothing new and the actual substance within the film's view of what the internet provides is as basic as one can get, there is still a sense of fun and imagination to be had. Seeing these characters get shoved into the more adult world of Slaughter Race or try to figure out how to work an algorithm to generate more clicks and income is entertaining largely due to the work of both Reilly and Silverman.
While the ensemble cast of the first film remains untouchable compared to what is provided overall in Ralph Breaks the Internet, it is clear that both Reilly and Silverman remain flawless. Given more depth and emotional weight behind their characters and the conflicts they are facing, the voice work here is some of Disney's best. The insecurities of Ralph and the complex desires of Vanellope really come through, as does the natural chemistry of the two in the film's more fun moments. This connection and relationship is what elevates the film and gives the feature its worthy voice.
While the film takes place within the internet and largely defines itself with the layers of what is to be explored on the platform, the film really isn't about the internet. Similarly to how the first film wasn't really about video games, the heart of Ralph Breaks the Internet belongs to a more substantial question of friendship. When one friend is happy and feels happy, how can they contend with their friend wanting change? How can they accept their friends' goals and support them when they feel their happiness being attacked by the process? While the outcome here is far from being a revelation, this is a worthy concept for a kids film to explore and the emotions here do feel powerful. In this, there is also some strong visual storytelling and ideas with the film not taking the most basic option when it comes to expressing or working through this conflict.
Beyond this, the film carries several smaller areas of reflection and comedy with the best being when it looks inward and pokes fun at the world of Disney. In an iconic scene, Vanellope meets the Disney Princesses with their original voice actors reprising their roles in a fun segment that looks at the trauma Disney has put these characters through while asking the question if Vanellope is a Disney Princesses herself. This leads into a memorable musical sequence with the film taking the classic Disney formula and turning key parts of it around to create something quite entertaining.
When it comes to true faults, most is found within the logic of the film. While some might have an issue with how the film creates logic within the relationship of these virtual characters and their impact on the real world, this feels somewhat silly as neither the original film nor nearly any part of Disney's filmography has been overly concerned with making their films realistic or logical in this way. The bigger problem stems from the logic of the actual conflict. Ralph is sad that Vanellope wants to stay in the internet as this means he will only see her occasionally. However, this problem falls apart when one considers that the journey between the arcade and the world of the internet seems to take only a handful of minutes. The wall these characters are dealing with feels non-existent, something that undercuts the actual severity of the plot. While the base character drama still connects, this lack of logic does create a bit of a disconnect for the audience buying into the gravitas of what they are seeing.
Still, when it comes to sequels Ralph Breaks the Internet is one of the few that keeps both the imagination and substance of the original while providing something new. The film has a genuinely strong emotional core and an effective comedic voice with both sides being undeniably helped by the performances at the center of the film. Despite some minor flaws with logic, Ralph Breaks the Internet is a great addition to Disney's modern filmography and is another winner for the series
After having fun interacting with various video game characters and building an imaginative world within that space during the first film, the evolution to sending the characters off into the endless seas of the internet is not a bad move. While it is hard to say that the actual exploration of the internet within the feature is anything groundbreaking, the iconography of turning the internet into a futuristic large city is nothing new and the actual substance within the film's view of what the internet provides is as basic as one can get, there is still a sense of fun and imagination to be had. Seeing these characters get shoved into the more adult world of Slaughter Race or try to figure out how to work an algorithm to generate more clicks and income is entertaining largely due to the work of both Reilly and Silverman.
While the ensemble cast of the first film remains untouchable compared to what is provided overall in Ralph Breaks the Internet, it is clear that both Reilly and Silverman remain flawless. Given more depth and emotional weight behind their characters and the conflicts they are facing, the voice work here is some of Disney's best. The insecurities of Ralph and the complex desires of Vanellope really come through, as does the natural chemistry of the two in the film's more fun moments. This connection and relationship is what elevates the film and gives the feature its worthy voice.
While the film takes place within the internet and largely defines itself with the layers of what is to be explored on the platform, the film really isn't about the internet. Similarly to how the first film wasn't really about video games, the heart of Ralph Breaks the Internet belongs to a more substantial question of friendship. When one friend is happy and feels happy, how can they contend with their friend wanting change? How can they accept their friends' goals and support them when they feel their happiness being attacked by the process? While the outcome here is far from being a revelation, this is a worthy concept for a kids film to explore and the emotions here do feel powerful. In this, there is also some strong visual storytelling and ideas with the film not taking the most basic option when it comes to expressing or working through this conflict.
Beyond this, the film carries several smaller areas of reflection and comedy with the best being when it looks inward and pokes fun at the world of Disney. In an iconic scene, Vanellope meets the Disney Princesses with their original voice actors reprising their roles in a fun segment that looks at the trauma Disney has put these characters through while asking the question if Vanellope is a Disney Princesses herself. This leads into a memorable musical sequence with the film taking the classic Disney formula and turning key parts of it around to create something quite entertaining.
When it comes to true faults, most is found within the logic of the film. While some might have an issue with how the film creates logic within the relationship of these virtual characters and their impact on the real world, this feels somewhat silly as neither the original film nor nearly any part of Disney's filmography has been overly concerned with making their films realistic or logical in this way. The bigger problem stems from the logic of the actual conflict. Ralph is sad that Vanellope wants to stay in the internet as this means he will only see her occasionally. However, this problem falls apart when one considers that the journey between the arcade and the world of the internet seems to take only a handful of minutes. The wall these characters are dealing with feels non-existent, something that undercuts the actual severity of the plot. While the base character drama still connects, this lack of logic does create a bit of a disconnect for the audience buying into the gravitas of what they are seeing.
Still, when it comes to sequels Ralph Breaks the Internet is one of the few that keeps both the imagination and substance of the original while providing something new. The film has a genuinely strong emotional core and an effective comedic voice with both sides being undeniably helped by the performances at the center of the film. Despite some minor flaws with logic, Ralph Breaks the Internet is a great addition to Disney's modern filmography and is another winner for the series