Movie Review: Ralph Breaks the Internet

Ralph Breaks the Internet *** ½ / *****

Directed by: Phil Johnston and Rich Moore.

Written by: Phil Johnston & Pamela Ribon and Rich Moore and Jim Reardon and Josie Trinidad.

Starring: John C. Reilly (Ralph), Sarah Silverman (Vanellope), Gal Gadot (Shank), Kristen Bell (Anna), Mandy Moore (Rapunzel), Kelly Macdonald (Merida), Alan Tudyk (KnowsMore), Auli'i Cravalho (Moana), Ming-Na Wen (Mulan), Taraji P. Henson (Yesss), Idina Menzel (Elsa), Ed O'Neill (Mr. Litwak), Alfred Molina (Double Dan), Jane Lynch (Calhoun), Jodi Benson (Ariel), Anika Noni Rose (Tiana), Jack McBrayer (Felix), Flula Borg (Flula Borg), Ali Wong (Felony), Irene Bedard (Pocahontas), Peter Cullen (Eeyore), Jennifer Hale (Cinderella), Paige O'Hara (Belle), Linda Larkin (Jasmine), Anthony Daniels (C-3PO), Colleen Ballinger (Miranda Sings), Ana Ortiz (Karillo), Rebecca Wisocky (Ebay Elayne), Timothy Simons (Butcher Boy), Kate Higgins (Aurora), Rich Moore (Sour Bill), Mark Rhino Smith (God), Pamela Ribon (Snow White), Jamie Elman (Rancis Fluggerbutter), GloZell Green (Little Debbie), Kent Boyd (Skeleton Dancer), Della Saba (Swatti), Dani Fernandez (Dani Fernandez), Hamish Blake (Pyro), Tiffany Herrera (iHasCupquake). 

 

There is no secret that almost all animated films for kids are message driven movies – they want kids to believe in themselves, be kind to each other, etc. There are a handful of messages that they almost all have in common – and very infrequently do they deviate from those tried and true messages. This year though, we’ve had two such films that offer a different message – the mediocre animated film Smallfoot argues that you shouldn’t just believe the passed down wisdom of generation after generation, because often, that is built on lies to get you to do what they need. And in Ralph Breaks the Internet, the message seems to be don’t be such a clingy jerk that you ruin your friendships. That’s a little simplistic sure – but that is the basic message here: that friendships evolve and change, and if you aren’t willing to do the same, your friendships will die. This is an actual more important message for kids to grasp.

 

It’s also really only in the last act of Ralph Breaks the Internet, the follow-up to the exciting and fun 2012 film Wreck It Ralph, where the bad guy from a Donkey Kong like video game finally gets to be the good guy – at least, while not playing the game, and make some friends of his own. His best friend was Princess Vanellope, one of the racers from Sugar Rush – a racing game where the drivers smash through candy tracks in search of a prize. Wreck It Ralph was a Disney film, although it shared a lot more in common with Pixar films, that most Disney films do. The same can be said of its sequel – that takes its characters out of the confines of the one video arcade of the predecessor, and places them in the internet this time around. You could probably question the mechanics of how the internet here works – but you’re probably better off not doing so.

 

So this time, John C. Reilly’s Ralph and Sarah Silverman’s Vanellope, head to the internet because they need to get a new steering wheel for Sugar Rush, or the game will be sold off for parts, leaving Vanellope homeless. When they get to the internet though, they find out to buy something, you need money. Long story short, they have to start exploring some of the darker parts of the internet – clickbait, the dark web, Youtube, large scale role playing games, etc. to get it.

 

Much of the first two acts of Ralph Breaks the Internet is fun, brightly colored action – from a Grand Theft Auto type game, to trips to ebay and the Disney Website (complete with the Princesses, which is the best part of the movie – which of course they gave away completely in the trailers). The movie is so busy with plot, and explaining itself, that it hardly has time for anything else. The movie wisely leaves almost all the characters from the first movie behind (there is nothing worse than sequels who try and shoehorn in every character from the original film when they don’t fit) – but doesn’t introduce a lot of new ones. The best new character is clearly Shank (Gal Gadot), the big bad guy in that Slaughter Race – who actually develops a sweet relationship with Vanellope. It’s the type of relationship you rarely see between two female characters in any film – let alone an animated film for children.

 

The ending of the film has Ralph having to accept that people change. This is a hard lesson for adults to learn, let alone children. The way the film handles it is fascinating, and quietly moving. Considering how busy the first two acts are with plot, the way it all ends it more moving than anticipated. The movie lacks the originality of the first film – but it does trade easy nostalgia for something else this time around – some more timely (that may date the film more quickly), but works. If we are stuck with more animated sequels (and we will) – we need more like Ralph Breaks the Internet that try and go in different directions than the original.