Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)

Written by Phil Johnston & Pamela Ribon

Directed by Rich Moore & Phil Johnston

Since I finished the full list of Disney Animated Features last year, I figured it would only make sense to continue adding reviews as the list continues to grow...how long I’ll keep that going, I’m not sure, but here we go, nonetheless.

So, I recall enjoying the first Wreck-It-Ralph film (I scored it an A-), and I even remarked that I was excited that the film was getting a sequel. Well, Ralph Breaks the Internet is here and...well, it was okay.

First of all, why on EARTH wasn’t this film called Ralph Wrecks the Internet? HE’S WRECK-IT RALPH. I get the “breaks the internet” reference, but still...this seems like a majorly missed opportunity.

The internet

Creatively, the film soars with its depictions of the internet, just as the first film did with Game Central Station. A bustling city, with user avatars everywhere seems like a really creative choice, and honestly, how else could you depict it? The animation here is also great, with the various worlds all being rendered beautifully. I particularly loved the contrast between the world of the internet and the world of “Slaughter Race” (also, the Slaughter Race song was pretty brilliant).

Cinderella will CUT you

Another great aspect was the Disney Princesses. Nothing will crack me up quite like Cinderella smashing her glass slipper into a shiv. It’s obvious that they were meant to be just in the one scene they were featured in in the trailer, and that the positive fan reaction caused them to be added into more, but I didn’t mind at all. Disney does great at mocking itself, and I wish it would do it a bit more.

There was still something about the film, however, that just didn’t click with me. Maybe it’s that Vanellope’s arc seemed rushed. Maybe it’s that the film focused TOO much on the relationship of Ralph and Vanellope, when other leading characters from the first film are relegated to the sidelines for the bulk of this film. It’s hard to put my finger on, but I just didn’t connect as much as I did in the first film.

Overall, there are many worse films in the Disney canon, but there’s better ones too. There’s lot of great ideas in the film, but the emotional aspect seemed to lack for me. There’s a heavy focus on emotions, but too much of a good thing (the chemistry between Ralph and Vanellope) can spoil the rest.

FINAL GRADE: B-