Critique of “Ralph Breaks the Internet” (2018): A Movie Review

Few things capture the banality and ominous nature of the modern world like scrolling through the Internetscape, swiping or clicking on apps and websites that represent our digital lives. We are all, of course, prospectors in this ever-expanding, blindingly constricting, and yet, strangely enough, still in its infancy world. In an age where the Internet allows you to do so much from your bed, we’re constantly learning to adapt. It is on the shoulders that Disney has brought us Ralph breaks the Internet. A sequel to the 2012 film ” Wreck-It Ralph“, it’s an ambitious tribute to the arcade culture of the ’80s and one of the most beautifully animated and surprisingly emotionally charged recent films that wasn’t born at Pixar. In 2018’s sobering sequel, Ralph (voiced John C. Reilly in ” Sisters Brothers“), Vanellope (voiced Sarah Silverman in ” Battle of the Sexes“), and their quest to find a part for the arcade game of the latter, after Ralph wrecks it, and tries to challenge Vanellope who, at this point, can win Sugar Rush races even blindfolded. They enter a world of consumer dominance, one we are all familiar with. Our heroes then discover the New World. In this version, Snapchat and Amazon reside in monolithic temples and concepts such as virality and easy functionality are dominant. Does this sound familiar? The movie is not going to fool us into thinking this is an utopia. It will instead focus on the toxic online world, both in the film and for the audience. Ralph breaks the Internet is a Disney Channel-meets “Black Mirror” for most moviegoers older than 14. This pixelated tale is as funny and disturbing as it can be, even though some of the leaps to self-awareness are a bit confusing at times. The story is a spiritual successor of a Pixar film, ” inside Out,” because it uses zany methods to personify internal struggles to achieve moving ends. It’s amazing how Disney made such a big leap in its sequel. We can easily imagine the climax to Ralph breaks the Internet happening inside someone’s head, or their thoughts resolving themselves. Ralph breaks the Internet, for which Phil Johnson teamed up with Rich Moore as director, comes at the end of a year in cinema that has seen the Internet used in tantalizing ways and in frightening ways. In recent months, we’ve seen a slew of social media-centric films like “Cam,” Searching,” and ” 8th Grade,” all of which have a dark view of the Internet. Disney’s offering does not differ, even though a heap of sugar, spices and everything nice helps to cushion the fall. It is a film that appeals to a wide range of audiences, including older audiences who may have more in mind when they leave the theatre than younger viewers. Ralph breaks the Internet is, however, a clever creation. Johnson and Moore’s story becomes increasingly sarcastic the more it leans towards an idyllic depiction of the social media world with its tweeting birds and homogenous population of avatar denizens. The movie isn’t naive – pop-ups are explicitly depicted as the Internet equivalent of panhandlers and you get a sense that the bustling metropolis was not built on the back of pure intentions. One of the most disturbing tricks is that hearts are used as currency. We would laugh until we remembered how much YouTube stars earn in real life. These moments, where the film shows that social media saturation is more than satire are common. Later, our protagonists make this discovery themselves as the story starts to become absurd. Vanellope’s singing of “A Place Called Slaughter Race”, in what is basically a “Mad Max/Death Race” videogame, sets off the whole thing. The game is a wonderful blend of sincerity and anarchy that achieves some level of authenticity. . . Internet is a great example. Nomination for Best Original Song? Arguments could be made. It becomes obvious, almost to the point of distraction, how out of date and dated this version of Internet is as Ralph and Vanellope navigate through it. It’s so focused on recreating every detail of popular online blackholes that it’s difficult to believe some of the visuals and sight gags will not feel outdated in January. It’s difficult to believe the film isn’t aware, making its balance with ultimately more enduring themes like toxic masculinity and a fear of independence a little curious. Disney also has to take a moment of self-reflection in the film. The plot will inevitably lead to the film’s version of Disney, a virtual Mecca that represents this world’s Times Square and Hollywood Boulevard. We notice Easter Eggs of all the properties it has swallowed. If you are familiar with Disney’s business, then the X-Wings of “Star Wars” flying above Woody and Buzz talking is a bit nauseating. Vanellope’s self-awareness is an interesting attempt by Disney to modernize their foundation when she wanders into the shared residence of Disney’s iconic princesses from decades past. Why not? Various parts of the scene were used in promotional materials. This is a crossover event. The fact that Snow White, Cinderella, and the rest of the cast have major agency in their lives is hilarious and refreshing. It contrasts their stories which are governed by old-fashioned social strata. But on a deeper note it feels as if Disney is trying to correct those historical wrongs. We can’t ignore that the company’s wealth and legacy will outlive Ralph breaks the Internet as well as its box office. Vanellope is guided to a new destination, a place she never knew she wanted. Ralph’s refusal to accept that she wasn’t her priority leads to a deconstruction of the Internet, a toxic forum, and our tendency to limit others ambitions for our own benefit. Will these lessons be lost on younger audiences? Probably. It may not be a lesson for younger viewers who aren’t expecting Ralph breaks the Internet as a teaching moment. Insecurities are literally destroying this version of the Internet in a hilarious and heartbreaking way. These connections to our lives can help us to reflect on ourselves. When considering the longevity of the film, it is also important to consider the legacy. How will the aesthetics of this online domain have changed when children who watch this film show it to their kids? How will the culture change? This is a film for the moment. However, it represents a fleeting moment within an online ecosystem that is constantly changing. If so, let’s hope the changes will be for the better.