Going Global – Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)

Judging by the trailer reel that ran in front of nearly every movie I saw throughout December, there is an oncoming wave of animated features ranging from much-awaited sequels to strange ideas that nobody asked for. It makes perfect sense even if some of the upcoming titles aren’t particularly spellbinding. Both commercially and critically, 2018 was a stellar year for animated films. Putting a stamp on the final months, Ralph Breaks the Internet expanded on its predecessor’s original concept and broadened the scope of Disney’s extensive crossover potential.

Following the events of the first film, Litwak’s Arcade gets Wi-Fi for the first time. After an accident with the Sugar Rush game, Ralph and Princess Vanellope venture out into the internet to find a replacement part for the game before Mr. Litwak is forced to get rid of the machine. With a concept such as this, the plot device isn’t all that important as long as it gets the characters where they need to go and provides a good foundation for the rest of the story to unfold. It’s really about friendship, finding your place in the larger world, and handling all the personal insecurities that go along with it.

With the relative frequency in which these animated movies roll out, it’s easy to take for granted just how amazing these digital works actually are. In this instance, the interpretation of “the internet” is an impressive yet digestible way to get a grasp on what the internet is and how it works, especially for younger viewers. Cory Loftis was basically spot on with the production design and his vision was executed to perfection by the army of visual artists and animators. These digital artists really are the backbone of all these stories and they deserve as much credit as everyone else.

This was also a very interesting exercise in brand crossovers for Disney…the perfect vehicle to showcase how much they have under their creative umbrella and a glimpse at some of the ways in which they can incorporate those properties into new ideas and potential spin-offs. Seeing Star Wars and Marvel properties side-by-side along with all the traditional characters from their own substantial catalog was really something special. For example, we get to see all the Disney Princesses together as a sort of sisterhood and just watching them all interact with one another was thoroughly enjoyable. A stand-alone movie with all the princesses from the Magic Kingdom would be a really fun way to bring the old and new fans together. Fingers crossed. 

At the core of this saga are Ralph and Venellope. Their friendship was the focal point of the first film and the screenplay by Director Phil Johnston and Pamela Ribon didn’t stray from that formula here. John C. Reilly and Sarah Silverman have strong working chemistry between their two “odd couple” characters but there was something pitchy going on with Sarah Silverman’s voice this time around. Whether or not you found it annoying in the original, there is a noticeable extra squeakiness to it that wasn’t there the first time. Maybe the studio wanted to punch up the childishness a little more, who knows, but it wasn’t necessary. Regardless, that wasn’t enough to derail the project from being one of the Best Animated features of the year.

I never wanted to see Wreck-It Ralph when it came out in 2012 (and only recently did so) but this was perhaps the best sequel of 2018. It’s ultimately a story about friendship and individual identity in the face of the entire rest of the world. More expansive with broader appeal than its forerunner, it’s a little surprising to see that it didn’t hit Disney numbers at the box office after winning its opening weekend. The domestic totals didn’t even break $200-million, which would be great if it didn’t cost $175-mil to make. Surprisingly, more than half the global box office of $450-mil is from the foreign markets. While this was a good product, the domestic receipts may not warrant a follow-up. Hopefully, someone else is on top of getting that Disney Princesses movie made.

Recommendation: If you enjoyed the concept and execution of the first movie, then there’s no reason you would like this one just as much. It’s also perfectly accessible to those who never saw the original but you might miss out on a joke or two.