Film Review: 'Ralph Breaks the Internet' is a Bittersweet Heart-breaker

Printer-friendly versionPrinter-friendly versionE-mail page to friendE-mail page to friendPDF versionPDF version
Average: 5 (1 vote)

CHICAGO – The internet we know today is a fairly young invention full of some of the greatest conveniences known to man, but also some of the greatest distractions and nuisances currently in our lives. “Ralph Breaks the Internet” embodies just that, and while it doesn’t quite reach the high score of its predecessor, the maturity and wisdom displayed in it more than makes up for it.

HollywoodChicago.com Oscarman rating: 4.0/5.0
Rating: 4.0/5.0

Now that the film has moved from the arcade to the internet, a world wide web of possibilities has opened up for the film. Aside from poking fun at some of the internet cultures most known jokes, there is a bombardment of product placement. Everything from eBay to Twitter to Spotify is on full display, but rather than seeming like a cash-grab (though it might be just that), it comes off as an authentic exploration of the internet’s most popular companies. There is even fun to be had with pop-ups in the film, which is probably the only time that pop-ups have ever been an enjoyable aspect of the internet. There are even a couple post-credits sequences to prove how much fun this film has recreating popular memes.

Directors Phil Johnston and Rich Moore both take us into this visually intoxicating world, much like the colorfully sweet world of “Wreck-It Ralph”. Much like the first film, “Ralph Breaks the Internet” takes visual cues from already visited visual representations of what the internet would look like if it were a metropolis. In the first film, Rich Moore played off of all of the visual styles of games that already existed, usually by adding another dimension. Together, Moore and Johnston use the same method of recreating online game worlds, but blend it with a “Zootopia” type landscape, complete with a seedy for the darknet that gives you “Star Wars” cantina vibes.

“Ralph Breaks the Internet” opened in Chicago on November 21st. Featuring Sarah Silverman, John C. Reilly, Gal Gadot, Taraji P. Henson, Jane Lynch, Jack McBrayer, and Alan Tudyk. Directed by Phil Johnston and Rich Moore. Written by Phil Johnston and Pamela Ribon. Rated “PG

StarContinue reading for Jon Espino’s full review of “Ralph Breaks the Internet”

rbti1
Photo credit: Disney

StarContinue reading for Jon Espino’s full review of “Ralph Breaks the Internet”

User Login

Free Giveaway Mailing

TV, DVD, BLU-RAY & THEATER REVIEWS

  • Manhunt

    CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.

  • Topdog/Underdog, Invictus Theatre

    CHICAGO – When two brothers confront the sins of each other and it expands into a psychology of an entire race, it’s at a stage play found in Chicago’s Invictus Theatre Company production of “Topdog/Underdog,” now at their new home at the Windy City Playhouse through March 31st, 2024. Click TD/UD for tickets/info.

Advertisement



HollywoodChicago.com on Twitter

archive

HollywoodChicago.com Top Ten Discussions
referendum
tracker