Ralph breaks the box office in vibrant sequel

Review: 4/4 starsIn 2012’s amazing "Wreck it Ralph”, video game character Ralph wants to be the hero for a change. In his efforts to have a positive reputation, he ends up causing more havoc and later meets his long term acquaintance Vanellope. Now, six year later, Disney’s sequel "Ralph Breaks the Internet" is even better. In this continuation, viewers follow Ralph and Vanellope as they venture from the comforts of the arcade and travel through the newest “plug-in”, the internet, on a mission to fix Vanellope’s broken game “Sugar Rush.” These two best friends encounter the dangers of internet viruses and learn how to maneuver through this foreign world with the help of the Internet’s natives. As their adventure progresses, Vanellope finds herself wanting to stay in the Internet forever, as she is attracted to the idea of finally doing something new. This stirs conflict with Ralph, who is anxious to return to the familiar. However, their mission to save the internet and all the animated characters leads them to resolve their issue and grow from the experience. The movie carries themes of the strength of friendship and how sometimes distance between two individuals is necessary. Also, one can’t help but notice how the movie references a major problem with the youth of today: how distracting the internet can be. It does this by always maintaining motion on the screen and incorporating loud and obnoxious colors and graphics. In spite of all of the eye-catching details, the intended message can still be understood. Directors Rich Moore and Phil Johnston shed light on modern social issues involving human reliance of technology while also producing a more general message of friendship and relationships.Although the movie is a PG-rated cartoon, it is packed with cultural references. The movie draws characters from other Disney films, like the princesses, and also alludes to more modern topics and ideas; if you pay attention, you will see Walt Disney! Ralph’s character evokes King Kong as he climbs a skyscraper while holding Vanellope hostage. There are many shoutouts of modern trends, especially top viewed Youtube videos, such as the endless amounts of cat videos. Only days after the latest Fortnite dance “Hot Marat” was available on the game, the dance was performed by Ralph himself in the movie.This light movie teaches young viewers about the importance of building lasting relationships, an idea that can be appreciated by older audiences as well. Its fluffy humor gives it a “feel-good” vibe and the hidden references can make it interesting to watch multiple times. "Ralph Breaks the Internet" is sure to leave you with a smile.