Still from ‘Ralph Breaks the Internet’
Disney explores the mature (and immature) way of saying goodbye to a friend
By Jacey Gibb, Distribution Manager
I didn’t enter the theatre of Ralph Breaks the Internet expecting to cry. Heck, based on the now-franchise’s first film, Wreck-It Ralph (2012), I was expecting cute characters, some top-notch voice acting, and a generous helping of food puns. All the aforementioned expectations were immensely satisfied, but I didn’t anticipate watching anything as heartfelt as the friendship at the core of Breaks the Internet.
Before I explain, be advised that this article contains significant spoilers from Ralph Breaks the Internet, including moments from the film’s climax. On the off-chance you haven’t seen the movie and would very much like to one day, please redirect your eyes to any of the other fine article included in this week’s issue of the Other Press.
(Seriously though, it’s a fantastic movie and deserves better than to be spoiled for you by a college newspaper.)
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Vancouver’s a transient city to live in. If you haven’t experienced it already, you’ll soon feel the sinking dread of having your close friends move away to live in more affordable cities, lured away by the possibility of owning property, or maybe even saving some of their paycheques. Even though most of my friends have successful, well-paying jobs, few of them plan on sticking around in this city.
A week before seeing Ralph Breaks the Internet in theatres, my best friend for the past eight years moved to Germany. It’s an incredible opportunity for her: She’s gone to be with her girlfriend and family, and she’s moving to a city where artists are more valued for their craft. None of these reasons made our eventual goodbye any less wrenching.
I experienced a lot of the same emotions Ralph did, from the disbelief toward my friend vaguely talking about moving someday, to the hopelessness he felt knowing it was only a matter of time. They’re all valid emotions—expected, even—but Ralph’s reaction is where he goes off the rails. He attempts to sabotage his friend moving forward in life at the expense of her happiness. It’s not until he sees thousands of copies of himself, all pathetically clambering for Vanellope’s friendship, that Ralph realizes how toxic his actions were.
The lesson at the heart of Breaks the Internet is this: Friendship is more than a shared proximity. It’s a mutual respect for each other’s values and life trajectories, even when those trajectories take you in different directions.
And if your friend decides to move to Berlin—I mean, Slaughter Race—instead of brainstorming ways to keep her from going, you make travel plans for when you’re going to visit.
