When I first saw Ralph Breaks the Internet in theaters fall semester, I was obsessed—with the countless jokes, clever representation of the Internet, and heartwarming relationship between two best friends, what’s not to love? So, naturally when I had the opportunity to watch the film again for extra credit, I was beyond excited! Watching the film the second time around, (this time after having taken a class that emphasizes the importance of analyzing the messages that texts such as Disney movies send its viewers) I was able to appreciate the subtle scenes and interactions so much more.
To start off, I appreciated Disney’s willingness to accept its past shortcomings in its gendered depictions of princesses. The scenes in the film with all the previous Disney princesses were my favorite, because not only did they bring me back to my childhood, but they had the important function of showing young girls that princesses were so much more than just passive, beautiful girls who waited around to be saved by men. Instead, the princesses were characterized as humorous, irrevocably independent, and fearless. For example, when Vanellope finds herself in a room backstage with all the princesses, she is asked many questions by them so they can determine whether she truly is a princess. Rapunzel asks, “Do people assume all your problems got solved because a big, strong man showed up?” and Vanellope answers, “Yes,” all the princesses then exclaim, “She is a princess!” This was a clever way of reinforcing the notion that unfortunately, princesses have not been regarded as intelligent human beings capable of igniting meaningful change themselves. Instead, Disney had made the mistake of underestimating their inherent worth by subjecting them to being rescued by able-bodied men. However, in Ralph Breaks the Internet, Disney takes all the negative criticism it has received about the misogynistic portrayal of the princesses and actually creates a solution. Now, the princesses are strong-willed and they are the ones doing the saving. Not only are they portrayed stripping off their princess gowns (which symbolically could be interpreted as them freeing themselves from the masculine gaze and from the suffocating expectations society imposes on women to be aesthetically beautiful) in exchange for comfortable, athletic clothes, but they actually actively come to the rescue. An iconic quote is when Ralph plummets from the top of a skyscraper and Rapunzel exclaims, “Look up there! It’s a big, strong man in need of saving!” This message is extremely empowering to girls, showing them that like the princesses, they too can rise above societal labels and emerge as strong leaders. Clearly, after decades of perpetuating the passive female stereotype and narrow social views, Disney has taken a step in a more progressive direction.
Furthermore, the main overarching theme of the film is that it is totally ok if our friends are different from us. We should not try to impose our own interests and values on others, but we should embrace diversity and accept that what makes us happy does not necessarily make everyone else happy. Through the film, Ralph thinks that just because he is content with his lifestyle, Vanellope should also be pleased with the same routine of playing “Sugar Rush” all day and then hanging out with Ralph at night. Thus, Ralph is unable to fathom why Vanellope would ever desire something new and different from the life she is leading at the arcade. However, in the end, Ralph must come to terms with the fact that just because Vanellope is leaving her old life to make new adventures at “Slaughter Race,” it doesn’t mean that she is leaving their friendship behind. I appreciate how Disney dares to send children the message that we should not only accept ourselves for who we truly are, but we should also bestow that same respect to our friends. Ultimately, your friend doesn’t have to be exactly like you to be your friend.
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