For those of you who grew up reading Beverly Cleary’s “Henry Huggins” and “Ramona” books, the movie “Ramona and Beezus” will not disappoint. If you’re unfamiliar with Mrs. Cleary’s offbeat characters, buckle up, grab a big bag of buttered popcorn, a giant cherry coke, and your favorite candy bar (Snickers, anyone?), Then sit back and enjoy the worldview of an extremely mischievous, but well-meaning Ramona Quimby.
The precocious nine (and three-month-old) has a unique perspective on life. It is through the prism of his eyes that we see this film. From the moment we meet this charmer, we are hooked. We vicariously experience Ramona’s antics, weaknesses, and miscalculations during this nonstop roller coaster ride.
Ramona is the weirdo (and the terror) of her third grade class. She is the neighborhood wild child to be avoided at all costs. She is the superhero (in her own mind) who invariably makes every bad situation worse.
With classic middle child syndrome, the drama princess feels inadequate compared to her beautiful, “perfect” teenage sister, Beezus, and her adorable, unfailing little sister, Roberta.
When the Quimby family faces a major crisis, our diminutive heroine takes it upon herself to rescue her loved ones from certain disaster. Unfortunately for Ramona, her big ideas and her good intentions only create more problems. While all attempts to be “good” fail, she bravely continues her campaign to change her image and the outcome of her efforts.
Director Elizabeth Allen deftly allows us to get inside Ramona’s imaginative brain with the use (but not excessive) of special effects. We are allowed to see the sometimes terrifying but often magnificent world inside the mind of this amazing child. And, what a world it is to hold. But, she won’t get any spoilers from this reviewer.
I especially loved the relationship between the father, played by John Corbett (“Sex and the City 2”), and his daughters. This bond is rarely explored in family films, yet it is a critical factor in the development of each girl’s image of herself. In television sitcoms, parents are often portrayed as buffoons, while most mainstream movies portray parents as drifters who are abusive, absent, or weak. Finally, we witness a strong, yet sensitive and caring father who is able to show his emotions while remaining an authority figure. Happiness!
This kids’ movie tackles some current and timeless themes: job loss, financial difficulties, first love, sibling rivalry, night terrors, and even death. But this character-driven script never gets clumsy or maudlin. These “serious” themes are seamlessly woven into the film’s intricate tapestry.
Ultimately, this is a coming of age story, where our main character learns valuable lessons about family, selflessness, lost love, courage, determination, and selflessness. We are privileged to experience, along with Ramona, his “aha” moments in which he gains wisdom, compassion, and insight.
There are no “throwaway” supporting roles in the film. Each person is real and memorable. The ever-wonderful Sandra Oh (“Grey’s Anatomy” and “Sideways”) is Ramona’s third-grade teacher who uses an imaginary “mute” button to silence her class. Bridget Moynahan (“I, Robot”) plays Quimby’s mom, Dorothy. Ginnifer Goodwin (“Big Love”) is Dorothy’s younger sister, Aunt Bea, and the only adult who fully understands Ramona’s feelings of inadequacy. Heartthrob Josh Duhamel (“All My Children”) is Hobart, Bea’s commitment-phobic ex-boyfriend.
Rounding out the seasoned cast is the googly-eyed stunner, Selena Gomez (voice of Helga in Disney’s “Horton Hears a Who”) as the distraught Beezus, a “horrible” name that stuck when little Ramona couldn’t pronounce her name. real. name, Beatrice. As an older sister, she is in the unenviable position of trying to tame her “imaginative” sister without getting caught in the crosshairs. Unfortunately, more often than not, Beezus is on the receiving end of one of Ramona’s well-intentioned escapades. Beezus is a typical sister; one minute protecting Ramona from a situation gone wrong, the next holding back from strangling the nightmare of her existence. And then there’s the sheer satisfaction she gets from activating Ramona’s colorful imagination after the lights go out and shadows appear on her bedroom walls.
The success of this film rests squarely on the very capable shoulders of its resourceful young Joey King. Although she is a newcomer to the movies, it is clear from the moment she appears on screen that she was born to play this pivotal role. Frankly, I can’t think of another child actress better suited for the role. She thinks of Abigail Breslin and Dakota Fanning (about seven years ago) in a little bundle of dynamite. With his huge, expressive eyes, smug gaze, and blazing, OMG attitude, Joey captures the heart and soul of this immortal fictional character.
I highly recommend “Ramona and Beezus” (also labeled “A Little Sister Goes A Long Way”) to all family members over the age of nine. I doubt too many restless little kids can sit through this nearly two-hour movie. There is no violence, objectionable language, or scenes with sex or nudity.
I look forward to the sequel with great anticipation.
