REWIND REVIEW: Ramona and Beezus

MOVIE
Ramona and Beezus

CAST
Joey King, Selena Gomez

RATING
G

RELEASE
July 23, 2010

DIRECTOR
Elizabeth Allen

STUDIO
20th Century Fox

RUNNING TIME
1 hour 43 minutes







GRADE
A+ (96.5)







STARS
****
















REVIEW:


Now I know what you must be thinking: Why did Zach even chose to review this movie, let alone watch it? Let me tell you why; because it is a sweet, funny, heartfelt, and imaginative way to get inside the head of a curious 9 year old girl. Ramona and Beezus is quite possibly the sweetest movie that I saw in 2010, with humor, heart, and imagination to pull the audience all the way to the end. Sure the poster may seem that Selena Gomez of TV's 'Wizards Of Waverly Place' is the main star of the movie, but it's that little girl next to her, who plays Ramona from the title that steals the show. A young actress named Joey King plays the quirky 9 year old girl, and basically steals the movie with her performance. I can see a lot coming for this young actress, which shows that her performance along with the help of the supporting cast, director Elizabeth Allen, and the stories from the mind of Beverly Cleary make Ramona and Beezus THE must see rental for families and young girls alike.

So the plot goes like this: Ramona, a curious but trouble making 3rd grader deals with her friends, family, life problems, and here world of imagination. She tries to do the best she can, but everyone tends to laugh at her except for her sweet aunt, her car, and her one best friend. How will Ramona get through he hard, yet sometimes enjoyable life. Through the power of her imagination, she can be herself in that world and her real life.

Now from the previews this may just seem like any kids movie as an excuse to go see a flick. But let me tell you, as a soon to be 14 year old, this is a movie for everyone. Well, not for any other male teen out there, since I'm guessing they'll just think of it as a little girl's movie. But let me tell you that those guys who see this movie don't understand that it's just not their kind of movie. You have to have the right mind and the right heart in order to enjoy this movie. This movie explores the average little girl's mind by using her kind of curse words, her imagination to get through the day, and the problems she deals with, both with her family and her social life. And that's one of the best things about this movie: It explores the harsh times and the happy/funny times of life seen through the eyes of Ramona Quimby.

Like I said before, it's young Joey King who steals the movie from the rest of the ensemble cast, including Selena Gomez, Sandra Oh, and Josh Duhamel. I'm not saying that the rest of the cast wasn't good. In fact, they also contribute to the movie's sparkle. Other supporting cast members include John Corbett as Ramona and Beezus' loving father, Ginnifer Goodwin as Ramona's mellow and understanding Aunt, and Bridget Moynahan as Ramona's mommy. People shouldn't go to see this movie just for Ms. Gomez, since she's only in the movie for half of its initial running time of 103 minutes. The other cast, especially John Corbett help bring the movie to its highest points, and to some of its sadder sequences involving financial problems, romantic interests, and deaths. But this movie has the words, "Great Family Fun" written all over it. And that's exactly what it is.

Don't let the somewhat poorly edited trailer fool you away from this movie. It's actually the younger family version of Diary Of A Wimpy Kid, not to mention more enjoyable. Though I can't wait to see the 2nd Diary Of A Wimpy Kid movie in March, (yes, this year) I'd surely love to see the rest of the Ramona Quimby books come alive on the big screen. I have personally read a couple of the Quimby books when I was younger, and I must tell you that they are good books for younger kids. It's not a movie for the teen guys like me. (yet, not like me) It's more of a movie for the faint of heart, the younger generation, and the adult/old generation, since it's a family movie, plain and simple. So do you think your family's messed up? You don't know messed up and funny until you meet Ramona and Beezus.