RAMONA AND BEEZUS (USA 2010) **
Directed by Elizabeth Allen

RAMONA AND BEEZUS follows the misadventures of 9-year old, young grade schooler Ramona Quimby (Joey King) from Beverly Cleary’s popular children’s book series.  No magic or danger in this story, just everyday happenings – which can make for a real life, down to earth or dead boring movie.

As it turns out, father Robert Quimby (John Corbett) loses his job and the family has to relocate after he finds one, finally, but in a different city.  Ramona and her sister, Beezus (Selena Gomez) try to help out with chores and cooking, but with disastrous results. . Ramona confides with her favourite aunt, Aunt Bea (Ginnifer Goodwin) who promises to be around for her forever.  A subplot has Aunt Bea falling for hunk Hobart (Josh Duhamel from TRANSFORMERS, WIN A DATE WITH TED HAMILTON) who plans to marry her and take her to Alaska for two years where he is deployed.

A film will be liked if the audience can connect with the characters of the movie.  For this one, the heroine is a 9-year old whose problems involve not getting enough recognition from the parents (she gets jealous when the baby sister gets her picture taken when she puts apple sauce on her head), something audiences have already grown out of.  The climax of the movie involves Ramona running away from home and picked back up by her parents in a sentimental scene.  The problem of Aunt Bea going to Alaska and breaking her promise is not dealt with either.  Everything in the movie is too goody-goody.  No new songs are written for the film but recycled popular ones are played on the soundtrack. Director Allen even does away with the parent’s argument scene only to have the father sleeping downstairs on the spare bed.

RAMONA AND BEEZUS moves along at an acceptable pace and is an ok family film, but with all the action pics and other kids movies with special effects (THE SCORCERER’S APPRENTICE) currently playing, one wonders how this film will draw in the numbers at the box-office.