Ramona and Beezus, based on the popular Ramona Quimby books by Beverly Cleary, is a charming movie that I was surprised to like. While I’m admittedly not a fan of the book series, I thought the movie was touching and sweet. The title is misleading, however, because the movie is more about the entire family rather than just the two sisters. Either it should have kept the book’s name "Ramona Quimby" or changed the title to "The Quimbys."
The family’s economic and personal struggle is very relatable and you can connect to a lot of the characters in this film because they look and behave like real people. I think that’s what makes Ramona and Beezus very sweet and heartwarming - it’s completely realistic. The entire time, you find yourself rooting for these characters as they make their way through life. Parents can relate to the parents in the film and kids and teens can relate to the kids and teens in the film. That’s what makes it really good.
My only problem with the film is that I could do without the animation sequences. They lead you to think the movie is something else entirely from what it really is. While I understand the effect they’re going for - they’re trying to express how “creative and imaginative” Ramona is - the amination just feels too trite. Maybe those scenes would have worked if they were done better, but in this case they just didn’t.
Yet in the end, Ramona and Beezus is definitely a PICK. I think it’s a good movie for mom’s and daughters, from little girls to teenagers, to go and see together. It definitely deserves a grade B, for being a good movie - although not perfect. Just like Ramona.
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