The Film
Beverly Cleary fans of all ages have waited the equivalent of a lifetime to see Beezus and Ramona make it to the big screen. The novel, which was first published in 1955, made its movie debut last summer, but Beezus seems to have lost top billing.
Ramona and Beezus focuses more on the antics of younger sister Ramona, played by Joey King. Let's face it: Ramona is way more entertaining, from a movie standpoint. She has the one-liners and the penchant for mischief. She also has some pretty outlandish dreams and a way with using raw egg as a hair gel.
She also has her serious side, as does this movie. Adding a bit of timeliness to the plot, big daddy Robert Quimby (John Corbett) gets downsized, which may soon see the family out on the street -- or at least see Ramona out of the only home she's ever known. Ramona then takes it on her small shoulders to save the day, as well as this entire movie.
Despite being billed as a vehicle for Disney star Selena Gomez, Beezus is more of an afterthought here. She plays the role well and the moments between her and Ramona are indeed sweet. However, she is just one of the film's secondary, famous faces, which also includes Bridget Moynahan, Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Duhamel, and Sandra Oh. Make no mistake, though; Joey King has the lead and carries most of the movie with her cute, quirky personality.
Overall, Ramona and Beezus is high energy, but so is its audience. Tween girls will love the movie as much as the books. It doesn't follow the story exactly, but it is good-natured, well acted, and certainly has the Cleary stamp all over it.
The Picture
It's hard to be cute with a downer of an image. Luckily, this 2.40:1 transfer is a nice one, with bright colors and good detail through the majority of the movie. Facial details are especially nice, and there are plenty of faces in this cast, as well as in the crowded halls of Ramona's school. Stubble (on the men, of course) and little girl curls have some pop, as does the backyard water fight scene. Some of the darker scenes lose a bit of the luster, but those are few and far between. Ramona does her best work during daytime hours, as does this movie's imagery.
The Sound
Like the image, the DTS-HD Master Audio soundtrack is equally perky, thanks to a handful of pop songs and the film's score, which was done by Devo frontman Mark Mothersbaugh. Despite the number of pratfalls, much of the audio sticks close to the front. Make no mistake; this is a dialogue-driven movie. That said, a few squeaks, thumps, and whispers do sneak into the surrounds throughout, adding a bit of ambience.
The Extras
All of the extras on Ramona and Beezus are perfect for the short-attention span tween set. There are gags, deleted scenes, and audition footage. "A Day in the Life of Joey King" is cute and quick. However, the absolute must-see is "My Ramona with Author Beverly Cleary," which features four minutes with the author, who is still going strong at the age of 94.
Final Thoughts
Ramona and Beezus certainly doesn't break any ground, but it is unlikely to disappoint anyone either. It's nice to see Beverly Cleary get her big-screen debut, even if it's more of a "greatest hits" piece, with a huge cast of characters. Fans of the books will appreciate this lighthearted family film. If you've got kids kicking around, they should get maximum use out of this purchase, which also includes a standard-def DVD and digital copy.
Product Details
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