Written by Vickie
July 23, 2010
Die-hard Beverly Cleary purists take note: this is not a page-by-page big-screen adaptation of her beloved children’s books. What it is, though, is a wonderfully sweet and warm story about the beauty of being different.
Precocious Joey King stars as precocious Ramona Quimby, a girl who doesn’t just march to the beat of her own drummer, she cartwheels to it. Often misunderstood – especially by her stern teacher (Sandra Oh) and her exasperated older sister, Beezus (Selena Gomez) – Ramona sort of bumbles and bungles her way through life with unfaltering optimism and determination. Her loving and supportive parents (John Corbett and Bridget Moynahan) humor her; her angelic Aunt Bea (Ginnifer Goodwin) encourages her; and her best pal, Howie (Jason Spevack), happily tags along for misadventures.
Things get complicated for the Quimby clan when dad loses his job and the family is faced with 21st-century economic issues, and Ramona – in her own unique way – tries to figure out a remedy to their financial problems.
What unspools is a charming and wholesome-in-the-best-way family film that eschews some of the annoying conventions of recent offerings in that genre. Much to my delight, there were no know-it-all kids or slow-witted adults, no smart-ass back-talk and not an ounce of crass humor. The kids in this movie are regular kids, with fears and foibles and spirit, while the grown-ups are sensible and mature and, most importantly, loving. Corbett and Goodwin are especially strong in that regard, and Ramona’s relationships with both of their characters anchor the film securely in heart.
Director Elizabeth Allen does a great job of telling a nice story without it being cloying or bland or syrupy, and it's one that harkens back to the tone and execution of children’s movies from the 1960s and ‘70s. It’s not just good, it’s good-natured. Her cast is strong, with some of them delivering their best work in ages – Corbett and co-star Josh Duhamel, as Aunt Bea’s roguish former beau, have never been more likable, and young stars King and Gomez are completely believable as sisters whose squabbling is more genial than hurtful.
While some critics have slighted Ramona and Beezus for its lack of edge, that pure-hearted goodness is exactly what I love most about it. I had a smile on my face throughout, and it even made me tear up on a few occasions. The movie, like the books on which it’s loosely based, is filled with important messages for young girls about the importance of individuality and courage... messages many of us adults would also do well to embrace.
