Seattle Mom Blogs

From her freckles to her sparkly shoes, you can’t help but love Ramona in the new adaptation of the Beverly Cleary classic Ramona and Beezus, which opens in theaters nationwide July 23rd. 

Admittedly, I was skeptical, as I always am when I view a book to film story on the big screen, but this gem did not disappoint.  Starring a delightfully adorable Joey King as Ramona and Selena Gomez as her older, boy-crazy sister Beezus (with an amazing supporting cast including John Corbett, Josh Duhamel, Gennifer Goodwin, Sandra Oh and others), Ramona and Beezus takes us on an imaginative journey through the eyes of a very creative little girl as she navigates life’s ups and downs.

Besides the eye candy (Hello!  John Corbett!  Josh Duhamel!), what I loved about this movie is that even though the original story was written back in the day, the modern adaptation hits on some really pertinant socio-economical issues that many families have experienced in the past few years without being heavy handed or gloomy.  Done delicately enough, the movie delivers hope to kids who’ve heard their parents utter things like “the bank is going to take the house” without coming right out and saying that they’re doing so.  Using the imagination and inspiration of one little girl, that would be Ramona, modern families will be entertained, delighted and charmed at how the onscreen dilemma plays out and end up walking out of the theater with a sense of hope.

Ramona and Beezus is nothing but fun, wrapped up in a visually exciting, creative and hilarious movie that will make the youngest and the oldest of us smile and laugh, evidenced by the fact that my 6 year-old giggled all the way through as well as my own mother. 

If wholesome family fun is what you’re looking for, take the kids, take grandma, heck take the neighbors to see Ramona and Beezus this weekend, and just try to sit through the movie without cracking a smile while taking a fun romp down the stories of your own youth.