RAMONA AND BEEZUS
US, 2010, 103 minutes, Colour.
Joey King, Selena Gomez, John Corbett, Bridget Moynahan, Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Duhamel, Hutch Dano, Sandra Oh.
Directed by Elizabeth Allen.
Definitely for its niche market, younger girls.
Joey King makes a feisty and articulate 9 year old Ramona. She lives in Portland, Oregon, with her older sister, Beatrice (who has become Beezus because Ramona could not pronounce Beatrice properly), Selena Gomez, as well as a little baby sister. Her father is very nice (a genial John Corbert). Her mother is very nice and caring (Bridget Moynihan). And she has a very nice aunt, Aunt Bea, Ginnifer Goodwin. In fact, despite some mischief from Ramona and her frequently getting into trouble, along with bad report from her teacher (Sandra Oh), it is mostly very nice.
This is American wholesome family entertainment – but the boys may be wanting to watch something else (especially if they have sisters and may see all of this in real life).
There are some complications, of course. Dad loses his job and goes out for interviews but you know something will turn up – it does and it is very nice too. Aunt Bea used to have a crush on neighbour, Hobart (Josh Duhamel who must have been wondering at times what he was doing, with his movie reputation, in a film like this). He is back after wandering round for ten years but now realises he loves Bea. One of Ramona’s more egregious mess-ups (loads of paints over his vehicle) brings them together.
There is a lot in the film about Ramona growing up and taking responsibility. Her mother handles Ramona’s decision to run away with some wisdom. And, an ending with wedding bells, and the family all settled, with Ramona promising to be better behaved, means that all’s well that ends very nicely well.
1. The popularity of the books? The intended audience? The female audience? Young girls? Family?
2. The screen adaptation of novels, satisfying the audiences? Family oriented? Wholesome entertainment?
3. The Portland setting, very ordinary, the streets, homes and families, neighbours? School? Auditions, commercials? Audiences identifying with the characters? The musical score?
4. The title, Ramona as the focus, Beatrice and her nickname?
5. Ramona and her story, the focus, her perspective on life and people, aged nine? Articulate, imaginative (and the various imaginings of her adventures)? Beezus and the differences? The new baby? Her love for her father, having him on a pedestal? Love for her mother? Aunt Bea? Friendship with Howard? The suspicions towards Hobart? His mother? At school, making mistakes, the teacher? Suzanne and the rivalry? Suzanne’s mother and the real estate? Ramona’s world?
6. Ramona as a character, in the playground, the image of the cliffs, her being upside down, feet tangled? At home, Dad and his carrying her, hiding the report, saying, ‘Guts’? The messes she created? Her room, sharing with Beezus? Their talking, their clashes? Howie and her friendship with him, talks? Playing with the baby? At school, her tangling with the teacher, the use of words, her making up her own words (and the teacher later using one of them)? Her attitude towards rules? The selling of the house, making the lemonade, selling it on the street, Henry and the incident with Beezus and her spitting on him, the bee? The washing of the car, Howie helping her, Hobart, the accident with the paint, his letting her off? The band, the audition, her being sick? Her hair, the ugliness of the picture? The drawing, with her father, the drawing as the largest in the world? Her willingness to try, feeding the baby, the baby spitting? Her hair, the egg and the demonstration? In the house, the visitors, coming through the roof? The decision to run away, packing, her mother contacting her, the return?
7. Dad as a nice man, his job, playing with his daughters, his being fired, his being sad, at home, the time with the family, going out to interviews? Bringing Ramona home after she was sick? Her mother going to work? The drawing, displaying it in the classroom, the children’s response, the teacher’s response? Her being upset, her father demanding that she be responsible? His new job at the school?
8. Ramona’s mother, love, working in the home, with the baby, lenient towards Ramona, going to work, letting Ramona run away, collecting her?
9. Beezus and her age, teenager, exasperation, Henry and the awkwardness, the spitting, her room, cooking and Ramona making the mess, the death of the cat, the burial? The happy ending at the wedding, dancing with Henry?
10. Aunt Bea, nice, the younger daughter, talking, the gift of the necklace? The past history with Hobart, talking, trying to ignore him? The situation with the paint? Being reeled in like a sea bass and Ramona quoting it to her? The decision, the clash, his proposal, the wedding?
11. Hobart, his mother, flirting, the history of the ten years, the paint on the car, the fight with Bea, digging in the garden, finding the box, the souvenirs, his commitment?
12. The teacher, her wariness about Ramona, the report? The use of words? Offering Dad the job? Celebrating , at the wedding, her support of Ramona?
13. The hose fight and bringing the families together?
14. Ramona, the running away, the packing, her mother loading down the case, the contact, going home?
15. The wedding, dressed up, behaving well, the ritual, the people? The ring and her finding it?
16. The family, remaining in Portland, the happy ending?
