When messing with any cherished childhood memory, people usually fall into two categories: either you remember and like it or you never heard of it and have no feelings either way.
I fall into the category of adults who have very fond memories of both Beverly Cleary and especially Ramona. Next to Judy Blume's Superfudge, no book got more time off my bookshelf than Ramona.
Cleary began her career as a children's librarian and from there became an expert in the type of kids fun you simply don't see much anymore in this age of go-go-go-bigger-better-faster-more kids entertainment.
Ramona Quimby is a "creative" little girl with lots of energy and imagination, which of course gets her into trouble and makes her very accessible to generations of youngsters.
Joey King plays Ramona, the middle child in a pretty much perfect family living in average suburb USA. The story starts with the usual trouble faced by someone in public school with an overactive imagination.
From there her family life gets a little turned upside down when her dad gets downsized and she turns her attentions to moneymaking schemes.
Meanwhile, other plot points consist of her older sister Beezus having romantic intentions with the boy down the street and her cool Aunt Bee's romantic intentions with her old high school sweetheart.
Will you like this film? That depends.
Make no mistake this is a kid chick flick, but it's pretty good. Kids who will watch anything with little girls in it will be happy, as will moms who enjoy chick flicks.
Guys on the other hand may have a tough time. I liked it, but I'm certainly not your average fella and it's probably a mix between having fond memories of the books and being a stay-at-home Daddy, I am a sucker for cute creative little girls.
If nothing else, this is a perfect rainy day chill out with a kid's movie that won't wind them up but will keep them entertained.
