Ramona and Beezus | |
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Directed by | Elizabeth Allen |
Screenplay by |
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Based on | Ramona series of novels by Beverly Cleary |
Produced by | |
Starring | |
Cinematography | John Bailey |
Edited by | Jane Moran |
Music by | Mark Mothersbaugh |
Production companies |
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Distributed by | 20th Century Fox |
Release date |
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Running time | 103 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $15 million [1] |
Box office | $27.3 million [2] |
Ramona and Beezus is a 2010 American family adventure comedy drama film adaptation based on the Ramona series of novels written by Beverly Cleary. [3] [4] It was directed by Elizabeth Allen, co-produced by Dune Entertainment, Di Novi Pictures, and Walden Media, written by Laurie Craig and Nick Pustay, and produced by Denise Di Novi and Alison Greenspan with music by Mark Mothersbaugh. The film stars Joey King and Selena Gomez. Though the film's title is derived from Beezus and Ramona , the first of Cleary's Ramona books, the plot is mostly based on the sequels Ramona Forever and Ramona's World .
Ramona and Beezus was released by Fox 2000 Pictures on July 23, 2010, and grossed $27 million. [2] The film received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the acting of King and Gomez.
An adventurous and creative third-grader named Ramona Quimby often finds herself in trouble at school and at home and usually spends time with her neighbor and best friend, Howard Kemp. When her father Robert loses his job and the family falls into severe debt, Ramona's efforts to earn money end up backfiring in humorous ways. She repeatedly embarrasses her older sister, Beatrice, in front of Henry Huggins the paperboy (who is also Beatrice's crush) by calling her the family nickname, "Beezus".
Although he had worked as an executive in a company since Beezus's birth, Robert quarrels with Dorothy (his wife and the girls' mother) when he considers pursuing a new, more creative career.
Meanwhile, Ramona's visiting aunt Beatrice, her sister's namesake, is one of the few who accepts her despite all her eccentricities. After a car-painting accident involving Bea's old flame Hobart, who happens to be Howard’s uncle, Ramona gives up her money-making schemes. The next day, she ruins her school portrait by cracking a raw egg in her hair and making a face when the photographer asks her to say "Peas" instead of "Cheese". Ramona's worries increase the following day, when her classmate Susan reveals that after her own father lost his job, her parents divorced and her father moved to Tacoma. The news makes Ramona physically sick, and Robert has to pick her up early from school, interfering with a sudden job interview. Instead of being angry, Robert decides to spend the rest of his day drawing a mural with Ramona.
While Ramona and Beezus attempt to make dinner for their parents, the pan catches fire while Beezus is on the phone with Henry. During the ensuing argument, Henry overhears that Beezus loves him. Still upset, Ramona goes to feed her cat Picky-Picky but is devastated to find him dead. The girls' private funeral for their friend helps them reconcile. A job offer for Robert in Oregon leads Ramona's parents to decide to sell their house. As the family touches up the garden during an open house, Ramona inadvertently initiates a water fight with the neighbors, which floods the neighbors' backyard and exposes a box that Hobart buried there years ago. The box contains mementos of Bea and Hobart's teenage romance, and in light of their rekindling relationship, he proposes to her. Hesitantly, Bea accepts, and the family begins planning the impromptu wedding.
Furious her aunt broke her promise not to get "reeled in" with Hobart again, Ramona rushes home, seeking solace in the attic. The fragile floorboards break, leaving her legs dangling from the ceiling during the open house. After they clear out, Robert scolds her for her lack of maturity. Feeling unwanted, Ramona decides to run away. Unable to convince her not to leave, Dorothy helps her pack. Opening the heavy suitcase at a bus stop, Ramona discovers that Dorothy intentionally made it heavy to keep her from getting far. Inside, Dorothy packed a book of Robert's sketches of Ramona. Her family finds her soon afterward and everyone is happily reunited.
At Bea and Hobart's wedding, Ramona saves the day when she finds the wedding ring Howard had dropped. During the reception, Beezus and Henry share a kiss and dance together, risking it as they were moving. Robert gets another job offer, this one at Ramona's school, as her teacher Mrs. Meachum recommended him as the new art teacher after she saw the mural that he and Ramona made. Ramona is delighted they won’t have to move and that her parents are reconciling. Before Bea and Hobart leave for their honeymoon in Alaska, Ramona gives Bea a locket with her school picture, and Bea says Ramona is "extraordinary".
In 2009, it was announced that Elizabeth Allen would direct a film adaptation of the Ramona series of novels written by Beverly Cleary. [5] [6] The film, Ramona and Beezus, would be released in cinemas on July 23, 2010. Denise Di Novi and Alison Greenspan spent $15 million to produce the film with writers Laurie Craig and Nick Pustay. [1] Filming took place in Vancouver. [7] [8] Fox 2000 Pictures acquired distribution rights to the film. Mark Mothersbaugh composed the music for the film. Dune Entertainment, Walden Media, and Di Novi Pictures co-produced the film.
Ramona and Beezus was released in theaters on July 23, 2010 by 20th Century Fox and Walden Media to 2,719 theaters nationwide. The film was rated G by MPAA, becoming the studio's fourth film to be rated G since 1997's Anastasia . The trailer was released on March 18, 2010, and was shown in theaters along with How to Train Your Dragon , The Last Song , Despicable Me , Toy Story 3 , and 20th Century Fox's other films, including Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Marmaduke . The film premiered in New York City on July 20, 2010. It was released in Irish and British cinemas October 22, 2010. [9]
Ramona and Beezus earned generally positive reviews. On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 70% of 91 reviews are positive, with an average rating of 6.2/10. The website's consensus reads, "If Ramona and Beezus fails to capture the essence of its classic source material, it's sunny, sweet, and wholesome." [10] On Metacritic, the film holds a score of 56 out of 100, based on 29 reviews. [11] Audiences polled by CinemaScore gave the film a grade "A−". [12]
Eric Snider of Film.com said that "The resulting story is a jumble, and there are too many side characters, but golly if it isn't pretty darned infectious." [13] Jason Anderson of the Toronto Star gave Ramona and Beezus a good review, saying that "[Ramona and Beezus] is a lively affair, largely thanks to the sweet and snappy screenplay by Laurie Craig and Nick Pustay and to the appealing performances by the cast." [14]
The film opened at #4, grossing under $3 million on its opening day. [15] It brought in $7.8 million during its opening weekend, earning it #6 at the box office. Over its first week, it earned nearly $12.7 million. [16] As of November 20, 2010, its total gross stands at $26.6 million, [2] surpassing its $15 million budget. The film made £84,475 on its first weekend in the UK, debuting at number 14 in the box office chart. [17]
The film was released on DVD and Blu-ray combo pack on November 9, 2010.
Ramona and Beezus | |
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Soundtrack album by Various artists | |
Released | July 28, 2010 |
Genre | Pop |
Label | Hollywood |
Singles from Ramona and Beezus | |
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The accompanying soundtrack album was released on July 28, 2010 by Hollywood Records. [18] The film's soundtrack includes "Live Like There's No Tomorrow", performed by Selena Gomez & the Scene. The song was digitally released as a soundtrack single on July 13, 2010 [19] and serving as a promotional single from the band's second album, A Year Without Rain (2010).
Beverly Atlee Cleary was an American writer of children's and young adult fiction. One of America's most successful authors, 91 million copies of her books have been sold worldwide since her first book was published in 1950. Some of her best known characters are Ramona Quimby and Beezus Quimby, Henry Huggins and his dog Ribsy, and Ralph S. Mouse.
The Ramona books are a series of eight humorous children's novels by Beverly Cleary that center on Ramona Quimby, her family and friends. The first book, Beezus and Ramona, appeared in 1955. The final book, Ramona's World, was published in 1999. Two books in the series were named Newbery Honor books, Ramona and Her Father and Ramona Quimby, Age 8. Ramona and Her Mother received the National Book Award. Sometimes known as the Beezus and Ramona series, as of 2012, the books were being marketed by HarperCollins as "The Complete Ramona Collection".
Klickitat Street is a city street located in northeast Portland, Oregon, United States. The main stem of the street is 3.75-mile (6.04 km) long, and runs east-west parallel to—and one block south of—northeast Fremont Street, from the eastern edge of Irving Park to Northeast 67th Avenue. Additional disconnected segments are east of Rocky Butte from 105th to 117th, 148th to 154th, and 163rd to 165th. A segment named Klickitat Court is between 135th and 140th.
Henry Huggins is a character appearing in a series of children's literature novels by Beverly Cleary, illustrated by Louis Darling, and first appearing in Henry Huggins. He is a young boy living on Klickitat Street in Portland, Oregon. In the novels, he is in elementary school. The novels take place in the 1950s, which is when Cleary wrote most of the books. The books describe adventures that he experiences in his neighborhood and his interactions with other neighborhood children. He has a dog named Ribsy and a part-time job doing a paper route in North Portland.
Ramona the Pest, by Beverly Cleary, is the second book of the Ramona series and the first to focus on Ramona Quimby as the protagonist. This children's book chronicles the adventures of Ramona's first few months at kindergarten. The book's title is derived from the characterization of Ramona as a "pest" by many, including her older sister Beatrice, known as "Beezus." Ramona the Pest was first published in 1968 and featured illustrations by Louis Darling. Other illustrators have since updated Ramona the Pest, including Alan Tiegreen, Tracy Dockray, and Jacqueline Rogers.
Ramona the Brave is a children's novel written by Beverly Cleary. It is the third book in the Ramona series, and follows Ramona Quimby and her classmates going into first grade. Ramona the Brave was first published in 1975, seven years after Ramona the Pest. It was originally illustrated by Alan Tiegreen, succeeding the late Louis Darling.
Ramona and Her Father is the fourth book in Beverly Cleary's popular Ramona Quimby series. In this humorous children's novel, Mr. Quimby loses his job and Ramona thinks up ways to earn money and help her family out. Published in 1977, Ramona and Her Father was a Newbery Honor Book.
Ramona and Her Mother by Beverly Cleary is the fifth book of the popular Ramona series. The book won the 1981 National Book Award.
Ramona Quimby, Age 8 (1981) is a novel by Beverly Cleary in the Ramona series. Ramona Quimby is in the third grade, now at a new school, and making some new friends. With Beezus in Jr. High and Mr. Quimby going back to college, Ramona feels the pressure with everyone counting on her to manage at school by herself and get along with Willa Jean after school every day. Ramona Quimby, Age 8 was named a Newbery Honor book in 1982.
Ramona Forever is a humorous children's novel written by Beverly Cleary. The seventh book in the Ramona Quimby series, continues the story of Ramona, her older sister, Beezus, and their family. They are finally old enough to stay home together, and they work hard to get along. Mrs. Quimby is expecting a baby and Aunt Bea gets engaged in a book that sees Ramona coping with growing up. It was originally published in 1984.
Beatrice Ann "Beezus" Quimby is a character from the Henry Huggins and Ramona series of books by Beverly Cleary. She is the friend of Henry and Mary Jane and the older sister of Ramona and Roberta. Beezus earned her nickname from Ramona, who had a hard time saying "Beatrice" as a toddler. Beezus' real name comes from her Aunt Beatrice, her mother's sister, for whom Beezus has a deep admiration and whom she idolizes.
Ramona Geraldine Quimby is a fictional character in an eponymous series of novels by Beverly Cleary. She starts out in the Henry Huggins series as the pestering younger sister of Henry's new best friend Beatrice, called "Beezus" by Ramona and her family. She was then given a larger role in the novel Beezus and Ramona and became the protagonist of her own book in Ramona the Pest.
Susan Kushner is a fictional character in the Ramona series of novels by Beverly Cleary.
Ramona's World is the eighth and final book in the Ramona Quimby series by Beverly Cleary. Ramona and her sister Beezus are growing up. Ramona is in the fourth grade now, and for the first time she has a best girl-friend, Daisy Kidd. At home she tries her best to be a good role model for her baby sister Roberta, but finds baby sitting harder than she expected. Published in 1999, Ramona's World was written fifteen years after its predecessor, Ramona Forever. It was the last book Cleary published before her death in 2021.
Ramona is a Canadian children's television series which followed the life of eight-year-old title character Ramona Quimby. It was based on the Ramona book series by Beverly Cleary.
Beezus and Ramona is a 1955 children's novel written by Beverly Cleary. It is the first of Cleary's books to focus on Ramona Quimby and her sister Beatrice, known as Beezus. Beezus and Ramona is realistic fiction, written from nine-year-old Beezus's point of view, as she struggles to get along with her four-year-old sister. Eventually becoming the first book of the Ramona series, it was originally illustrated by Louis Darling; later editions were illustrated by Alan Tiegreen and then by Tracy Dockray.
Hutch Dano is an American actor and painter. He is known for playing co-lead character Zeke Falcone in the Disney XD comedy series Zeke and Luther.
Quimby is an English surname derived from a toponym such as Quenby. Notable people with the surname include:
Henry and the Clubhouse, by Beverly Cleary, is the fifth book in Henry Huggins series. Now that he has the paper route he wanted so badly in the previous book, Henry and the Paper Route, Henry finds that it's harder than he expected. His earnings are going for the clubhouse he and his friends are building. One of the boys insists that it be a "Boys Only" club, and that causes trouble with Henry's friend Beezus Quimby and her little sister Ramona. Henry and the Clubhouse was published in 1962.
Selena Gomez is an American actress, singer, and producer. As a child, she began her acting career by appearing on the children's television series Barney & Friends (2002–2004). She rose to prominence for her lead role as Alex Russo on the Emmy Award-winning Disney Channel television series, Wizards of Waverly Place (2007–2012). It garnered positive reviews, with Gomez's being particularly praised for her comic timing and sarcastic delivery. Gomez had a leading role as an aspiring dancer in the direct-to-video film Another Cinderella Story (2008), and won the Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Movie — Leading Young Actress. This was followed by lead roles in two 2009 Disney Channel films—Princess Protection Program and Wizards of Waverly Place: The Movie—the latter was cable's number-one scripted telecast of the year in total viewers and won a Primetime Emmy Award. Gomez then starred in the film adaptation of the children's novel series by Beverly Cleary, Ramona and Beezus (2010), with Gomez portraying Beezus Quimby. The following year, she played the lead role of Grace, a teenager "mistaken for a British heiress", in the comedy film Monte Carlo.
He refused to greenlight the movie for a dollar more than $15 million
which just so happened to be one of my favorite childhood books [Beezus and Ramona by Beverly Cleary] so naturally, that was a perfect fit.
General release, from Fri 22 Oct.
Based on the classic children's books by Beverly Cleary, the pic scored an overall A- CinemaScore rating.