Ramona and Beezus

I got a great opportunity to take TJ to an advanced screening of the new movie Ramona and Beezus, and we were able to bring Ali and Roary with us, too! It’s been a very long time since I’ve even touched any books written by Beverly Cleary, but the movie brought me right back.

I really loved how the scenes inside Ramona’s imagination played out on the screen. Everything was so much more vibrant and larger than life, whether she was on the playground or jumping on her bed in her new room.

The movie was a bit old for TJ, who hasn’t yet turned five, but he really enjoyed it even if he didn’t get some of the heavier parts. He giggled a lot at Ramona’s antics, and I knew he liked how she seemed to get into trouble without meaning to, much like he does. I’d been a little nervous about bringing him, considering he’s a boy and younger than the target demographic, but he told me he had a good time when it was over.

I guess I’m used to animated movies geared toward a much younger audience, so I wasn’t expecting some of the heavy themes in this one…job loss, death, potential divorce, moving… But everything got tied up very neatly and happily for the kids in the end.

Oh, and moms? Josh Duhamel is also in the movie, and he’s quite easy on the eyes.

Selena Gomez, who played Beezus, posted the film trailer on YouTube:

Interview with Ramona and Beezus

Even better than being able to take TJ and our friends to the movie screening was the fact that I got a chance to take part in a press conference where I was among a small group of mommy bloggers who got to interview Joey King (Ramona) and Selena Gomez (Beezus) last week. I wasn’t able to record the call to get direct quotes, but I’m quite proud of the notes I was able to take.

Here’s what the young actresses had to say…

Joey says her mom and dad and whole family help keep her grounded. If you get a big head, it doesn’t get you very far in your career, so you have to stay humble.

Selena says it helps to surrounded yourself with good people. She has an incredible family, great friends, and if anything changed about her, her mom would take her home.

Selena thinks [bad press is] unfortunate…It’s unfair that the media is targeting teenagers. She says she’s one of the most boring teenagers you’ll meet. There will always be bad press out there, no matter what.

Joey enjoyed working with all of the big actors in the film. Everyone was so nice. Everyone was funny, and everyone was comfortable with everyone.

Selena said the other actors were so cool because they were so much more experienced, and they made them feel so comfortable.

Joey says she doesn’t really need any beauty tips because she’s a child. *laughter*

Selena does not currently have college plans because she has the next two years of her life planned out, but she’s aware that this could all disappear at any time, and she would love to go to culinary school.

Joey and Selena were able to improvise from time to time, and they were allowed to talk with the director about the scenes.

When asked what Ramona and Beezus could teach girls about being sisters, Joey says that maybe you don’t always get along, but you’re sisters. When you’re siblings, there’s no one closer to you than a sister or a mom.

Selena thinks that there are multiple messages in the movie, and she hopes that kids learn to listen and communicate with each other, to strengthen their relationship with their families.

Joey wants people to walk out of the theater thinking that about how much they love their family.

Joey brings a blanket with her on set that she’s had since she was fine. And even though Selena is 18, she brings her mom with her. She says she’ll bring her along even when she’s 20. She set her grandma up on iChat so she could talk with her online.

Selena was attracted to the role of Beezus because it was relatable to her fanbase, and parents would enjoy it as much as their kids.

Joey says she has the same big imagination and big personality as Ramona.

Joey’s favorite scenes were the water fight scene and the bedroom scene. Selena also liked the bedroom scene because it was a great sisterly moment.

Disclaimer: We attended the movie screening at no cost to us. No other form of compensation exchanged hands.