Ramona and Beezus

Let's do this in reverse.  Here is my conclusion: Ramona and Beezus is the sweetest, cutest movie I have seen in ages.  If you're looking for a great feel-good movie, see or rent Ramona and Beezus.

I was planning on skipping Ramona and Beezus after seeing only one promo for it.  After all, it screamed "Kid's movie" and even my inner child is acting pretty old these days.  But after the movie opened, I glanced at a few reviews.  It may seem odd - I only read reviews of movies I DO NOT plan on seeing - it's a way to avoid spoilers.  Some critics that I trust - and there aren't too many of those - said this movie was pretty good even for adults.  That wasn't quite yet enough to send me to the theater.  Then my sister-in-law CJ said she loved it, so I had to go.  CJ never steers me wrong.  She never goes to see the movies that I recommend to her, but she never steers me wrong.  I'm not bitter.

Ramona Quimby is a whip-smart and imaginative nine-year-old klutz who tries hard and carries the weight of the world on her shoulders.  Beezus is her not-too-tolerant 15-year-old sister (and there's a perfectly reasonable explanation for her odd name).  As movie families go, the Quimbies are genuine and warm, and not at all too perfect, except in the looks department.  When the father loses his job, Ramona takes it upon herself to save the family finances and wreaks all kinds of...  Well, you can guess.

Like I said, it's a terrifical feel-good movie.

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