Ramona and Beezus

Ramona and Beezus is a 2010 American family adventure comedy film based on the Ramona series of novels written by Beverly Cleary. 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. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the acting of King and Gomez. Plot The adventurous and creative third-grader Ramona Quimby often finds herself in trouble at school and at home, usually with her best friend, Howard Kemp, who is also her neighbor. 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.