disclosure: I received a digital code for the movie, Ron’s Gone Wrong, for the purpose of this review. All opinions are my own, No other compensation was received.
Have you seen 20th Century Studios and Locksmith Animation’s Ron’s Gone Wrong? I’ve been watching the previews of this movie for a while and knew I wanted to see what this was about. I received a digital code (for this review), and couldn’t wait to share this film with my family.
About Ron’s Gone Wrong
Things go hilariously awry when Barney, a socially awkward middle-schooler, receives a malfunctioning, digitally connected device that’s supposed to be his “best friend out of the box.” In this action-packed animated story set against the backdrop of the social media age, a boy and his robot discover the wonderful messiness of true friendship.
We are all Barney
At some point in our lives, we are all Barney. We have all, at one point or another, had a socially awkward moment. This movie not only addresses the quintessential socially awkward tween, but how the popular kids can also have moments, too. Most of the time, it is the always the underdog that has these moments, but in this film, everyone struggles with a socially awkward moment, and that was refreshing to see.
Ron’s Gone Wrong takes us to a place that is very familiar, the dominance of social media in our lives and the effects it has on everyone. It shows us how quickly things can go “viral” and people can struggle with unfavorable moments. This may be a spoiler, but the best part of this movie is that in the end, Barney still does not necessarily “fit in” with everyone, and he is comfortable with that.
We all need a buddy bench
In Ron’s Gone Wrong, his teacher has a buddy bench on the playground for kids who need a buddy. Of course, in the beginning of the movie, it is more of a “punishment” than a help to Ron, who does not want to draw attention to the fact he has no friends. I do applaud the writers for addressing and normalizing these issues for today’s kids, showing them that not only is it ok to put yourself in that vulnerable place, it is also ok to go be a friend to someone who may need it.
To celebrate the film’s themes of friendship and inclusion, stars of the film will be providing schools of their choice with a Ron’s Gone Wrong “buddy bench”:
- Zach Galifianakis, who voices Ron, has pledged a bench to the Wilksboro Elementary School in his hometown of Wilksboro, North Carolina.
- Ed Helms, who plays Barney’s father Graham, is donating a bench to his alma mater the Interlochen Center for the Art.
- Olivia Colman – Barney’s grandmother Donka – and her husband, writer Ed Sinclair, are giving a bench to the Holt Youth Project in Norfolk, UK.
Overall
Ron’s Gone Wrong is available on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD and on Digital and worth seeing for everyone. There are enough laughs to hold the interest of a younger child, and enough comedy for parents to enjoy. I do recommend this movie for tweens and teens, as this movie is very relevant.
Bonus Features*
Bonus features available for this movie:
- A Boy and His B*Bot: When Jack Met Zach – Zach Galifianakis and Jack Dylan Grazer, the voices behind Ron and Barney, sit down to chat about a fun assortment of topics. From social media to skateboarding, the two actors from two very different generations tell us all about when Jack met Zach.
- Making Ron Right – Join cast and crew behind the scenes as they reveal the skill, dedication and friendship it took to bring this film to life. From writing the script to the voice-over booth, Locksmith’s artisans detail how they made Ron right.
- “Sunshine” Music Video – Song from the motion picture Ron’s Gone Wrong, performed by Liam Payne.*bonus features vary by product and retailer
A Disney blooded, crafty, fun-lovin’ wife/mom/organizer/planner, etc who is obsessed with all things Disney 🙂 Maria grew up with the Magic Kingdom and has loved watching WDW evolve into what it is today. A firm believer in the Power of Pixie Dust, she is the owner of The Disney Driven Life – A Community for Neurotic Disney People & a d.i.y. crafty blog, Carousel of Projects – create~inspire~share.
