I wasn't sure what to expect from this film, as it seemed similar to Next Gen (2018) and The Mitchells vs. The Machines (2021). They all feature an Apple-inspired robotics company, a quirky young outcast and a world obsessed by consumer electronics. What are the differences? Next Gen also has a quirky robot but it's more militaristic than Ron who is just constantly a ditz. The Mitchells vs. The Machines end up with no technology on their side at all. I think this film touches on a lot of points that are salient for the younger generation nowadays - social media fame is fleeting, friends are valuable because of their differences, and our mistakes should not be eternal. It's message was better than Next Gen, which resorted to sci-fi action to convey its message about tech addiction. However, it was not as good as The Mitchells vs. The Machines which had a more nuanced message about tech affecting our social lives. Overall, though, Ron's Gone Wrong by far had the cutest robot.
208 Reviews
A Sweet Animated Comedy That Also Tackles Some Serious Themes
Zac_La_Porte6 December 2021
Ron's Gone Wrong follows the tradition of ordinarily setting the story between a boy and his quirky new companion, but also uses the chance to design some morals and delivers them perfectly. Due to the talented animation, entertaining plot and especially the messages, this is a great animated comedy for families with both kids and teens.
The most engaging instrument in Ron's Gone Wrong is the friendly concept, in which the amusing trailer is pretty much enough to immediately haul you in. Zach Galifianakis is perfect for the bright voice of the cute B*Bot character, and Jack Dylan Grazer also gives the leading child character a vivid personality. The building to the friendship between the two characters involves plenty of humour, fun moments and a dramatic peaking. The climatic stage for this movie seems completely unexpected, especially considering the emotion and thematic elements through it.
The screenwriters and story-creators had the opportunity to dig around in some real-life issues, and unlike most buddy comedies, they certainly don't even try to dodge it. The thematic elements actually provide a great lesson for children, as Ron's Gone Wrong lands on significant material relating to bullying and the impacts of social media.
Apart from the concerns this animated comedy leads up to, most of it is fairly foreseeable and can occasionally progress to moments that aren't really fun to stick around for. The animation techniques, voice performances and sources of humour are brilliant, but there's an unfortunate blend of them with some bland ideas. Some of the adventure component gets taken a little too far.
If you liked this review, check out the full review and other reviews at aussieboyreviews.
The most engaging instrument in Ron's Gone Wrong is the friendly concept, in which the amusing trailer is pretty much enough to immediately haul you in. Zach Galifianakis is perfect for the bright voice of the cute B*Bot character, and Jack Dylan Grazer also gives the leading child character a vivid personality. The building to the friendship between the two characters involves plenty of humour, fun moments and a dramatic peaking. The climatic stage for this movie seems completely unexpected, especially considering the emotion and thematic elements through it.
The screenwriters and story-creators had the opportunity to dig around in some real-life issues, and unlike most buddy comedies, they certainly don't even try to dodge it. The thematic elements actually provide a great lesson for children, as Ron's Gone Wrong lands on significant material relating to bullying and the impacts of social media.
Apart from the concerns this animated comedy leads up to, most of it is fairly foreseeable and can occasionally progress to moments that aren't really fun to stick around for. The animation techniques, voice performances and sources of humour are brilliant, but there's an unfortunate blend of them with some bland ideas. Some of the adventure component gets taken a little too far.
If you liked this review, check out the full review and other reviews at aussieboyreviews.
Really good social animated story about friendship and media but in a calm way
UniqueParticle19 December 2021
I don't understand the few reviews of absolutely hating on this it's not that slow or saturated with to much of anything! The main voices are wonderful throughout and color design is really good. Might not have as much to say as others but what I would say is the film is solid fun that shouldn't be taken as seriously as some vehicle stories. Lovable mindless entertainment with touches of all around genres!
Cute and sweet
Gordon-1118 December 2021
Best friend Ron
MB-reviewer1853 November 2021
This was a really cute movie. The animation was pretty and funny when needed, also the designs of the B-Bots were cool and entertaining.
Barney is a relatable character and Ron is a lovable, funny, and cute B-Bot. I really liked their friendship with each other and the fun they have.
Ron had funny scenes with Barney and I liked how Barney is trying to get Ron to know all about him to be friends.
This movie was animated by a new animation studio called Locksmith Animation, this was a great first movie for the studio and I hope there will be more animated movies by them.
I recommend going to watch this. Its a fun, funny, entertaining, and cute movie.
Barney is a relatable character and Ron is a lovable, funny, and cute B-Bot. I really liked their friendship with each other and the fun they have.
Ron had funny scenes with Barney and I liked how Barney is trying to get Ron to know all about him to be friends.
This movie was animated by a new animation studio called Locksmith Animation, this was a great first movie for the studio and I hope there will be more animated movies by them.
I recommend going to watch this. Its a fun, funny, entertaining, and cute movie.
Not bad
Movi3DO22 October 2021
Ron: "Are you my best friend?" Oh damn.
Being alone in the theater was a blessing because I was able to laugh out loud with this one. The story was super formulaic with concrete acts and turning points. The theme was nothing new and felt redundant.
However, I adored the relationship between the main kid Barney and the malfunctioning bebot Ron. They cracked me up multiple times. The more I watched, the more I became invested in their relationship.
Overall, it's a movie that you have seen many times before, but the strong and sweet relationship between the two main characters made this worth a watch. 7.5/10.
Being alone in the theater was a blessing because I was able to laugh out loud with this one. The story was super formulaic with concrete acts and turning points. The theme was nothing new and felt redundant.
However, I adored the relationship between the main kid Barney and the malfunctioning bebot Ron. They cracked me up multiple times. The more I watched, the more I became invested in their relationship.
Overall, it's a movie that you have seen many times before, but the strong and sweet relationship between the two main characters made this worth a watch. 7.5/10.
It was a lot more fun than I expected!
vithiet10 July 2022
Considering the premise I thought this would be a pretty formulaic animated movie with not much originality. And I wasn't wrong. However, the whole thing is very well done and entertaining throughout for both kids and adults alike. So even though there is nothing groundbreaking here, I still recommend it as it is fun, cute, and with some well-done mild social commentary.
I have never been so surprised by a film in the cinema
evansjoshyr15 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I am 19 years old and I took my 6 year old brother to the cinema today because he'd heard about this film from school and his friend was going to see it. I did not have high expectations. It was a 6.4 on Imdb and I had heard nothing positive about it. This experience was just so that my brother could have a good time and enjoy himself.
And yet by the end of the film, I found myself in awe. I had felt practically felt every emotion at one point or another at some point in the film. The jokes are quick and witty. The emotional moments are poignant and thought provoking. The general theme of friendship is so wholesome and the characters are well rounded. Even the villain was surprisingly great. He wasn't some mindless psycho wanting take over the world. He was a greedy owner of a successful company that cared more about the profits than the consumers. Sound like any companies we know? The ending was especially sad and unpredictable.
If you are like me and had doubts about this film, I encourage you to go see it. Its like the Mitchell's vs the machines but even better.
And yet by the end of the film, I found myself in awe. I had felt practically felt every emotion at one point or another at some point in the film. The jokes are quick and witty. The emotional moments are poignant and thought provoking. The general theme of friendship is so wholesome and the characters are well rounded. Even the villain was surprisingly great. He wasn't some mindless psycho wanting take over the world. He was a greedy owner of a successful company that cared more about the profits than the consumers. Sound like any companies we know? The ending was especially sad and unpredictable.
If you are like me and had doubts about this film, I encourage you to go see it. Its like the Mitchell's vs the machines but even better.
A fine Locksmith Animation film!
jp_9127 October 2021
"Ron's Gone Wrong" is a good presentation letter from the animation company Locksmith Animation. The script revolves around friendship and the digital world, the result is pleasant, a positive message that sometimes feels contradictory or implausible (a final act not necessary), but the story does its job. The animation is very good, being quite successful, in the future Locksmith Animation will have a great place in the world of animated cinema.
Ron's Gone Right In Many Ways I Did Not Expect
rgkarim23 October 2021
LIKES:
Great Pace: Animated movies always fluctuate with balance issues and their gimmicks, often executing well and sometimes tipping one way over the other. Ron's Gone Wrong starts with a good pace that moves to be fun and engaging for younger audiences, but not so much to skip the deeper messages lying in wait. The movie handles transitions between the acts very well, each one having a decent amount of time, sticking to a realistic timeline, and still moving to never get lost in any gimmicks. It's a major source of the fun for me, and should be able to hold the fleeting attention of the modern generation.
Animation: It's not realistic, it's not groundbreaking, and it's not the most unique pallet to paint on, however Ron's group is certainly fun, cute, and animated well to bring the story to life. Ron's tale has a lot of dynamic movement between the robots that plague the world and the humans who use them and both elements are done extraordinarily well. Younger audiences should welcome the bubbly, rounded features of the world, and even the "darker" aspects are shaded to be less imposing for more sensitive viewers. Nevertheless, the dynamic stunts and adventures are gorgeous and filled with emotion as the more intense moments hit.
The Voice Acting: Nothing that hits the Oscar category, but certainly well done nonetheless to get the characters alive and past the simple digital representation. Jack Dylan Grazer hits the vulnerable teen well, a mixture of confusion and hurt that gradually evolves into a more mature role as the movie moves on past the simple adventure. Ed Helms is still excelling at the antagonistic role, and works well in the enunciation and mannerisms that seem to match the character on screen making for a simplistic character to throw a wrench in the gears. The star is Galifianakis though, whose voice of Ron is sensationally casted for the quirky robot struggling to boot up and perform his coding. Ron's style takes the ridiculousness of the actor, but manages to curb it into something tolerable and PG rated that works to be humorous. Even better, he also lends to more emotional moments, managing to never lose the robotic tone and delivery, and yet somehow instilling emotion to the level.
The Presentation: The movie is wonderful for helping to really deliver the powerful punches that the movie is trying to execute. The first two acts manage to be focused on the buildup, giving you the hurt and sting of the protagonist and the family's attempts to help him adapt into the new world. It's balanced between fun and drama, keeping a pace that is inviting to the attention of all ages. Then the third act starts to really dive into the fun, never dropping the drama or suspense, but focusing on the subtle moral lessons while keeping the fun. Then it's the final two acts that start to play around with the balance, never eliminating one or the other, but adding the tweaks to again get that presentation going. I loved the designs and close ups of those key moments, while utilizing other things like sound, music, and simple change of perspective to capture all of the moments needed.
The Comedy: Not the cleverest, and really not the most spread, but something about Ron's charm manages to make elements of the movie very funny for adults. Sure there is kid humor, all about using slap stick and quotable lines to have your little ones giggling in delight. Ron's lines in particular are reminiscent of technology gone wrong, mixed with childlike innocence and wonder, and mixed with just enough sarcasm and blunt humor to be very entertaining. Slapstick moments arise decently, and other elements integrated into the mix with other characters will touch other comedy moments lightly. It works well with the theme, being a staple without overcoming the other elements and I enjoyed it even if I was not on the floor laughing the whole time.
The Story/Morals: This is probably the strongest thing I latched onto in this movie, the story and the lessons tied with it. Barney's tale is relevant to this reviewer, not only in personal experiences, but in approaches to the modern trends and way of life that the last 7 years has brought. Feeling the social life being lost to the technology life is tough, and Barney's caught in between both that are combatting for the dominance in the world. Upon Ron's emergence, this tale really tries to highlight things that I think are important and what I try to do, which touches a lot of my heart strings and brought the fun out of the movie. As the relationship between the two protagonists evolves, the directors and animators try to up the game and in many senses I think hit the check boxes for that emotional punch we all need in these movies. Especially the ending where the climactic collision of all the stories works together to really deliver the finale we have been looking forward to all this time.
DISLIKES:
Predictable: I never expected this to be the case of a surprise, but you always hope for something to blow your mind with these movies. In this case, the movie is very linear and predictable, taking suspense away because of how much I knew was coming. For most, this won't be an issue if they are having fun, but as a reviewer there is a little bit of tweaking to help get the story to engage to older audiences past the target audience age. Some plot holes also can get in the way of things at times, primarily when logic and security tend to be easily subverted to get the job done.
The Character Usage: I'm mixed on this because in truth they did do a nice job keeping many characters in the film, it's just that some of them really get dropped despite the hints they do in one scene. The climax suggested there would be a lot more involvement with some of the other kids and their talents, but that did not happen, and they were mostly used for some political moments rather than ingraining them into the tale. They are used quite powerfully, but I can't say that there is room for improvement to assist with the better development with some of the group.
Ron can be a bit annoying: This is a small tweak definitely, but the I have to admit that there are times when Ron's antics are a little too much. Primarily at the beginning when Barney is trying to get him set up, the writers tended to stray into the realm of a few jokes too far. It gets mitigated much more down the line, but there are a few times of going down the kid avenue over the adult humor.
The Comedy: Not perfect, but Ron's Gone Wrong could have used a little more adult humor to bring the adults in further. Again, it does not mean it has to go down the levels of derogatory humor, but 90's television and Shrek has proven you can be a little bolder with comedy and hide it from the kids. I would have liked that very much for helping break some things up instead.
The Politics: Yes, there is unfortunately some political preachiness in this film, and to the point of being a little in your face. However, I have to say it's not promoting the usual manners and was more acceptable than some of the other films I've seen in the past (looking at you Charlie's Angels 2019). But, the messages in Ron's about friendship vs. Technology may rub people the wrong way depending on which way you swing in the era of Social Media vs Social Networking with people. I think Ron does a nice job mitigating it if you stick with it, but it can be hard given some of the in your face symbolism and lines. This may be the part that will drive more people away, primarily due to the challenges of change and taking steps back from technology that can get in the way of fun.
The VERDICT: Ron's Gone Wrong may not be the movie of the year for Academy Awards compared to movies like Soul. Yet this movie should not be ignored or destroyed because it does not go down the "progressive" or unique edge in terms of what Disney can do. However, the movie has a lot of heart to it, really exploring avenues that socially awkward people like myself can learn, take comfort in, and hopefully get some lessons to others for surviving in this world. I loved the buddy comedy, had a blast with the pacing and design, and really felt some great moments in the story piece of the film. True, there are plot gaps and predictability, and the character usage is a bit lacking, leaning towards woke symbolism and hyperbole than true integration. In addition, there are also some heavy handed preaching components that my generation and onward may be turned off on given the approach to life we take. Yet, Ron's journey is a lot of fun, and really does a nice job of walking a balanced line of fun, story, and lessons that I really think is not being represented in the advertising and reviews. Thus, this movie I encourage people to take a look at and potentially be surprised and entertained like I was. My scores for this film are:
Animated/Adventure/Comedy: 8.0 Movie Overall: 7.0.
Great Pace: Animated movies always fluctuate with balance issues and their gimmicks, often executing well and sometimes tipping one way over the other. Ron's Gone Wrong starts with a good pace that moves to be fun and engaging for younger audiences, but not so much to skip the deeper messages lying in wait. The movie handles transitions between the acts very well, each one having a decent amount of time, sticking to a realistic timeline, and still moving to never get lost in any gimmicks. It's a major source of the fun for me, and should be able to hold the fleeting attention of the modern generation.
Animation: It's not realistic, it's not groundbreaking, and it's not the most unique pallet to paint on, however Ron's group is certainly fun, cute, and animated well to bring the story to life. Ron's tale has a lot of dynamic movement between the robots that plague the world and the humans who use them and both elements are done extraordinarily well. Younger audiences should welcome the bubbly, rounded features of the world, and even the "darker" aspects are shaded to be less imposing for more sensitive viewers. Nevertheless, the dynamic stunts and adventures are gorgeous and filled with emotion as the more intense moments hit.
The Voice Acting: Nothing that hits the Oscar category, but certainly well done nonetheless to get the characters alive and past the simple digital representation. Jack Dylan Grazer hits the vulnerable teen well, a mixture of confusion and hurt that gradually evolves into a more mature role as the movie moves on past the simple adventure. Ed Helms is still excelling at the antagonistic role, and works well in the enunciation and mannerisms that seem to match the character on screen making for a simplistic character to throw a wrench in the gears. The star is Galifianakis though, whose voice of Ron is sensationally casted for the quirky robot struggling to boot up and perform his coding. Ron's style takes the ridiculousness of the actor, but manages to curb it into something tolerable and PG rated that works to be humorous. Even better, he also lends to more emotional moments, managing to never lose the robotic tone and delivery, and yet somehow instilling emotion to the level.
The Presentation: The movie is wonderful for helping to really deliver the powerful punches that the movie is trying to execute. The first two acts manage to be focused on the buildup, giving you the hurt and sting of the protagonist and the family's attempts to help him adapt into the new world. It's balanced between fun and drama, keeping a pace that is inviting to the attention of all ages. Then the third act starts to really dive into the fun, never dropping the drama or suspense, but focusing on the subtle moral lessons while keeping the fun. Then it's the final two acts that start to play around with the balance, never eliminating one or the other, but adding the tweaks to again get that presentation going. I loved the designs and close ups of those key moments, while utilizing other things like sound, music, and simple change of perspective to capture all of the moments needed.
The Comedy: Not the cleverest, and really not the most spread, but something about Ron's charm manages to make elements of the movie very funny for adults. Sure there is kid humor, all about using slap stick and quotable lines to have your little ones giggling in delight. Ron's lines in particular are reminiscent of technology gone wrong, mixed with childlike innocence and wonder, and mixed with just enough sarcasm and blunt humor to be very entertaining. Slapstick moments arise decently, and other elements integrated into the mix with other characters will touch other comedy moments lightly. It works well with the theme, being a staple without overcoming the other elements and I enjoyed it even if I was not on the floor laughing the whole time.
The Story/Morals: This is probably the strongest thing I latched onto in this movie, the story and the lessons tied with it. Barney's tale is relevant to this reviewer, not only in personal experiences, but in approaches to the modern trends and way of life that the last 7 years has brought. Feeling the social life being lost to the technology life is tough, and Barney's caught in between both that are combatting for the dominance in the world. Upon Ron's emergence, this tale really tries to highlight things that I think are important and what I try to do, which touches a lot of my heart strings and brought the fun out of the movie. As the relationship between the two protagonists evolves, the directors and animators try to up the game and in many senses I think hit the check boxes for that emotional punch we all need in these movies. Especially the ending where the climactic collision of all the stories works together to really deliver the finale we have been looking forward to all this time.
DISLIKES:
Predictable: I never expected this to be the case of a surprise, but you always hope for something to blow your mind with these movies. In this case, the movie is very linear and predictable, taking suspense away because of how much I knew was coming. For most, this won't be an issue if they are having fun, but as a reviewer there is a little bit of tweaking to help get the story to engage to older audiences past the target audience age. Some plot holes also can get in the way of things at times, primarily when logic and security tend to be easily subverted to get the job done.
The Character Usage: I'm mixed on this because in truth they did do a nice job keeping many characters in the film, it's just that some of them really get dropped despite the hints they do in one scene. The climax suggested there would be a lot more involvement with some of the other kids and their talents, but that did not happen, and they were mostly used for some political moments rather than ingraining them into the tale. They are used quite powerfully, but I can't say that there is room for improvement to assist with the better development with some of the group.
Ron can be a bit annoying: This is a small tweak definitely, but the I have to admit that there are times when Ron's antics are a little too much. Primarily at the beginning when Barney is trying to get him set up, the writers tended to stray into the realm of a few jokes too far. It gets mitigated much more down the line, but there are a few times of going down the kid avenue over the adult humor.
The Comedy: Not perfect, but Ron's Gone Wrong could have used a little more adult humor to bring the adults in further. Again, it does not mean it has to go down the levels of derogatory humor, but 90's television and Shrek has proven you can be a little bolder with comedy and hide it from the kids. I would have liked that very much for helping break some things up instead.
The Politics: Yes, there is unfortunately some political preachiness in this film, and to the point of being a little in your face. However, I have to say it's not promoting the usual manners and was more acceptable than some of the other films I've seen in the past (looking at you Charlie's Angels 2019). But, the messages in Ron's about friendship vs. Technology may rub people the wrong way depending on which way you swing in the era of Social Media vs Social Networking with people. I think Ron does a nice job mitigating it if you stick with it, but it can be hard given some of the in your face symbolism and lines. This may be the part that will drive more people away, primarily due to the challenges of change and taking steps back from technology that can get in the way of fun.
The VERDICT: Ron's Gone Wrong may not be the movie of the year for Academy Awards compared to movies like Soul. Yet this movie should not be ignored or destroyed because it does not go down the "progressive" or unique edge in terms of what Disney can do. However, the movie has a lot of heart to it, really exploring avenues that socially awkward people like myself can learn, take comfort in, and hopefully get some lessons to others for surviving in this world. I loved the buddy comedy, had a blast with the pacing and design, and really felt some great moments in the story piece of the film. True, there are plot gaps and predictability, and the character usage is a bit lacking, leaning towards woke symbolism and hyperbole than true integration. In addition, there are also some heavy handed preaching components that my generation and onward may be turned off on given the approach to life we take. Yet, Ron's journey is a lot of fun, and really does a nice job of walking a balanced line of fun, story, and lessons that I really think is not being represented in the advertising and reviews. Thus, this movie I encourage people to take a look at and potentially be surprised and entertained like I was. My scores for this film are:
Animated/Adventure/Comedy: 8.0 Movie Overall: 7.0.
The Social Network
SnoopyStyle7 December 2021
Barney is an awkward middle-schooler and the only one without a B-bot, a personal robot that uses its social network to find friends for kids. He lives with his widow father and grandmother. They don't see the need for the new tech until they discover that he has no friends. They buy a damaged B-bot off the back of a truck. It doesn't connect to the network. It's a struggle for real friendship.
Obviously, this movie has something to say about social networking especially for kids. I would like for it to be more biting. It touches on it but it's not quite there. Marc is a little too nice and has too much power. It would be more intense if he, as the original programmer, has lost control of the company from the very start of the movie. The company needs to be the evil empire. That would necessitate Marc helping Barney to liberate the company and the bots. Otherwise, I do love the premise and the message. The message can also be tweaked a little more. I love that friendship is a two-way street. I need the movie to push the idea of being nice. That's the next level up. The movie needs to show the corrosiveness of modern social network and how Ron would change it to real friendship. The movie does it but I would like it to do it better. This film is pretty good overall.
Obviously, this movie has something to say about social networking especially for kids. I would like for it to be more biting. It touches on it but it's not quite there. Marc is a little too nice and has too much power. It would be more intense if he, as the original programmer, has lost control of the company from the very start of the movie. The company needs to be the evil empire. That would necessitate Marc helping Barney to liberate the company and the bots. Otherwise, I do love the premise and the message. The message can also be tweaked a little more. I love that friendship is a two-way street. I need the movie to push the idea of being nice. That's the next level up. The movie needs to show the corrosiveness of modern social network and how Ron would change it to real friendship. The movie does it but I would like it to do it better. This film is pretty good overall.
Honestly an underrated family favourite
raptorrecordz15 October 2021
I took my son and the Mrs to see this in the cinema and honestly didn't have much hopes was more just something to watch ... Boy was I wrong I laughed from the first five mins and it took us all on an emotional rollercoaster of ups and downs really hitting home the feeling of how kids are these days with all the technology at their finger tips and just how much that is posted online can never appear as it seems ... Fully recommend and il say no more ... Get yourself out there to see it ... A film well worth my money.
Ron's Gone Wrong gets a lot of things right
cricketbat29 December 2021
Ron's Gone Wrong gets a lot of things right. It has a good amount of humor, with the title character of Ron getting most of the laughs. It also has plenty of heart, as you really care about Barney (Absalom?) and many of the supporting characters. However, it feels like the writers didn't really know how to end the movie, and the story kind of runs out of juice in the third act. Nevertheless, I would choose to watch Ron's Gone Wrong again.
Social commentary done badly
evanchma6 January 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I thought the beginning had a lot of potential but begins to show cracks near the middle and a slog by the end. There is a bit of social commentary in here. We've become so dependant on technology that we have trouble making real friends. We have our personal data harvested by big tech companies so they can profit off us. So what does this movie set to achieve then? I think as an animated film targetting kids (and the adults watching with them), this message is extremely off the mark. For kids, they might laugh or enjoy the animation, but the message will completely go over their heads. For adults, it felt like some boomer wrote the script and was just repeating what I've heard since the dawn of smartphones: don't keep looking at your screens, companies are tracking you and collecting your data. So by the time the ending comes, what is the movie's solution? Continue to use the B Bots, but this time... ALL of them have the same personality as the main character's bot. Shouldn't each bot be more...personalized/customized to each person? I imagined i had a "Ron personality" B-bot at the end....yeah no i'll take one that is a lot more quiet thanks.
I didn't enjoy the middle or ending either. The movie shifted from being a coming-of-age story of an awkward middle schooler, to being a survival story in the woods....to suddenly becoming a heist film? It was this flip flop of genres that made me think the writers didn't have a good ending in mind. Did you see the elevators at Bubble, the large spinning fan, the towers and towers of servers? From the very beggining of their rescue it just seemed Barney was WAY out of his league. Using only deus ex machinas, could Ron be saved at the end. (Dad's laptop with a virus that can shut down a whole buildings power, grandma able to get through security easily, ron's code just HAPPENED to blink etc.) IF you were going to do a heist, then you should flesh it out. Maybe cut the forest time if ron was going to get caught ANWAY. Maybe have the other kids from Barney's class help.
Speaking of other kids, they really needed to do something about this aspect. There was never a point throughout the film that I thought "Oh maybe these people COULD be Barney's friends". It just happened because the story needed it to happen without much build-up. (Of all people, the bully being best bros with Barney? Come on.) I get the feeling other than the science girl, Barney's group of friends at the end isn't even that suitable for him. Friendship really is a key theme to this movie and it doesn't work when the audience (other than Ron and Barney) doesn't buy it.
The movie wasn't terrible but it didn't live up to expectations set at the start. The animation and voice acting are fine. I've said what i needed to about the story and message above. My rating could have been higher had the movie just been funnier with more jokes throughout. I just found myself frustrated at the main characters or their situations more times than I would like for an animated movie.
I didn't enjoy the middle or ending either. The movie shifted from being a coming-of-age story of an awkward middle schooler, to being a survival story in the woods....to suddenly becoming a heist film? It was this flip flop of genres that made me think the writers didn't have a good ending in mind. Did you see the elevators at Bubble, the large spinning fan, the towers and towers of servers? From the very beggining of their rescue it just seemed Barney was WAY out of his league. Using only deus ex machinas, could Ron be saved at the end. (Dad's laptop with a virus that can shut down a whole buildings power, grandma able to get through security easily, ron's code just HAPPENED to blink etc.) IF you were going to do a heist, then you should flesh it out. Maybe cut the forest time if ron was going to get caught ANWAY. Maybe have the other kids from Barney's class help.
Speaking of other kids, they really needed to do something about this aspect. There was never a point throughout the film that I thought "Oh maybe these people COULD be Barney's friends". It just happened because the story needed it to happen without much build-up. (Of all people, the bully being best bros with Barney? Come on.) I get the feeling other than the science girl, Barney's group of friends at the end isn't even that suitable for him. Friendship really is a key theme to this movie and it doesn't work when the audience (other than Ron and Barney) doesn't buy it.
The movie wasn't terrible but it didn't live up to expectations set at the start. The animation and voice acting are fine. I've said what i needed to about the story and message above. My rating could have been higher had the movie just been funnier with more jokes throughout. I just found myself frustrated at the main characters or their situations more times than I would like for an animated movie.
Thought-provoking!
paulclaassen14 January 2022
Oh, what an absolutely delightful film!!
Welcome to the future of social media! The future of technology - for children, especially - is scary and worrying. Children of the future will loose the ability to play and have fun, unless they have the Internet - or social media for that matter, regardless of which platform. It's all about views, likes, and followers. Very sad indeed! One of the designers even exclaims "How can you have fun offline?" Yeah, so true, I guess...
The film revolves around a kid, Barney, who is considered an outcast, and is constantly being bullied. Being the only kid in school who doesn't have a B-Bot (a social media device and 'friend'), he is being mocked. When his Dad finally gets him (a faulty) one, Barney's life changes in so many ways - as well as his outlook on life. This unlikely friendship is responsible for many hilarious moments!
The B-Bot inventor is cleverly named Mark (get it; Mark Zuckerberg being the inventor of social media giant Facebook...). There are many satirical moments, and also so many important messages and underlying themes.
The animation is great, the premise is relevant and relatable, and the humor is quirky. It's an action-packed adventure young and old will enjoy! The mature audience will be alerted to the many warning signs illustrated here, disguised simply as animated fun. Very well done! Thought-provoking!
Would I watch it again? Yes, this was great!
Welcome to the future of social media! The future of technology - for children, especially - is scary and worrying. Children of the future will loose the ability to play and have fun, unless they have the Internet - or social media for that matter, regardless of which platform. It's all about views, likes, and followers. Very sad indeed! One of the designers even exclaims "How can you have fun offline?" Yeah, so true, I guess...
The film revolves around a kid, Barney, who is considered an outcast, and is constantly being bullied. Being the only kid in school who doesn't have a B-Bot (a social media device and 'friend'), he is being mocked. When his Dad finally gets him (a faulty) one, Barney's life changes in so many ways - as well as his outlook on life. This unlikely friendship is responsible for many hilarious moments!
The B-Bot inventor is cleverly named Mark (get it; Mark Zuckerberg being the inventor of social media giant Facebook...). There are many satirical moments, and also so many important messages and underlying themes.
The animation is great, the premise is relevant and relatable, and the humor is quirky. It's an action-packed adventure young and old will enjoy! The mature audience will be alerted to the many warning signs illustrated here, disguised simply as animated fun. Very well done! Thought-provoking!
Would I watch it again? Yes, this was great!
yeh
djurrepower4 December 2021
It's far from a classic but it is well done and entertaining
kevin_robbins15 November 2021
Ron's Gone Wrong (2021) is a movie my daughter and I recently watched in theatres. The storyline follows a young boy named Barney that is an outcast due to not having the latest technology which has replaced cell phones and video games as entertainment and he doesn't have one. When his parents buy him one off market that has a few issues hijinks ensue.
This movie is codirected by Sarah Smith (Arthur Christmas), Jean-Philippe Vine (Shaun the Sheep) and Octavio E. Rodriguez (The Epic Tale of Captain Underpants). This movie also contains the voices of Jack Dylan Grazer (IT), Ed Helms (The Hangover), Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover) and Olivia Colman (Hot Fuzz).
The animation in this picture is excellent. The storyline was unique and had some great characters, lessons and scenarios. The plot is fun to watch unfold. The dialogue is very entertaining and the friendship conversations as it evolves throughout the movie is good. The action scenes, while often over the top, are fun and had my daughter laughing throughout the movie.
Overall this is a slightly above average addition to the genre that's a fun family picture. It's far from a classic but it is well done and entertaining. I'd score this a 7/10 and recommend watching it once.
This movie is codirected by Sarah Smith (Arthur Christmas), Jean-Philippe Vine (Shaun the Sheep) and Octavio E. Rodriguez (The Epic Tale of Captain Underpants). This movie also contains the voices of Jack Dylan Grazer (IT), Ed Helms (The Hangover), Zach Galifianakis (The Hangover) and Olivia Colman (Hot Fuzz).
The animation in this picture is excellent. The storyline was unique and had some great characters, lessons and scenarios. The plot is fun to watch unfold. The dialogue is very entertaining and the friendship conversations as it evolves throughout the movie is good. The action scenes, while often over the top, are fun and had my daughter laughing throughout the movie.
Overall this is a slightly above average addition to the genre that's a fun family picture. It's far from a classic but it is well done and entertaining. I'd score this a 7/10 and recommend watching it once.
The Challenges of being a middle schooler, including wanting to fit in, are universal
rannynm31 October 2021
Ron's Gone Wrong is an outstanding animated film, written by Peter Baynham and Sarah Smith. It really connects with its audience through funny jokes and loveable characters, while also delivering the important message that no matter how kids present themselves, especially in middle school, they all are experiencing similar challenges and feelings. This message is very important, especially for young kids and teens to hear, and Ron's Gone Wrong brings this theme to light.
The storyline follows a socially awkward middle schooler named Barney (Jack Dylan Grazer), who is ostracized because he does not own the hottest new piece of tech -- a B-bot, or a digitally connected "Best Friend Out of the Box." That changes when his grandmother and father surprise him for his birthday with his very own B-bot, although this B-bot is a bit different than what he expected.
The film is critical of social media replacing friendships in real life and the potential of tech companies to violate people's privacy. One of the characters has an embarrassing image of her go viral through her B-bot, resulting in her feeling embarrassed and being unable to take it down. Ron's Gone Wrong has a very talented, all-star cast. Jack Dylan Grazer's portrayal of Barney makes him believable and relatable as a middle school outcast. Another hilarious cast member is Zach Galifianakis, who voices the defective B-bot, Ron. He cracks me up and makes this movie so funny. Director Octavio Rodriguez creates a vibrant, colorful animation style that brings these characters to life - especially the B-bots, but also the goat and chicken that belong to Barney's grandmother who is from "the old country."
The primary message is that the challenges of being a middle schooler, including wanting to fit in and make friends, are universal. There is also a critical message about the danger of too much technology and its impact on kids and the world. Parents should know there is some animated violence when Ron goes after Barney's bullies, but overall, the film is very positive.
I give Ron's Gone Wrong 5 out 5 stars and I highly recommend it for ages 9 to 18, plus adults. I love this movie and believe you will too. You can watch Ron's Gone Wrong in theaters October 21, 2021. By Samantha B., KIDS FIRST!
The storyline follows a socially awkward middle schooler named Barney (Jack Dylan Grazer), who is ostracized because he does not own the hottest new piece of tech -- a B-bot, or a digitally connected "Best Friend Out of the Box." That changes when his grandmother and father surprise him for his birthday with his very own B-bot, although this B-bot is a bit different than what he expected.
The film is critical of social media replacing friendships in real life and the potential of tech companies to violate people's privacy. One of the characters has an embarrassing image of her go viral through her B-bot, resulting in her feeling embarrassed and being unable to take it down. Ron's Gone Wrong has a very talented, all-star cast. Jack Dylan Grazer's portrayal of Barney makes him believable and relatable as a middle school outcast. Another hilarious cast member is Zach Galifianakis, who voices the defective B-bot, Ron. He cracks me up and makes this movie so funny. Director Octavio Rodriguez creates a vibrant, colorful animation style that brings these characters to life - especially the B-bots, but also the goat and chicken that belong to Barney's grandmother who is from "the old country."
The primary message is that the challenges of being a middle schooler, including wanting to fit in and make friends, are universal. There is also a critical message about the danger of too much technology and its impact on kids and the world. Parents should know there is some animated violence when Ron goes after Barney's bullies, but overall, the film is very positive.
I give Ron's Gone Wrong 5 out 5 stars and I highly recommend it for ages 9 to 18, plus adults. I love this movie and believe you will too. You can watch Ron's Gone Wrong in theaters October 21, 2021. By Samantha B., KIDS FIRST!
Ron's gone wrong
rnixon-1566325 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
2021
PG
director: Sarah Smith and Jean Phillipe Divine.
Starring: Jack Dylan Grazer, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Olivia Colman, Rob Delaney, Justice Smith, Kylie Cantrall, Ricardo Hurtado etc
The story of Barney, an awkward middle-schooler and Ron, his new walking, talking, digitally connected device. Ron's malfunctions set against the backdrop of the social media age launch them on a journey to learn about true friendship. Ron's gone wrong was ok and fine for what it was.
My first few positives would be the strong animation and set up. As well as the great worldbuilding and interesting elements. Also, the likeable characters, humour, and interesting family dynamic. The film was visually stunning with a rich storyworld and aesthetically pleasing set locations, also with impressive animation for the characters that looked realistic but also unique to some other animations. I also thought the set-up of introducing the B bots and what their function were intrigued me and was a strong start to the film. The worldbuilding itself was also strong, with the film going into great amounts of details about the b bots and their function and building and expanding on the world with the character or Ron, it had layers to it and didn't feel one dimensional so was always invested in the world the characters were in. I also thought the characters were very likeable. Barney had this loveable charm to him as a character and he was easy to sympathise and connect with and I feel like his character can be relatable to a lot of people watching. Especially younger kids who perhaps feel the same as his character. I also loved the family dynamic. Him losing his mother and never building the relationship with his dad gave some interesting themes and depth, and the comedic chemistry with the grandmother was always fun to watch. The films humour especially with the grandmother and the weird and wonderful situations Barney got into with Ron got some good laughs.
My first few negatives are the generic plot elements. The repetitive humour and forced dialogue. As well as the pacing issues. The film recycled a lot of plot points and themes from other movies and this kind of movie has been done before and done better. A film like the Mitchell's vs the machines comes to mind. I also thought not all the humour landed. The film was inconsistent and went very repetitive with some of the jokes. They lost their impact after a certain number of times and it became slightly tedious and annoying hearing the same joke multiple times. I also thought a lot of the dialogue felt very corny and forced. Particularly with a lot of the characters and how they interact with Barney. It just felt very unrealistic and generic with why the kids were being mean to him and the dialogue shined a light on this. I also thought the pacing was very messy. The film was too chaotic and was moving at such a fast pace but with a surprising lack of plot. So, it missed opportunities for more depth as it constantly wanted to move onto new things and just threw everything at you, so it lacked focus.
My final few positives would be the strong themes and charming tone. As well as the chemistry between the characters and heart-warming moments. And the villain was strong with an entertaining and uplifting final act. I think the themes on friendship and family, as well as making relationships in the real world and not creating a fake version of yourself was strong and very important. This film also had a very charming tone, the chemistry and friendship between Ron and Barney was very sweet as they grew their friendship and they both learned from each other, and it was a heart-warming highlight of the film. They both had such a great chemistry with each other and as Ron learned more about Barney the more emotionally connected Barney felt to something as he grew to accept himself. I also thought the villain was strong, the themes that the villain helped highlight were strong. Highlighting the need for security and controlled screen time especially when they are kids, and how horrible the villain was with the invasion of the kid's privacy helped to highlight this. Finally, I thought the final act was uplifting and entertaining. The final act was the strongest part of the film for me. It was heart-warming with Barney finally feeling accepted and his arc with his family was very touching and well done. It was entertaining and visually stunning and offered a great message that ended the film on a high note.
My final few negatives would be the lack of development and stakes. As well as the odd character decisions. For me the film really lacked any plot or development for a good chunk of the run time. It felt like it was more of a series repetitive plot points that weren't going anywhere. And with a lack of a strong villain until the second half, for a while the film just wasn't going anywhere. This impacted the pacing and the quality of the writing. There was also just a complete lack of stakes, there was no real sense of danger for a large portion of the film, it felt like it wasn't challenging itself or the characters enough, therefore limiting the amount of development the plot and characters could have. I also thought that there were some odd creative decisions with the characters. I found it very strange that the film spent so long having characters like Savannah and Rich bully Barney for so long, only for them to suddenly be friends with him, it just felt very odd and I found it hard to believe the characters would change their point of view on each other so quickly.
Overall, Ron's gone wrong has strong animation, A loveable lead duo. And raises some good themes, its heart was in the right place. But the thinly written and recycled plot as well as a general feeling of playing it too safe impacted my enjoyment considerably. It was serviceable and families will enjoy it, but I don't think I will be watching it again.
Overall rating 62/100.
Starring: Jack Dylan Grazer, Zach Galifianakis, Ed Helms, Olivia Colman, Rob Delaney, Justice Smith, Kylie Cantrall, Ricardo Hurtado etc
The story of Barney, an awkward middle-schooler and Ron, his new walking, talking, digitally connected device. Ron's malfunctions set against the backdrop of the social media age launch them on a journey to learn about true friendship. Ron's gone wrong was ok and fine for what it was.
My first few positives would be the strong animation and set up. As well as the great worldbuilding and interesting elements. Also, the likeable characters, humour, and interesting family dynamic. The film was visually stunning with a rich storyworld and aesthetically pleasing set locations, also with impressive animation for the characters that looked realistic but also unique to some other animations. I also thought the set-up of introducing the B bots and what their function were intrigued me and was a strong start to the film. The worldbuilding itself was also strong, with the film going into great amounts of details about the b bots and their function and building and expanding on the world with the character or Ron, it had layers to it and didn't feel one dimensional so was always invested in the world the characters were in. I also thought the characters were very likeable. Barney had this loveable charm to him as a character and he was easy to sympathise and connect with and I feel like his character can be relatable to a lot of people watching. Especially younger kids who perhaps feel the same as his character. I also loved the family dynamic. Him losing his mother and never building the relationship with his dad gave some interesting themes and depth, and the comedic chemistry with the grandmother was always fun to watch. The films humour especially with the grandmother and the weird and wonderful situations Barney got into with Ron got some good laughs.
My first few negatives are the generic plot elements. The repetitive humour and forced dialogue. As well as the pacing issues. The film recycled a lot of plot points and themes from other movies and this kind of movie has been done before and done better. A film like the Mitchell's vs the machines comes to mind. I also thought not all the humour landed. The film was inconsistent and went very repetitive with some of the jokes. They lost their impact after a certain number of times and it became slightly tedious and annoying hearing the same joke multiple times. I also thought a lot of the dialogue felt very corny and forced. Particularly with a lot of the characters and how they interact with Barney. It just felt very unrealistic and generic with why the kids were being mean to him and the dialogue shined a light on this. I also thought the pacing was very messy. The film was too chaotic and was moving at such a fast pace but with a surprising lack of plot. So, it missed opportunities for more depth as it constantly wanted to move onto new things and just threw everything at you, so it lacked focus.
My final few positives would be the strong themes and charming tone. As well as the chemistry between the characters and heart-warming moments. And the villain was strong with an entertaining and uplifting final act. I think the themes on friendship and family, as well as making relationships in the real world and not creating a fake version of yourself was strong and very important. This film also had a very charming tone, the chemistry and friendship between Ron and Barney was very sweet as they grew their friendship and they both learned from each other, and it was a heart-warming highlight of the film. They both had such a great chemistry with each other and as Ron learned more about Barney the more emotionally connected Barney felt to something as he grew to accept himself. I also thought the villain was strong, the themes that the villain helped highlight were strong. Highlighting the need for security and controlled screen time especially when they are kids, and how horrible the villain was with the invasion of the kid's privacy helped to highlight this. Finally, I thought the final act was uplifting and entertaining. The final act was the strongest part of the film for me. It was heart-warming with Barney finally feeling accepted and his arc with his family was very touching and well done. It was entertaining and visually stunning and offered a great message that ended the film on a high note.
My final few negatives would be the lack of development and stakes. As well as the odd character decisions. For me the film really lacked any plot or development for a good chunk of the run time. It felt like it was more of a series repetitive plot points that weren't going anywhere. And with a lack of a strong villain until the second half, for a while the film just wasn't going anywhere. This impacted the pacing and the quality of the writing. There was also just a complete lack of stakes, there was no real sense of danger for a large portion of the film, it felt like it wasn't challenging itself or the characters enough, therefore limiting the amount of development the plot and characters could have. I also thought that there were some odd creative decisions with the characters. I found it very strange that the film spent so long having characters like Savannah and Rich bully Barney for so long, only for them to suddenly be friends with him, it just felt very odd and I found it hard to believe the characters would change their point of view on each other so quickly.
Overall, Ron's gone wrong has strong animation, A loveable lead duo. And raises some good themes, its heart was in the right place. But the thinly written and recycled plot as well as a general feeling of playing it too safe impacted my enjoyment considerably. It was serviceable and families will enjoy it, but I don't think I will be watching it again.
Overall rating 62/100.
One of the most humane movies I've seen.
mirazenoart21 November 2021
One of the most humane movies I've seen lately. At first, I didn't have high expectations, but in my opinion, it managed to exceed the standards of Pixar movies. In addition to being very funny and super, its design conveys a very important message. Thank you for presenting the negative effects of social media and technology that have a significant impact on our daily lives and mental health. Thank you for alleviating the depression of countless young people through the film.
An Important story
rohanumpleby18 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
People are addicted to the internet specifically teenagers and this movie shows it here. People aren't playing with friends as they are to buisy playing with there robots where they can go live and show the world what they are doing. Ron was a funny robot and I loved how his character was written. The overall story is Ok but it is important to are society. The boy's dad wants him to make friends and play with them instead of playing on technology like Phones as an E.g. The story is also original and theres a few good laughs. It was a nice day out with my family my 1 brother he was only one that came out of the other 2 and then my annoying sister 😂, and My dad and we all had fun. So take your family and enjoy it I promise you will enjoy it more.
He's just so darn cute!
craigmair-5139527 October 2021
Commentary On Social Media
stevendbeard25 October 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I saw Ron's Gone Wrong, starring the voices of Jack Dylan Grazer-Shazam!, the It movies; Zach Galifianakis-A Wrinkle in Time, What Happens in Vegas; Ed Helms-Chappaquiddick, the Hangover movies and Olivia Colman-The Crown_tv, Hot Fuzz.
This is an animated movie that is basically a commentary on social media and how it affects kids. Jack is a middle school kid that is not very popular-he has no friends. A new personal robot-called 'bots'-is the new cell phone for the younger generation and every kid wants one. With these bots, they can text, talk, send videos & pictures.....etc. And they are a sign of status. They are marketed as being the new best friend to their juvenile owners. Jack does not have one. He keeps asking his father, Ed, for one and when he finally gets one, it is damaged and causes lots of back and forth struggles between it and Jack on their journey to find the true meaning of friendship. Zach voices the damaged bot, Ron and Olivia voices Jack's grandmother.
It's rated PG for crude material and language and has a running time of 1 hour & 46 minutes.
I enjoyed it enough to buy it on DVD and the younger kids should enjoy it, too.
This is an animated movie that is basically a commentary on social media and how it affects kids. Jack is a middle school kid that is not very popular-he has no friends. A new personal robot-called 'bots'-is the new cell phone for the younger generation and every kid wants one. With these bots, they can text, talk, send videos & pictures.....etc. And they are a sign of status. They are marketed as being the new best friend to their juvenile owners. Jack does not have one. He keeps asking his father, Ed, for one and when he finally gets one, it is damaged and causes lots of back and forth struggles between it and Jack on their journey to find the true meaning of friendship. Zach voices the damaged bot, Ron and Olivia voices Jack's grandmother.
It's rated PG for crude material and language and has a running time of 1 hour & 46 minutes.
I enjoyed it enough to buy it on DVD and the younger kids should enjoy it, too.
I have a thing to say about Bulgarian representation...
lukanovamary24 June 2022
Warning: Spoilers
The movie itself is great.
We're specifically talking about culture representation. Really appreciate the idea, Balkans are iconic, must have done this a while ago. BUT... 1) where were real traditional Bulgarian foods? We're talking banitsa, Bulgarian yoghurt, Shopska salad, sirene, kashkaval, turshia, kompot, tarator???? They had so much material, yet they've stick to the bratvurst in a pot. I guarantee you, NEVER in my life have I seen a chicken foot being served as a snack in Bulgaria. NEVER. Sorry do disappoint, but we are normal people.
2) the granny said 2-3 Bulgarian phrases and I (as a Bulgarian) could not understand ANYTHING of it. I wondered why but then i found out that - guess what? THE VOICE ACTOR IS FREAKING BRITAIN! She just forced an accent and said some words she couldn't even pronounce anywhere near right.
Sorry, that's not how it's done. Creators haven't researched a thing about Bulgaria, they just needed some random Balkan country to do the job. To say they're exclusive. Pretty sure if she was Serbian for example it would all be the same except for the little flag on the wall. So offensive and so disappointing.
We're specifically talking about culture representation. Really appreciate the idea, Balkans are iconic, must have done this a while ago. BUT... 1) where were real traditional Bulgarian foods? We're talking banitsa, Bulgarian yoghurt, Shopska salad, sirene, kashkaval, turshia, kompot, tarator???? They had so much material, yet they've stick to the bratvurst in a pot. I guarantee you, NEVER in my life have I seen a chicken foot being served as a snack in Bulgaria. NEVER. Sorry do disappoint, but we are normal people.
2) the granny said 2-3 Bulgarian phrases and I (as a Bulgarian) could not understand ANYTHING of it. I wondered why but then i found out that - guess what? THE VOICE ACTOR IS FREAKING BRITAIN! She just forced an accent and said some words she couldn't even pronounce anywhere near right.
Sorry, that's not how it's done. Creators haven't researched a thing about Bulgaria, they just needed some random Balkan country to do the job. To say they're exclusive. Pretty sure if she was Serbian for example it would all be the same except for the little flag on the wall. So offensive and so disappointing.
See also
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