A Blast from the Past

Last night I received an email containing the tentative release dates for all upcoming 20th Century Fox movies. From The Tooth Fairy to Wall Street 2 to The A-Team and Predators, we've talked about all of them here on redblog over the past few months... all of them except one.  And reading its title made me do the classic cartoon-like double take where I literally shook my head, rubbed my eyes and then leaned closer to my laptop screen for a second look. The title that inspired this mini-freak-out? Ramona and Beezus.

At first I couldn't figure out why I had such a reaction to those three words. But within a few minutes, the memories started flooding back. Ramona the Pest. Ramona the Brave. Ramona Quimby, Age 8. Ramona and Her Father. These were books I adored growing up, and I had completely forgotten about them until last night.  

The Ramona series wasn't the only one I loved from award-winning author Beverly Cleary. Reviewing a list of her published works, I realized that I've read everything she's written, from the Henry Huggins books to Dear Mr. Henshaw to Socks to The Mouse on the Motorcycle (the focus of my rockin' shoebox diorama project back in elementary school).  Ah, the memories.

Now comes the inevitable film adaptation of Beezus and Ramona, the first of Cleary's books (originally published in 1955) to revolve around the Ramona Quimby character. Why they switched the title to Ramona and Beezus, I have no idea. But Disney's Queen of Cute, Selena Gomez (yeah, I said it, Miley... Selena's the Queen of Cute), will star as big sis Beezus, and relative newcomer (she kind of has to be, she's ten) Joey King will play the imaginative and easily excitable Ramona. The various adults in the story are represented by Ginnifer Goodwin, Josh Duhamel, John Corbett and Bridget Moynahan.  

I'll be very interested to see a trailer for this one (it might be awhile, it's not set to hit theaters until next August) -- it will probably make me all misty-eyed for the innocence of my youth. Those were the days, reading Ramona, Harriet the Spy, The Bobbsey Twins and Encyclopedia Brown books and having not a care in the world.  For now, however, all we've got to go on is this picture. Here's hoping they don't ruin a childhood classic!

Comments

[Donna]

I loved Ramona growing up too. I wish there had been a movie about 30 years ago, so personally, I think it's about time they got to making this movie.

My only fear is that Selena Gomez is going to ruin it for me. I think she's too old to play Beezus, and far too mainstream.

Anyone have a favorite memory of Ramona? My personal favorite is when she pulled every tissue out of a new box, and squeezed an entire tube of toothpaste into the sink. Her mother saved all the tissues, and spooned all the toothpaste into a jar and made Ramona use it all herself. That taught me a lesson as a girl not to be wasteful.

[photo_chick]

I know the Ramona books well. They are still my favorites and I read them to my kids.

I just don't see Selena Gomez as sensible Beezus, but she may surprise me. While by the end Beezus was in high school (Ramona's World), in the first books she was still in elementary school.

My favorite part out of all the books is from Ramona and her Father. She's trying to get her dad to quit smoking and he puts down the cigarettes and asks her what she wants to do. They end up drawing the worlds longest picture on the kitchen floor.