Reviews: RAMONA AND BEEZUS

» Newcomer Joey King has a likable way about her, though, as the high-spirited, accident-prone Ramona Quimby. She's a natural young actress, and she even gets a chance to show some range in a couple of tearjerker moments. But the repeated fantasy sequences, which depict her imaginative interior world, have an intentionally rough-hewn aesthetic and end up looking more cheesy than charming. - ABCnews

» Joey King is the perfect pick as Ramona Quimby in the new family-friendly "Ramona and Beezus," based on Beverly Cleary's books. Someone should hurry up and invent a time-freezing machine so the young actress can stay this age for future "Ramona" projects. The "Ramona" screenplay by Laurie Craig and Nick Pustay throws out a host of emotional challenges for Joey, from major family disasters to one of the worst school-picture days in history. The young actress handles each with an ease that is way beyond her 11 years. Joey plays the role with such sweetness that no matter how much trouble Ramona causes, the audience is always on her side. - Phill

» Gomez and King are absolute naturals in their roles. It’s quite evident that a strong bond exists even beyond the camera, which only makes them more successful in front of it. However, this is ultimately King’s show and she runs away with it. Having only appeared in Quarantine and a handful of TV shows, Ramona and Beezus is the film that'll solidify King as a solid young actress worthy of more prominent work. - Shockya

» Joey King, as Ramona, is on the right side of precocious, using her adorableness in carefully measured doses. She easily carries the movie. - E!Online

» The real star is Joey King as her younger, gangly sister. King easily grabs your attention, and the camera loves her deep blue eyes. Tenacious and without guile, King's adorable without succumbing to preciousness. - SchoollibraryJournal

» King is a charmer as Ramona, never too cute or cloying, as this gentle comedy floats by. - Life Style

» In the title role, Joey King is pitch-perfect prepubescent charisma, being that rare child actor who comes across as an honest-to-God kid despite being a showbiz veteran since the age of 4. - San Francisco Chronicle

» King is almost too child-star cute to play an awkward misfit like Ramona, but she has the unmannered confidence of someone who was born to do this. That makes her a joy to watch. - Kansas City

» The remarkably natural King captures the character's pluckiness and insecurities as she feuds with her seemingly perfect sister and endures one catastrophe after another at her grade school. - LA Times

» Joey King who portrays Ramona, nails the whimsical spirit of this character, providing a smile and large eyes that illuminate the screen during the course of the movie. - Examiner

» This movie version of the adventures of Ramona - accident-prone pesky little sister and highly imaginative school outsider -- is delightful, and mostly thanks to child actor Joey King. She is a perfect Ramona. Joey King's performance ensures that Ramona is one of the most endearing screen characters extant. - TorontoSUN

» King establishes a plausible push-pull chemistry with Selena Gomez's Beezus. - Chicago Tribune

» Newcomer Joey King is funny and adorable as daydreaming 9-year-old Ramona Quimby. - New York Post

» King is a highly trained young actress, and her comfort in front of the camera is a little disconcerting, but she's excellent at capturing the essence of the frizzy, cheeky character, while playing comfortably with Gomez, who makes for a believably beleaguered older sister. - DVD Talk

» Ramona is a big name, but 10-year-old King won’t disappoint diehard fans. She is never anything short of adorable, yet brings a range of believable 9-year-old emotions to her character: innocence, betrayal, grief, embarrassment, confusion, helplessness, envy, and a mean temper tantrum. - Globe and Mail

» Allen knows how to corral the lively energy of her star, Joey King -- who is absolutely superb: warm and plausible, not a performing automaton, as so many child actors are. - FlickFilosopher

» In the title role, Joey King is pitch-perfect prepubescent charisma, being that rare child actor who comes across as an honest-to-God kid despite being a showbiz veteran since the age of 4. - Chron

» Young newcomer Joey King gives an unquestionable performance as nine-year-old Ramona. - Cole Smithey

» King is almost too child-star cute to play an awkward misfit like Ramona, but she has the unmannered confidence of someone who was born to do this. That makes her a joy to watch. - Kansa City

» Joey King plays Ramona and is a talented young actress with oodles of charm and tremendous potential. - Atomictown

» Joey King deserves a franchise. With her chestnut bob and eyes twinkling with mischief, King is Ramona. She looks the part, but she also embodies the spirit of the character, diving into memorable set pieces with unadulterated joy - Moving pictures

» Filmmakers introduce that to us right away, with 9-year-old Ramona, an appealing and winning Joey King in the role - Screen It

» In a breakthrough lead performance along the lines of Anna Chlumsky's in 1991's "My Girl," Joey King (2008's "Quarantine") is a remarkable find as the headstrong, creatively-inclined Ramona Quimby. King brings a confidence to her turn that has nothing to do with unctuous over-acting and everything to do with a natural gift that cannot be faked. She's spunky, she's cute, she's offbeat, and she can handle emotional moments just as well as the comedic ones. In other words, King becomes Ramona. - Dustin Putman

» Joey King is a terrific find as Ramona (I suspect we'll be seeing more of her). - Oregon live

» King offers just the right balance of cuteness and mischief as Ramona, and successfully conveys moments of doubt and sadness with equal assurance. - Film Critic

» Corbett's scenes with King have a real warmth to them. And King and Gomez are excellent as well. King's Ramona is willful and plucky, and you are either rooting for her or wincing at her, and when tough stuff happens, King plays it for real. - MSN Movies

» The movie's major plus and its saving grace is newcomer Joey King, who is quite charming and adorable as Ramona Quimby. - Coming Soon

» Ten-year-old Joey King, clearly a rising star, brings natural charm to Ramona. - Dallas News

» Joey King is a talented young actress who fully captures the fun and unruly nature of Ramona, conveying the character’s sense of wonder and excitement. - PlayBack: STL

» Newcomer Joey King has a likable way about her, though, as the high-spirited, accident-prone Ramona Quimby. - Brandon Sun

» Joey King reminds me of that little actress, Louanne, from 1980’s OH, GOD! BOOK II. Both young actresses are synonymous with precocious and adorable. With a twinkle in her eye, King brings unabashed zaniness to the role and I’m looking forward to seeing her in her next movie, as well as the undoubted RAMONA sequel that’s sure to follow. - We Are Movie Geeks

» Joey King makes her screen debut as Ramona, and she's an absolute natural as the irrepressible, accident-prone wild child in the Quimby family. With big blue eyes and pouty, bee-stung lips that curl into a smile to melt any heart, she takes on the world on her own terms. - Omaha

» Joey King dazzles as Ramona. There is a fine line between making Ramona seem like a bizarre, immature nine-year-old and presenting her simply as a girl with a wild imagination and a penchant for trouble. For the most part, King portrays the latter. - WoodLands Online

» Most important, King handles her heavy load well, without indulging in excessive precocity. - NY Daily News

» Ramona is played by Joey King, who performs as admirably as you would expect from a well-heeled child actress. King lacks the spark of prodigies like Dakota Fanning or Abigail Breslin, but she does get the job done. - Suburban Journals

»Joey King is so sweet as a tousle-headed Ramona, and even when she's getting into trouble, you feel for her. You don't want her to be a kid who always colors inside the lines, and grows up to be an adult who colors inside the lines. - TV.com

» Joey King is a name that I am sure we will be hearing again and again in the future. She brings our childhood literature friend to life—and is perfect as Ramona. - Poptimal

» Newcomer Joey King (Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs) actually has a resume that is longer than that of the director's but this is definitely her break out role and we will definitely be seeing more of her. Joey King is the physical embodiment of Ramona's energy and spirit that the movie can easily take us back to our childhoods in elementary school when we read these books. - GLOBE

» The film is called Ramona And Beezus, but Ramona always steals the show from her big sister. Joey King, a natural actress previously seen in CSI, Entourage and Medium and heard in Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who! and Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs, easily carries the movie as the high-spirited, extremely imaginative Ramona. Now that 16-year-old Dakota Fanning has graduated to older roles, King may be the next Fanning. - 2theadvocate

» Joey King is perfectly cast as Ramona while Disney star Selena Gomez plays a good Beezus. However much they argue, disagree and embarass each other, they still find mutual love as sisters who need and know each other like nobody else ever will. - Highland News

» The atmosphere of the film is helped along by an all-around wonderful cast. King, in her first leading role, shines as Ramona, capturing a sense of adorable mischief that's hard not to love. - California Chronicle

» Newcomer Joey King has a likable way about her, though, as the high-spirited, accident-prone Ramona Quimby. She is a natural young actress, and she even gets a chance to show some range in a couple of tearjerker moments. - The San Fernando Valley Sun

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