Overall Thoughts: Cute and promising concept, but unspectacular delivery.
I gotta admit, I had pretty high hopes for Ron's Gone Wrong. It seemed like a perfect candidate for one of those "under the radar" animated films that might end up a hidden cult masterpiece (i.e. The Iron Giant). Reviews were pretty solid too. It seemed like the pieces were all coming together for a well-reviewed, maybe Oscar-contending underrated flick.
However, I came out of the theater a little underwhelmed. Now, Ron's Gone Wrong is certainly not a bad movie. It's actually pretty good in many spots. But, the execution of its' concept and some of its' ideas leave quite a bit to be desired. And, even though things end on a very strong note and there are some hysterical moments, it's never quite a home run as a whole.
First, the film's second act is borderline manic and irresponsible at times. The story makes a few choices that might seem risky or surprising, but don't quite gel or send the characters in good directions. It also changes a few of the characters into being selfish and insensible. That may have been intentional, but it also makes them pretty unlikable just the same. A little bit of a calmer tone would have been helpful here.
Second, the film takes on a story structure that is often scattershot and unbalanced in its pacing. Some events seem a little out of order, and the film goes on a little longer than it needed to. A couple of scenes could have been shortened or rewritten to create a clearer and more cohesive plot. That being said, the filmmaking team does deserve credit for trying to twist and add original elements to an otherwise fairly predictable concept.
That being said, the film's animation is solid, with some creative touches. Ron and the B-Bot's designs are adorable and nicely tap into the film's late-2010's/early-2020's vibe. I also appreciate that the animation does not try to be too realistic or push the envelope too much. The backgrounds and characters blend together well also.
I had no clue who was in the voice cast going into this movie, and was pleasantly surprised with a lot of the talent here. Jack Dylan Grazer is solid as Barney (interesting how this ended up releasing after Luca, he clearly voiced this role first as his voice hadn't dropped yet lol). Justice Smith provides some heart (but is a bit underutilized) as B-Bot creator Marc, while Ed Helms' voice is nearly unrecognizable as Barney's father. The two biggest stand-outs, however, are Zach Galifianakis as Ron and Oscar winner Olivia Colman as Barney's grandmother. Galifanakis makes Ron a winning character thanks to some terrific one-liners, while Colman brings some cartoony (sometimes over-the-top) comedy to her character as well.
The film's third act is by far the strongest of the whole film. Following a few incidents, the characters finally find their emotional footing. And, the ending pulls off a lightly emotional resolution. These moments really help deliver a message about true friendships and the dangers of so much screentime. I only wish the first two acts could have been as effective.
Overall, Ron's Gone Wrong works as a cautionary tale movie for kids. It also has quite a bit of heart to spare, especially in its final 30 minutes. However, some off-beat choices in its' storytelling and tone keep it from being a movie I can highly recommend for everyone. It might make a solid rental and maybe kids will love it, but it's far from the classic it wants to be.
Grade: B-
Is this movie family-friendly? Ron's Gone Wrong is rated PG for "some rude material, thematic elements, and language". Overall, this movie is fairly family-friendly, but has some moments of caution. Barney is bullied a handful of times, and his friends do come across as selfish for most of the film (but they do learn their lesson). We see a few shady characters recruited to be Barney's "friends". A few minor bathroom jokes. A couple of uses of "h***" make their way into the script, as does a couple of uses of "oh my g**", "crap" and "sucks". I would recommend this one for third graders and up.
