Photo: polygon.com
After multiple pushbacks due to Covid-19, Rons Gone Wrong was released on October 22. The animated movie is directed by Sarah Smith and J.P. Vine. The film contains voice over acting from names such as Zack Galifinakas as Ron, and Jack Dylan Grazer as Barney, the main character.
The animated movie, rated PG, follows the story of Barney, a middle school boy who is feeling left out of life because he doesn’t have what the other kids have. In this technology driven world, every child has a ‘b-bot,’ which is also described as a personal ‘best friend out of the box.’ These robot friends are essentially the key to the world and provide all of your social communication needs for you, while simultaneously being your closest friend. Kids use these bots to live-stream, find compatible friendships and to post their lives on their social media accounts. The set up of this movie really makes you question if these bots are what our real-life world is heading towards.
When Barney finally gets his own bot, after a good amount of trouble, something just isn’t right. Barney’s bot is a little bit banged up, and he initially has trouble downloading all of Barney’s information. There’s no shortage of funny moments as Barney and his bot, Ron, try to navigate through life. As Ron learns how to be Barney’s friend, something he should have come with the ability to do immediately, he makes mistakes and gets the two of them into some chaos.
The film contains some typical themes, such as cliques and bullying, but the care and compassion that come from Ron make it lighthearted enough to enjoy watching. Barney and Ron continue to learn to become friends, and trust me, the details of their blossoming friendship will be pulling on your heartstrings, but suspense is built when the company of the bots wants to recall Ron.
The story takes twists and turns as we watch the loyal friendship between Barney and his ‘best friend out of the box.’ The animations throughout the movie are crystal clear, and the words and actions between Barney and Ron are touching, and proof of what friendship truly is. The suspense of hoping that the pair will weather through the storm of Ron being wanted by the company is enough to make the watcher feel like they’re in the film. The characters feel very realistic and while obviously the robots are our reality today, the setting of the film and most of the plot feel decently real.
It was hard not to feel emotional at the end of the movie, but maybe that’s what made it so great. Overall the best part of the film was how much it made the watcher feel. You will find yourself questioning what real friendship is, and what it all really means throughout the entire movie.
Overall, this movie was the perfect balance of light hearted but emotional, and teaches the very important lesson that friendship is the most important thing of all.
