Ron’s Gone Wrong, mid-grade satire in a used package

A couple of years ago in the pre-COVID era, Ron’s Gone Wrong would’ve greeted cinemas as a pleasant distraction from the concerns of daily life. Movie theaters are back open and I’ve seen several releases in them. However, I’ve noticed that my threshold of entertainment, especially movies that are in movie theaters, has increased. I suspect that I’m not alone, but I haven’t done any surveys, studies, or polls to confirm that. It’s worth mentioning that because Ron’s Gone Wrong isn’t a horrible movie, it’s just not the red carpet, welcome back to the movie theaters trumpet call that animation is looking for.

The trailer for Ron’s Gone Wrong didn’t do the film any favors. It shows a tween and his broken robot that alludes to a cultural satire about our dependence on devices. The true plot of the film mirrors that but dives deeper into the big tech side of things. Barney is a tween who doesn’t have the new robot friend device that literally every other kid has. The other kids are editing videos, sharing photos and meeting people all due to their bot.

Barney lives with his grandmother and widowed father. They’re eccentric, especially the grandmother who provides most of the film’s early laughs. His dad is like many parents and tries to delay getting the device for as long as possible, partially due to finances and availability. They’re finally able to acquire one, but it’s done via a back alley deal with a delivery driver who had a damaged one.

Ron is the chosen name that Barney gives his broken bot. Their initial introduction also provides a fair amount of laughs. However, Ron doesn’t do the things that other bots do. He’s not as warm, engaging, and doesn’t just do things because he’s programmed. This also means that his safety protocols aren’t engaged and it’s this fact that makes the movie go on its real purpose. Ron takes on some bullies that were making fun of Barney, who used to be his friends and also makes fools out of their bots.

The code challenged Ron then shares his broken code with other bots that allow them to become more physical than they otherwise would. This broken code horrifies the bot’s two developers, one of whom Mark is more akin to Zuck and the other who resembles a more midlife version of Steve Jobs. Mark created the bot to become a learning, actual friend to kids, whereas his business partner simply wants to keep a lid on the story to minimize any negative press. All the while Barney and Ron have adventures that play straight out of E.T.

Released in 2018, Ron’s Gone Wrong would’ve been a cute movie that’s making sly comments on tech addiction and Silicon Valley. However, in addition to the audience’s resistance to going back to movie theaters, the plot is too similar to the far superior The Mitchells Vs. The Machines. That film is one of the best animated films in recent memory, would’ve been a huge hit had it been released in movie theaters, and is one of the few that we’ve re-watched a handful of times.

Our 10 YO saw Ron’s Gone Wrong with us. I asked him if he liked it and he quickly said ‘yes!’. He also said that he’d recommend the film to his fourth-grade class.  He is spending more of his own money and because he’s getting older can create more complex opinions, so I pressed the issue. “If you spent your own money to see Ron’s Gone Wrong, would you have enjoyed it and still recommend it to your friends?”, I queried. He quickly answered ‘no’, and said the movie was that good.

Our son’s observation was kinder than our take on the film. It’s a fine line between clever satire and annoying showing the habits or people that could make it up. Many of the jokes are obvious, like the dad lecturing about not using a device all of the time and then immediately checking his device. At best, the film is a pleasant distraction; at worst it’ll drive home the ticks and mannerisms that bother you about technology. Now get off of my lawn. It’s not that Ron’s Gone Wrong is bad, it’s just that it’s not that good.

It’s mildly entertaining but lives in the shadow of much better films, namely The Mitchells Vs. The Machines. Is it the best bang for your buck? That’s entirely up to you and what streaming services that you subscribe to. However, you could get one month of a new service and most certainly get more laughs and entertainment than Ron’s Gone Wrong delivers.

We are big fans of movie theaters and can’t wait to go back to see big films that merit seeing them in such a surrounding. However, I suspect that families will be more cautious with their box office bucks when the release schedule normalizes again. In times like that, Ron would’ve surely gone wrong and met the way of the dodo very quickly.

Ron’s Gone Wrong is rated PG.