Ron’s Gone Wrong

By: Jennifer Vintzileos

In the age of technology and social media, it is still important to have a human connection. Ron’s Gone Wrong reminds us that in a world overloaded by technology and gadgets, the most important relationships may be the ones you grow without the help of social media. And, of course, with the help of a bot that knows the melting point of underpants by literally attempting to burn them.

Bubble Inventor and CEO Mark Wiedell (Justice Smith) unveils a new product called a B*Bot: a robot that uploads each person’s interests and dislikes to their system to not only bond with them on a friend level, but also to connect them to others who share in their similar interests. It is an immediate smash amongst kids—yet for Nonsuch resident, birthday boy and middle-schooler Barney Pudowski (Jack Dylan Grazer), he finds himself on the outside looking in as his classmates start to bond with their B*Bots instead of engaging in more personal contact with one another.

While Barney finds that his connection with other classmates is something that is nonexistent, his father Graham (Ed Helms) and grandmother Donka (Olivia Colman) try to encourage Barney to get out of his shell. Unfortunately, after former friend and classmate Rich (Ricardo Hurtado) decides to prank Barney at his home on his birthday, Graham and Donka learn that what Barney really wants for his birthday is a B*Bot—and try to run out to the Bubble store to purchase one. While they don’t reach the store in time, they do see a truck unloading B-Bots. Noting that the driver mentions one of the bots managed to get slightly damaged in transit, Graham and Donka do an illegal purchase of the less-than-perfect B*Bot and surprise Barney with his dream gift the following morning.

But Barney’s B*Bot, he later names Ron (Zach Galifianakis), is nothing like the other bots. Refusing to conform to the rules and code that all the other bots embody, Ron is eager to learn more about Barney and realizes how to be his friend through communication rather than viewing a profile. And, in the process, Barney learns how to get out and enjoy life beyond the walls of his room. However, not all is well in the Bubble community as the news of Ron’s shenanigans raise the hackles of Mark’s right-hand man/wannabe CEO Andrew Morris (Rob Delaney) and any impending threat to Bubble’s financial standing. The race is on for Barney to help keep Ron safe from being destroyed while realizing that even though he feels lonely, maybe quite a few of his peers hide behind technology and feel as lonely as he does.

Writers Sarah Smith and Peter Baynham have brought forth a film that speaks to all of us, especially in the digital age. When we have become reliant on our gadgets and technology to connect, how do we try to change the narrative? What is quite refreshing about Barney is his humanity and Jack Dylan Grazer brings life to the character with the perfect balance of humor and compassion. Add in Zach Galifianakis and his ability to delve into any character he is given—their illustrated chemistry shines through in playful banter and Ron’s imperfect programming that only allows him to tell stories using the letter “A.” And, of course, I cannot forget Olivia Colman’s hilarious portrayal of Donka, who speaks of the Old Country, Communism and tries to play down that Uncle Boris could not have possibly died from a cashew allergy.

Yet what really stands out is the message itself—that technology does not always mean better. As Barney sees how the digital world affects his classmates and former friends Rich, Savannah (Kylie Cantrall), Ava (Ava Morse) and Noah (Cullen McCarthy), he realizes that none of them were able to have the same connection with their B-bots that he has with Ron. Because Ron is not like his counterparts, Barney took the time to teach Ron and establish a real friendship—including Ron continually asking if he is Barney’s “Best Friend Out of the Box.” So, instead of just telling his bot how to be via a social media profile, Barney connected with Ron by physically showing him his interests and dislikes—something that Ron truly takes to heart as you watch him pull up a virtual cork board like the one Barney makes him to remember the key components of being friends.

When we have all been connected for so long to our phones, gadgets and computers it is great to remember that putting them down and having that human connection is key. Although if I had a friend like Ron, I would want him along for the ride too—even if he called me “Absalom.” Ron’s Gone Wrong is now available on HBO Max, 4K Ultra HD, DVD, Blu-Ray and Digital Download.