Author Beverly Cleary has created both endearing and enduring characters, an element great for film.

Based on books she started writing in 1955, the film, “Ramona and Beezus,” takes a look at the everyday life of an extraordinary, imaginative nine-year-old girl, Ramona, who is determined to explore life with vibrant curiosity.

Watching this movie is perfect for a girls’ day-out for the summer — the movie targets tweens and younger.

Adults might like the movie as well, since it is reminiscent of how childhood can be so fun and hard at the same time. They might have even read Cleary’s books when they were young.

Joey King (“Ice Age 3”) plays Ramona with bold individualism.

Ramona doesn’t really try to be different from her peers — she just actually is different in her personality and being.

The movie gives the message that this sense of individuality is good and exciting, though it comes with sometimes chafing consequences.

When giving a goofy story to her classmates, they burst out in teasing laughter.

When trying out for a commercial to be a princess, Ramona, wearing partly her own invention, stands out like a sore thumb.

But it is this “standing out” that makes her so unique and quite charming at the same time.

Ramona likes to make up her own words in class, considers her cat, Picky Picky, one of her closest friends, and barrages her older sister, Beezus, with inquisitive questions.

Among some of the highlights of the story are a car wash gone sour, a personal cooking disaster, and a good ol’ fashioned backyard water fight.

These occurrences are touched by Ramona’s adventurous spirit.

The film is heavily sentimental, which makes it hard sometimes to believe in it.

Yet at the same time, the characters and their relationships are what drive the film.

Ramona adores her father, played by a sensitive and fun John Corbett (“United States of Tara”), who has temporarily lost his job. She is also close to her Aunt Bea, played by a gentle and caring Ginnifer Goodwin (“Big Love”). Her mother (Bridget Moynahan, “Blue Bloods”) plays a stabilizing force in the young girl’s life as well.

Touching sideplots include Aunt Bea’s relationship with Hobart (Josh Duhamel, “Transformers 2”), a handsome, long lost exboyfriend who returns to win back her heart.

And Beezus, (Selena Gomez, “Wizards of Waverly Place”), spends extra time with Henry Huggins (Hutch Dano, “Zeke and Luther”), a childhood friendship that has turned into a crush for the young teens.

Sandra Oh (“Grey’s Anatomy”) is solid and dry as Mrs. Meachum, the stern but buoying teacher in Ramona’s class.

If you’re a motherdaughter duo this summer, or even a father-daughter team, this playful excursion into Ramona’s creative and clumsy world will be sure to lift your spirit.

Ann E. Yeager enjoys watching a good movie, reading, spending time with friends and playing with her golden retriever mix. Email her at ann@acadianagazette.com.