--- title: "Ron's Gone Wrong: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/rons-gone-wrong/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/rons-gone-wrong" critics_score: 59 critics_reviews: 17 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Ron's Gone Wrong (2021): what the critics said Critics' score 59 from 17 reviews: 7 positive, 6 mixed, 4 negative. The reviews lean towards qualified approval of Ron’s Gone Wrong, with praise clustering around Barney and Ron’s friendship, the humour and the robot’s expressive malfunctions. Several critics find the central bond convincing enough to give the familiar story emotional weight. Zach Galifianakis’s comic voice work earns repeated praise, while even some detractors credit the animation’s bright colours, textures and character designs. The sharpest division concerns the treatment of technology and social media: some critics find it thoughtful, while others see confused warnings and an unconvincing lesson about friendship. The spread is wide, from warm recommendations to outright dismissals, with repetitive plotting and limited invention recurring complaints. Empire finds the friendship earned and moving; The Wrap considers the film emotionally hollow and sees its social-media warning compromised by its apparent desire to sell Ron as a toy. The Los Angeles Times also dissents on Galifianakis, finding his delivery one-note. ## Empire — Dan Jolin Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 9 October 2021. Jolin finds it an amiable, amusing story with a big heart and worthwhile ideas about technology. He especially praises the earned friendship between Barney and Ron, which gives the film its emotional force. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/ron-gone-wrong/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Angie Han Fi1m's normalised score 72/100 (inferred from the text). 22 October 2021. Han finds the film endearing and funny, with a thoughtful critique of social media, despite its lack of daring imagination. She especially praises its cute, idiosyncratic robot and its sharp portrayal of technology’s effects on human connection. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/rons-gone-wrong-review-1235034806/) ## Radio Times — Huw Fullerton Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 9 October 2021. The available description suggests a positive verdict, saying the film’s humour helps it stand apart. It singles out that humour despite similarities to other animated movies. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/rons-gone-wrong-review-comment/) ## Screen Daily — Wendy Ide Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 10 October 2021. Festival review. Ide’s verdict is that the debut animation is appealing and deft. The available standfirst singles out its deft, appealing execution. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/rons-gone-wrong-london-review/5164130.article) ## The AV Club — Charles Bramesco Rating B-. 9 October 2021. Bramesco finds the film’s message about technology muddled, despite its sincere friendship story. He praises the buoyant mood, good jokes, and lively animation. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-future-of-friendship-is-glitchy-and-goofy-in-the-mi-1847823101) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 9 October 2021. Bradshaw finds the film entertaining and tender, but ultimately too neutral about its big-tech questions. He especially praises the opening, where Barney’s own social awkwardness makes him seem like a malfunctioning robot. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2021/oct/09/rons-gone-wrong-review-) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2021. The article content is inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict cannot be determined. No specific praise or complaint can be verified. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/21/movies/rons-gone-wrong-review.html) ## IndieWire — Rafael Motamayor Rating C+. 9 October 2021. Festival review. Motamayor calls the film charming and worthwhile, though less distinctive and visually inventive than stronger animated peers. He praises its warm friendship story, humor, and thoughtful take on technology and social media. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/rons-gone-wrong-review-1234670598/) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 9 October 2021. Festival review. Debruge finds the film uneven but entertaining, with a familiar and unfocused corporate-critical plot. He praises Zach Galifianakis’s haywire performance and Ron’s buggy, expressive animation. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2021/film/reviews/rons-gone-wrong-review-zach-galifianakis-1235085023/) ## Slant Magazine — Derek Smith Rating 2/4. 21 October 2021. Smith finds the film’s message about technology and friendship contradictory and ultimately unconvincing. He praises the early scenes where Ron’s malfunctions mirror Barney’s social awkwardness, along with their comic slapstick. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/rons-gone-wrong-review/) ## Los Angeles Times — Michael Ordoña Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2021. Ordoña finds the film’s friendship lesson and Big Tech warnings muddled, with little fun to distinguish it from other animated films. He praises the animation’s textures and B*Bot designs but says Zach Galifianakis’s performance is squandered by its one-note delivery. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-10-21/review-rons-gone-wrong-animated-zach-galfianakis) ## Deadline — Anna Smith Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 9 October 2021. Festival review. The critic finds it an endearing, often funny family film that takes a smart swipe at social media culture. She praises its heartwarming character development and the bond between Barney and Ron, while noting that not all the gags land. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2021/10/rons-gone-wrong-review-disney-movie-zach-galifianakis-olivia-colman-1234852927/) ## HeyUGuys Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). Festival review. The critic finds the film a delightful, heartfelt adventure despite repetitive plotting and an unnecessary antagonist. They praise its warm friendship message and voice cast, while noting that Mitchells vs. the Machines is stronger in style and comedy. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/rons-gone-wrong-review/) ## /Film — Josh Spiegel Rating 5/10. 9 October 2021. Spiegel finds the film frustrating and unable to develop its critique of technology, despite a strong central idea. He praises Zach Galifianakis’s comic voice work and the leads’ convincing friendship, but says the film’s treatment of data mining and digital friendships is naïve. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/628621/rons-gone-wrong-review-a-messy-animated-tech-fantasy/) ## Paste — Jacob Oller Rating 4/10. 21 October 2021. Oller pans the film as a false, formulaic lecture about technology that mistakes screen use for social connection. He gives Zach Galifianakis’s deadpan, goofy vocal performance some credit, though repetitive writing undercuts it. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/zach-galifianakis/rons-gone-wrong-review) ## Eye for Film — Andrew Robertson Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 12 October 2021. Robertson finds the film entertaining enough but ultimately unsuccessful. He particularly objects to its dated nostalgia and recycled cultural references. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/rons-gone-wrong-2021-film-review-by-andrew-robertson) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 20/100 (inferred from the text). 21 October 2021. The critic finds the film derivative and emotionally hollow, with its warning about social media muddled by the desire to sell Ron as a toy. The review praises the animation as bright and lively, while criticizing the film for offering no meaningful guidance about online harm. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/rons-gone-wrong-film-review-animatee/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/rons-gone-wrong.md