RON’S GONE WRONG (PG)

A malfunctioning robot encourages an alienated boy to come out of his shell in this computer-animated adventure.

Every child in America begs their parents to buy them a B*Bot. The pricy hi-tech companion compares the young owner’s hobbies and facilitates local connections with like-minded tykes.

Shy pre-teen Barney Pudowski (Jack Dylan Grazer) is the only kid in school without a B*Bot because his father, Graham (Ed Helms), can’t afford one.

When Barney’s birthday beckons,

Graham pays cash-in-hand for a B*Bot that literally fell off the back of a truck.

The malfunctioning device called Ron (Zach Galifianakis) wreaks havoc, leading to the manufacturer issuing a recall and destroy order. This in turn forces Barney and his misfiring mechanised mate to go on the run.

In cinemas from Friday