Thanks for checking out our Diary of a Wimpy Kid review.
Genre: Family
Directed by: Thor Freudenthal
Staring:Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron, Rachael Harris, Steve Zahn
Released: March 19th, 2010
THE GENERAL IDEA
To Greg Heffley, middle school is the dumbest idea ever invented. It’s a place rigged with hundreds of social landmines, not the least of which are morons, wedgies, swirlies, bullies, lunchtime banishment to the cafeteria floor – and a festering piece of cheese with nuclear cooties. To survive the never-ending ordeal and attain the recognition and status he feels he so richly deserves, Greg devises an endless series of can’t-miss schemes, all of which, of course, go awry. And he’s getting it all down on paper, via a diary – “it’s NOT a diary, it’s a journal!” Greg insists, preferring the less-sissyfied designation – filled with his opinions, thoughts, tales of family trials and tribulations, and (would-be) schoolyard triumphs.
THE GOOD
This Zachary Gordon kid IS the movie. Clearly this kid is going to amount to something who at the ripe age of 12 already has a long list of voice acting credits and some live appearances (notably Barney Stinson’s fake son on How I Met Your Mother – Mikey no Likey!) He was perfect for the insightful young man who this story revolves around.
The story paces well, and staggers back and forth from the Diary drawings to real life very well which adds to the charm. It doesn’t play to the stereotypes of schoolyard underdog triumph and delivers a message of Friendship and “survival” instead.
THE BAD
While this is a comedy there were some very clever lines and situations, but for the most part the film offers smiles at best as the unique situations play out with less fanfare than anticipated. Lots of good setup with satisfactory results but no big surprises.
The film does pander to the standard booger and potty jokes which makes it more of an endurance for parents who are dragged to this by their kids. Not much in there for the grownups in the crowd. Not that it has to, but something to amuse the parental chauffeur would have been nice.
OVERALL
A pleasant and light fun kids movie buried in negativity striving for mediocrity. There is no Sandlot moment of victory which kind of sets the bar low for the Wimpy Kids. Painting too real a picture of middle school cruelty took away from the amusement of the film, and gave schoolyard bullies new ideas.
I give a 5 out of 10
