Diary of a Wimpy Kid

 

Released: 2010
MPAA Rating: PG
Running time: 1:34

"Diary of a Wimpy Kid" is the latest children's book series to hit the big screen.  I am sure this is just the firsty of several films.  The movie follows the trials and tribulations of Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon), who is entering his first year of middle school and determined to make himself known.  With his best friend, Rowley Jefferson (Robert Capron), by his side, he tries everything he can imagine to get his name out there, from joining the wrestling team to trying out for the musical.  Nothing seems to go right for Greg as a rift begins to develop between he and Rowley, making things even worse.  Although I did not personally read any of the books (no surprise there), I have seen them around the house, so I am somewhat familiar with them.  One of the things they really got right in this film was working the diary entries onto the screen without being a distraction.  The other thing I found really interesting is they actually did not shy away from making Greg very unlikeable at times.  At the beginning of the film, he's your guide, so you are naturally on his side.  As the movie progresses, you begin to realize he is just not very likable at all.  His obsession with making the yearbook clouds whatever personality he may have had, which is exactly the point of the movie and they pulled that off very well.  Although I would not expect adults to see this who are not accompanying their children, I actually found it to be very entertaining and relate-able to any one who has suffered through the social insanity that is school.  The pivotal scene early in the film:

Rowley: "I was told I should just be myself and people will like me"
Greg: "Sure, that would be good advice...if you were somebody else"

Grade: B


Trailer: