DVD Reviews

Diary of a Wimpy Kid – DVD Review

By Jeff Swindoll Aug 3, 2010, 15:41 GMT

Based on the best-selling illustrated novel by Jeff Kinney, the film chronicles the adventures of wisecracking pre-teen Greg Heffley, who must somehow survive the scariest time of anyone’s life… middle school. Convinced it’s the “dumbest idea ever invented,” Heffley considers junior high school a place rigged with hundreds of social landmines, not the least of which are wedgies, swirlies, bullies, lunchtime banishment of the cafeteria floor and a festering piece ...more

The bestselling book series makes its way the silver screen.  I’m not a reader of the books, but my kids are. 

They seemed okay with the movie, but I couldn’t help but have some problems with it.  I must’ve wished the kid had been wimpier that he turned out.  

Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon) is about to start middle school with his best friend Rowley Jefferson (Robert Capron).  Greg’s mom (Rachael Harris) and dad (Steve Zahn) have high hopes for him, but Greg’s devilish big brother Rrodrick (Devon Bostick) warns the two that their geekiness will be the demise of them in middle school.

Greg has visions of his greatness and thinks that uncool Rowley will bring him down. 

On the boys first day at school, they meet Angie (Chloe Moretz), a seventh grader who works on the school paper, and hear the horrors of the “cheese touch.” 

Greg, accompanied by Rowley, signs up for activities that he thinks will get him favorable reviews in the school yearbook, but all he gets is the ire of Patty Farrell (Laine MacNeil) and failure. 

The unintended consequences of Greg’s attempts at popularity are that he and Rowley’s friendship falls apart.  In fact, the more Greg fails the more popular Rowley becomes.  

I know that Diary of a Wimpy Kid is based on a series of books by Jeff Kinney.  My kids have plowed through several of them.  They always seemed to be checked out at their school library so I’d gather that they were popular.  I’d imagine that middle-schoolers thought them epic as they’re the subjects.  My kids seemed to enjoy the film as well.
 
My problem wasn’t with the pint-sized performers but with Greg Heffley’s character.  He seems very shallow and self centered.  I guess by the end of the movie he’s learned his lesson, but to get there we have to put up with him telling how wonderful he is and how wonderful he will be. 

I found that annoying, no matter that Greg Heffley’s braggadocios is never the wonders that he tells us that it will be.  Zachary Gordon isn’t to blame, but I found myself gravitating towards his buddy Robert Capron. 

His character, Rowley, may be oblivious to his own goofiness, but he’s a true friend indeed and not at all like the unwittingly conniving Greg Heffley.  I don’t know that this is a product of the film or if Greg Heffley is like that in the books, but I didn’t find him too appealing a lead. 

The pair had all sorts of comic misadventures thanks to Greg Heffley’s failed plans and those offers some laughs (maybe more so for the middle schooler).  I’m probably reading too much into that being an elderly critic (shakes cane and screams “damned kids!”), but my kids seemed to like the movie.  

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is presented in widescreen (1.85:1) and is enhanced for 16x9 televisions.  Special features include a commentary from director Thor Freudenthal and writer Gene Sachs, 10 minutes of deleted scenes, the 2 minute theatrical trailer, a 3 minute informational featurette about digital copy, and previews of other Fox products.
 
The Diary of a Wimpy Kid is written by a little braggart, at least according to the movie.  I didn’t like listening to the kid telling me how wonderful he was, especially at the cost of his friend.

The movie was decent enough for family night, if you can stand the conceited talk from the lead character.
 
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