MESSAGE IN THE MOVIES

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Rated PG

Directed by Thor Freudenthal.  Starring Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron.

Photo © 20th Century Fox
Movie Review by Rev. Bruce Batchelor Glader

It’s probably a sign of the times that some of the biggest best-selling books these days are marketed to children and youth. 

Kids have more discretionary time on their hands and, in a digital culture filled with video games and internet blather, grownups will let children read just about anything (including morally questionable vampire novels) and consider them to be smarter than their friends who can’t pull themselves away from a computer monitor.

And, if an author can come up with a series of books that are really graphic novels (the classy name for “comic books”), it’s possible to attract non-readers to the library.  The Captain Underpants series by Dav Pilkey, started in 1986, were aimed at 3rd grade readers who enjoyed a bit of toilet humor.

The Diary of a Wimpy Kid books by Jeff Kinney began as an internet series in 2004 and were aimed at a 5th grade audience. 

They tell the story of Greg Heffley (Gordon), perhaps the most awkward 6th grader imaginable, and the never-ending incidents of embarrassment and humiliation that can happen to someone in early adolescence.  The pain of experience is leavened by the delightful line drawings that Greg adds to his “journal”. 

Greg’s best friend is Rowley (Capron), an innocent and optimistic kid who still believes in Santa Claus.  Greg also has to deal with his older brother Roderick’s (Devon Bostick) mean-spirited put-downs and his overbearing mother (Rachael Harris) and well-meaning dad (Steve Zahn).  Sound familiar? 

Familiarity is what connects the books with kids but, alas, it’s also what reminds the viewer of TV shows like The Wonder Years, Malcolm in the Middle, Clarissa Explains It All and countless programs on Nickelodeon and The Disney Channel. 

The movie is well cast and everyone gives it a good try, but there is no real pacing to the effort and some of the jokes that were funny as cartoons are simply crude when brought to the screen (especially when they involve bodily functions). 

I really like the books and found myself laughing at the same jokes that amused me the first time around (including the name of Roderick’s punk rock band). 

Diary of a Wimpy Kid does a better job than Percy Jackson and the Olympians in bringing a book series to the big screen, but only better than a stick in your eye. 

Better yet, stick to the books.

Pitchfork Rating: Two halos. The agony of middle school is brought to life in a rare occasion when stick figures do a better job telling a story than their live action counterparts.

Two picthforks. For gross-out gags and some borderline taboo words.

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