This film was a pleasant surprise. What made me enjoy the film even more is I hadn’t heard of it, seen the first movie, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” or seen a trailer for this one. The basic plot is
This film was a pleasant surprise.
What made me enjoy the film even more is I hadn’t heard of it, seen the first movie, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,” or seen a trailer for this one. The basic plot is that back in middle school after summer vacation, Greg Heffley (“Wimpy Kid”) and his older brother Rodrick must deal with their parents’ misguided attempts to have them bond. I found this movie to be great family entertainment.
I like to know what kind of film I’m going to see before I go, so it was a little nerve-wracking in the seat before the lights went down. The film is obviously marketed towards kids and teens, but I believe adults will enjoy it too.
There are great performances by the young actors and the father, Steven Zahn (“Riding in Cars with Boys”), is wonderful as “the Dad.”
This movie is fantastic for anyone with multiple kids and is even more magical if you have an older brother. At the heart of the movie is a wonderfully laid out telling of how a younger and older brother bond.
It is filled with funny moments of the older brother Rodrick teasing Greg, flashbacks of the pranks he’s played on his little brother and a wonderful scene in which Rodrick explains the three golden rules to Greg.
I laughed and thoroughly enjoyed this part because I have an older brother. I remember the age when it seemed he knew more about life than my dad. Whatever my brother said was truth. Looking back … well, he may have been off-base. That’s life though, right?
The film is universal with these wonderful scenes between brothers. The truth of being brothers is you fight, you laugh, you share secrets, you have fun and experience life together (in a way it seems only your brother and you understand). The film really made me think of my older brother and how lucky I am to have him. That is the true power of film.
This film was able to perfectly balance its adult humor with kid humor, something the “Shrek” movies pioneered years ago.
On the surface, most might think “oh, kids’ movie.” However, this film has heart and is able to bring a little more to the table than just Saturday afternoon matinee entertainment.
I recommend it for anyone, but it isn’t a date movie or group of friends movie. It’s one of those nice films you can enjoy, eat some popcorn and if you don’t have kids take your niece or nephew.
I give the film even more credit because I watch up to 25 DVDs a week and am very critical of movies because I produce them.
I give this one a definite “See you at the Movies” seal of approval!
