Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Diary of A Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules

The whole Wimpy Kid gang is back on the sequel to last years hit. This time around, Greg (Zachary Gordon) is pushed to get closer with his brother, Rodrick (Devon Bostick.) In the meantime, there’s a new girl at school (Peyton List) who Greg desperately tries to impress. This chapter rides heavily on the comedic chops of its ensemble cast, and like the first installment they are very successful. Larger roles for Bostick and the parents (Rachel Harris and Steve Zahn) add a more adult level of humor to the adolescent brand used otherwise. That isn’t to say the child actors don’t hold their own. Gordon carries the film in a way that few 13 year olds could. He’s likeable yet realistic and even manages to show some growth between the two films.

The plot is episodic in nature, and at times seems like it would be better suited as a television show. The subplots tend to overpower the main themes, but it doesn’t weaken the movie because every scene is really funny. The script even allows the audience, mostly children, to learn at the expense of the characters. Greg repeatedly bosses around his best friend, Rowley (Robert Capron), and shows how mean it is. These moments don’t provide much for the adult audience, but kids should learn something, in my opinion.

The occasional integration of the illustrations from the original books proves to be a nice touch. It also shows how vague situations are brought to life with great success in the script. The sequel’s story arch is a bit less focused than the original, but the plot is less cut and dry. The Rodrick character is often the stereotype of a teenager with a crappy band and vulgar stench, but he becomes a developed character in the film’s second half. Rodrick’s upgrade means less screen time for Rowley, but these complaints are an attribute to how likeable all the characters are. Let’s see if Diary of A Wimpy Kid can pull off the rare feat of a successful trilogy. (9.0 out of 10)

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