Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Zachary Gordon | ... | ||
Robert Capron | ... | ||
Rachael Harris | ... | ||
Steve Zahn | ... | ||
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Connor Fielding | ... |
Manny Heffley
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Owen Fielding | ... |
Manny Heffley
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Devon Bostick | ... | ||
Chloë Grace Moretz | ... | ||
Karan Brar | ... | ||
Grayson Russell | ... | ||
Laine MacNeil | ... | ||
Alex Ferris | ... | ||
Andrew McNee | ... |
Coach Malone
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Belita Moreno | ... | ||
Rob LaBelle | ... |
Mr. Winsky
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To Greg Heffley, middle school is the dumbest idea ever invented. It's a place rigged with hundreds of social landmines, not the least of which are morons, wedgies, swirlies, bullies, lunchtime banishment to the cafeteria floor - and a festering piece of cheese with nuclear cooties. To survive the never-ending ordeal and attain the recognition and status he feels he so richly deserves, Greg devises an endless series of can't-miss schemes, all of which, of course, go awry. And he's getting it all down on paper, via a diary - "it's NOT a diary, it's a journal!" Greg insists, preferring the less-sissyfied designation - filled with his opinions, thoughts, tales of family trials and tribulations, and (would-be) schoolyard triumphs. "One day when I'm famous," writes Greg, "I'll have better things to do than answer people's stupid questions all day." So was born the Wimpy Kid's diary. Written by Twentieth Century Fox
Anger, agitation, frustration can all describe the emotions during the film Diary of a Wimpy Kid. The book itself states in it's tagline "A novel in cartoons". Not "A novel that will be turned into a crap, live action movie shortly." The part where a golden ray of sunlight was shone on this movie was seeing the cartoons from the novel come to life on the screen. Though those would disappear faster than you can blink.
The film follows closely to the book it represents, in this case the first novel in the DOWK series. Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon) is starting middle school on the wrong foot. He has an overprotective mother, a confused/harmless father, a humiliation bound older brother, Rodrick, and a innocent youth named Manny. Greg has really only one close friend, childish and loner Rowley (Ropert Capron). He is often poked fun at by his classmates and Greg himself. Not only in the film does he do a bad job of being mature, but does a miserable job at acting.
The film tries to be cute and funny with its jokes on "The cheese" which is just as bad in the book as in the movie, the stupid recurring jokes about a classmate having "a cute butt", and the weird kid no one gets by the name of Fregly. If anyone has reads my "It seems we were more mature when we were younger" blog, many kids at my school found the jokes in this movie to be funny, which I find completely distasteful, but I'm not the one with poor judge-meant and taste.
Its unrelenting to watch two amateurish actors (Gordon and Capron) try to make the cartoon versions of themselves come to life was a miserable attempt that should have never came pass the talking stage. I never wanted this film to be made, but this is a new low in poor kid films. I love the book, I hate the movie. Enough said. Its a miserable uninspired mess that acts funnier than it is. It basically picks every possible bone to get a laugh out of the audience. I have never put my hand in my palm to shade myself from the poor jokes ever in a film. This is groundbreaking.
A sequel will probably be spawned along with another, and eventually being a movie to go with every book. Most having the redundant plot line and the dull character adaptation about a self absorbed kid. Keep in mind, I consider myself wimpy, I think I'm a wimp, I know I'm unappealing and non-athletic. At least I can face the fact rather then push myself to the limit with exercise equipment and thinking I will be the next Bill Gates or someone rich and famous. Director of Hotel for Dogs, Thor Freudenthal should find better work than great books turned into Grade F kids films. Beyond mediocre and boundaryless in the distasteful department, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is the worst film I have seen all year.
Starring: Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron, Rachael Harris, Steve Zahn, and Devon Bostick. Directed by: Thor Freudenthal.