Review of Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2010) by Stuart K — 01 Feb 2011

Based upon Jeff Kinney's 2007 children's book which has since become a successful book series, this is the film based on the first one, brought to the screen by Thor Freudenthal, who did Hotel for Dogs (2009).

It's not as bad as it looks or sounds, and it comes across as a preteen version of Napoleon Dynamite. It has 11-year-old Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon) starring middle school, (between elementary and high schools in America), he's told stories about how it's horrific by his older brother Rodrick (Devon Bostick).

But, Greg and his best friend Rowley Jefferson (Robert Capron), who is reliable, but always manages to be embarrasing at the worst possible moments. The film tells how Greg survives one year in middle school, trying to fit in class and taking activities to be popular, from wrestling to doing Safety Patrol.

Greg's friendship with Rowley is put to the test when Greg's attempts to make him less dorky doesn't go to plan, and Rowley ends up more popular. This is an amusing little sleeper hit, but it highlights the one thing we've all been through at one point in our lives, fitting in at school, some can do it easier than others.

But, it's young cast do well, and with support from Steve Zahn and Chloë Moretz.