“Who wants to see a movie about a kid who’s stuck in middle school with a bunch of morons?” writes young Greg in his diary. It’s a good question, but thanks to a witty script and endearing performances from the young cast, the answer should be ‘everyone’.
Based on the illustrated kids novel of the same name by Jeff Kinney, Diary Of A Wimpy Kid is the slight but adorable story of Greg (Gordon) and his pals as they suffer the daily humiliations of school life, stuck at that difficult ‘tween’ age between childhood and the onset of adolescence (one of Greg’s friends insists on inviting him over ‘to play’, whereas all the other kids now go to each other’s houses ‘to hang’). There’s dumb humour and slapstick silliness aplenty as 10-year-old Greg tries and fails to be popular with his schoolmates while his best friend, podgy Rowley (Capron) succeeds just by being his adorable self.
It’s sweet stuff, and a treat for anyone who is experiencing all the good and bad moments of school, or just remembers the awkwardness and embarrassments of their own school days as if they were yesterday.
Is Diary Of A Wimpy Kid suitable for kids? Here are our parents’ notes...
None.
If you like this, why not try: St Trinian's, Lucas, Sixteen Candles, The Mighty, The Breakfast Club,