adamgehrke.com

Continued tales of woe from the diary of Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon), an undersized 7th grader just trying to get by. Now a little bit older and a little bit wiser Greg is starting to come into his own but also living in the shadow of his deviant older brother Rodrick (Devon Bostick). Meanwhile, the girl of his dreams, Holly Hills (Peyton List), seems so attainable yet still so far away. Pressing further, can Greg win Holly’s affection and maintain a friendship with his oddball friends Rowley (Robert Capron) and Fregley (Grayson Russell); and, will Rodrick get to play in the town’s talent show with his band Löded Diper? Attempting to capture the magic of this loved book series for a second time might be a bit much this time around, but not a complete failure. I know, I know, that’s not a great start, but you have to understand I actually enjoyed the first Diary of a Wimpy Kid despite its flaws and faults. Yet in this edition, while the actors seem decent enough for a wild and crazy kid’s flick, the over the top nature of their direction and the overall screenplay felt cheaper and more like something akin to Nickelodeon or the Disney Channel. Thankfully, parental figures Frank and Susan played by Steve Zahn and Rachael Harris feel a little more fleshed out and believable and that helps counterbalance the offset a bit. Bottom line, you’re looking at a fun matinee for the kids and maybe something parents will find cute and tolerable but not show stopping. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules is rated PG.