The Film Buzz Review Rating: (7/10)

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid is a comedy based on Jeff Kinney’s bestselling illustrated teen fiction series directed by Thor Freudenthal. With a very humorous plot throughout the film, linking with family, school and relationship issues, one can relate to this diary of a wimpy kid very well. The trailer reveals a few funny scenes which prepare us for a comical film that the whole family can enjoy, with some shots of cartoons thrown in from the original book – this film doesn’t disappoint fans of the book. The film opens shortly with Greg Heffley insisting that “it’s not a diary, it’s a journal!”.

The Plot

Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon) begins his first year of middle school and his idea of becoming the school’s most popular kid takes a turn for the worse as his plans fail – terribly. He worries about his ‘uncool’ best friend – Rowley Jefferson (Robert Capron) and often gets Greg into embarrassing situations. To Greg – middle school is useless and filled with morons, bullies and freaks. He believes he deserves far better, therefore he created this diary – journal as he insists, which he trusts will come to prove handy when he becomes famous ‘I’ll have better things to do than answer people’s stupid questions all day’.

Greg comes up with countless schemes whereby he tries to make it to become one of the popular kids, which of course don’t go according to plan. Greg throws a ball at Rowley while he is riding ‘The Big Wheel’, breaking his hand. At school, Rowley is surrounded by girls because of his injury which makes Greg furious and jealous.

With Greg and Rowley’s deteriorating relationship, Greg is left with Collin (Grayson Russell) – the class geek. One day, Greg decides to have a sleepover at Collin’s. The sleepover turns into a disaster as Fregley (Collin’s nickname), eats a bag of jelly beans which induces hyperactivity; he begins to chase Greg with a booger. Will Greg become famous like how he always believed?

The Thoughts

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid is pacy, funny, and a good illustration of the awkwardness of starting school at the bottom year. Many of the stereotypical children in schools are well represented with humour and style; reminding us of our own childhood, growing up and trying to fit in. Zachary Gordon played excellently as Greg Heffley, through family, school and relationships, induce funny, painful and emotional feelings to the audience of any age.

After reading the book, I believe this film is well adapted and slightly different which is a good surprise. Both the book and the film link well together with snaps of parts of the book incorporated throughout the film. Although some parts of the film contained some cliché situations, but it ceases to disappoint as it sums up a well acted and family-friendly comedy. I think the film is a good representation of the book although the book seemed much better, but the film can only fit so much in.

[Rowley is walking with his backpack on. Greg stops him]
Greg Heffley: Stop. You look like one of the seven dwarves. Always wear one strap. One strap is cool.
Rowley Jefferson: Then why do they put two straps instead of one?
Greg Heffley: [walking] Because the people who make backpacks aren’t cool.
Greg Heffley: [stops walking] You know what has one strap? Machine guns. You know what else? Electric guitars.
Greg Heffley: [continues walking] You know what else?
Rowley Jefferson: Purses?

There is nothing not to like about this adventure through the first year of middle school, involving bullies, wrestling classes, tragic school plays, crazy kids, lonely kids which all add up to non-stop laugh-out-loud comedy. Diary Of A Wimpy Kid is a fun, entertaining film; one to experience with children, friends and family.

The Film Buzz Review Rating: (7/10)

Release Date: 20 August 2010

Director: Thor Freudenthal

Writers: Jackie Filgo, Jeff Filgo, Gabe Sachs