Review of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules - David Bowers' follow-up may not be as good as the first film, but it still has a lot of heart.
“Diary of a Wimpy Kid” was a tale about a fearful and sometimes bratty kid entering the strange world of middle school. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules” continues his journey into 7th grade. It is not as fun as the first entry, but it does have its charms.
Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon) is eager to start the new year and not be the new kid anymore. Greg still has to deal with his older brother Rodrick (Devon Bostick) and his now talking tattletale younger brother Manny (twins Connor and Owen Fielding). His eager mother Susan (Rachael Harris) is currently writing an advice column and his father Frank (an underused Steve Zahn) is as exasperated as ever.
Director David Bowers (“Flushed Away”, “Astro Boy”) has taken over the directing duties for the second film. Interestingly enough, there seems to be less animation this time around. Bowers does start the movie off in animated form before going into the live action phase. Bowers judiciously inserts animation whenever needed to emphasize Greg’s point of view.
It helps tremendously if you have an older sibling to better appreciate the film. You will nod knowingly at the humiliation Rodrick deals out to Greg at the roller rink or church. As you grow up there is an eternal struggle to try to fit in. Greg doesn’t always behave accordingly in his quest to be popular. Some critics had a hard time with this in the first film. Greg does seem a bit more likable here with an occasional stray into being a jerk. That is the appeal for me that Greg isn’t a perfect kid and he does make mistakes.
Greg is joined once again by his pal Rowley (Robert Capron). They are both entranced by the new girl in town Holly (Peyton List). Every time Greg gets close to connecting with Holly, a mishap occurs. Whether it be his father escorting him off the roller rink, a candy bar disaster at church or Greg running around in his underwear at a retirement home. There is a sitcom stench that permeates these scenes, but there is also a wholesome charm to it all. The wholesome aspect does goes overboard when Rodrick throws a wild party however. At this party they are chugging soda instead of beer and running around in conga lines. The next day clearly marked orange juice bottles litter the lawn in place of the standard beer cans. You halfway expect Wally and Beaver Cleaver to come prancing down the sidewalk.
It takes more than halfway through the movie before Rodrick explains his slacker rules to Greg. This is one of the funnier sequences and some people might even relate to the tactics. There are ways to get out of doing chores, having your father do your homework or even lowering the expectations that your parents have for you. Susan naively offers bribes to the two boys, so they would get along better. That is just another thing that Rodrick can take advantage of.
While Greg is chasing after Holly, Rodrick is trying to get his group Loded Diper off the ground. The group name is as edgy as it gets around here. The songs they perform are actually not that bad and have a weird appeal to them.
“Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules” may not be as good as the first film, but it still has a lot of heart. Kids will definitely enjoy it more than the adults because they will be living through some of these situations.
More on Movie Jungle for Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules:
Genre/s: Comedy Family
Release Date/s: 03/25/2011 (Showtimes & Tickets)
Distributor: 20th Century Fox
Production Company: Color Force, Fox 2000 Pictures
Alternate Titles: Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2
CAST and CREW FOR Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
Starring: Steve Zahn, Rachael Harris, Zachary Gordon, Peyton List, Devon Bostick, Ben Hollingsworth, Owen Best, Robert Capron, Michelle Harrison and Grayson Russell.
Directed By: David Bowers
Written By: Jeff Judah and Gabe Sachs, based on the Jeff Kinney novel.
Produced By: Nina Jacobson and Bradford Simpson