Review: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days

Kid's Review: Silly!                                                                

The movie was pretty funny. Greg kept getting into trouble and making his dad go crazy. Oh! My favorite part was the dog with the pot roast. You gotta see that part! But, get ready because it's very gross!! I liked all the silly parts but the movie just seemed to be kinda long. So, it wasn't my most favorite movie ever; but, it was good! 
By Little Lee

 Adult Review: Whaa Whaa Whaaaan!!!

Overview: School is out for summer break and Greg Heffley has big plans to do very little. His father, on the other hand, strongly objects to being unproductive; so born is the battle of the wills. Greg's determination to stick to his own agenda, lands him in one obstacle after another.

I simply couldn't connect with Greg's problems.  His inability to make even partially good decisions was so blatant that it became predictable and uncomfortable to watch. His lack of depth, made it hard to appreciate an underdog with no underling qualities that were even slightly charming or redeeming.  Certainly, even a "wimpy" kid should have some type of variance.  But, he only seemed capable of making the wrong choices so often that he lost my attention and interest by the time he was able to change and learn from his mistakes.

Believability: I found it strange that Greg's older brother, Rodrick, also had no summer agenda or activities lined up, but never seemed to get targeted by their father's confrontation. It seemed oddly unbalanced and unexplained that only Greg was singled out.

Originality: There wasn't much. This film duplicated the dance along game, in the arcade, scene. It mimicked the miserable sing-a-long song, on the road trip, segment.  And it traced the typical missing swimming trunks, naked in the pool sketch all from previous movies.

Pros: A few good attributes!  I found the animated segments silly and cleverly placed. His best friend Rowley's facial expressions were as well expressed as Ron Weasley's (from Harry Potter) signature horrified looks. And, Steve Zahn, who played Mr. Heffley, did a wacky job of overacting in an acceptable and lovable way.

Overall, It's not engaging enough for adults. I'd consider this movie moderately tolerable, a reward to a deserving child, or incentive to find something better to do.

By Ambre A.