Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie reviews
This week's bookish movie, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid," was born from the phenomenally successful YA series by University of Maryland alum Jeff Kinney. (Fear the Turtle! Beat Houston! Sorry, a sudden attack of March Madness) The books, which recount the trials of middle schooler Greg Heffley, have sold millions upon millions -- the most recent, "Dog Days," had an initial press run last fall of four million. (Are there that many wimps in America?) Kinney calls himself a "failed cartoonist" (he drew a strip called Igdoof in college and had hoped to syndicate it), but he certainly has built a winning franchise. All four of the Wimpy Kid books are in the top 35 of USA Today's best seller list, and they're sure to climb after the movie opens Friday -- possibly even dislodging some of the "Percy Jackson" books. Here are some early movie reviews:
Chicago Tribune -- Any good episode of "Malcolm in the Middle" or "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide" had the stuff this film doesn't: the cleverly hyperbolic touch that takes the audience a step or two away from comic realism, fruitfully.
Variety -- [I]it's an enjoyable ride -- albeit one infused with enough gross-out moments to make you feel relieved you've left middle school far behind.
Roger Ebert -- It isn't as good as "A Christmas Story," as few movies are, but it deserves a place in the same sentence. Here is a family movie you don't need a family to enjoy.
Village Voice -- Diary of a Wimpy Kid is sweet and funny at either end, but in between, it sags with endless repetition of gross bodily functions and Greg's torment at the hands of larger, angrier, or more popular kids—in that order.
Comments
Michael, you must have either been raised on another planet, in the purest of parochial schools, or under a rock. Your review of the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid Movie" is trite, simplistically stupid while trying to sound clever, and you miss the point of the movie entirely.
It is hard from your juvenile review to understand what you are really "whining" about? You are so negative about everything in your review that it comes off as an almost hatred: that this movie obviously pushes buttons in you. Your references to Malcolm in the Middle and Ned comment is just grossly absurd as these TV shows were interesting, but overly acted which is not the case in the Wimpy Kid Movie.
Everyone I know can relate to this movie in one way or another, but not you. You dismiss it all even though these are real experiences, some funny and some painful that happen to "real" people, not just cartoon stick figures. The cast made this movie entertaining as it was a difficult job to pull off, but you also have nothing nice to say about how well the main character did in bringing Greg Heffley to life, which I am sure was no easy task. Harry Potter was a cartoon character in the book too, did you "diss" those movies as well? There is no objectivity in your review. To not see that is to abuse your power as an incompetent reviewer...
The movie has kept the essence of the story and interwove the cartoon characters from the book in a successful way. For open minded people, this is a funny, wholesome, entertaining movie for anyone of any age to enjoy.
Posted by: Jason T. | March 19, 2010 2:43 AM
Jason T., Dave did not actually review this movie; he simply gave us a selection of other reviews.
Posted by: Dahlink | March 20, 2010 8:07 AM
The movie is good , funny. But the whole thing about Gregs friend the chubby one, he was the main focus , He was diffrent , well example he liked riding he's Pink bike , made comments like " My mom does'nt let me play with her make up anymore" ? and in part of the movie had another friend that acted well the same , if yyou know what I mean, I think they should leave all grown up Agendas away from kids movies.. for that I would give it "NO" thumbs ups.
Posted by: take2 | April 4, 2010 3:26 PM