User reviews

I haven't read the book by Jeff Kinney which this film is based upon, but one thought struck my mind, and that is Ferris Bueller just got younger! For all his wisecracks, smart alecky ideas and attitude, Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon) just reminds me of the time when Matthew Broderick took on the Bueller role, though this time round it's got less to do with cars and girls, but everything to do about surviving middle school, just about the time before puberty kicks in for him.

No thanks to the 101 tactical lessons on middle school survival by his brother Rodrick (Devon Bostick), Greg decides that his goal and calling during his time will be to be Mr Popular, though he increasingly finds that task being close to impossible given the number of his schemes backfiring most of the time, and when his best friend Rowley (Robert Capron) continues to be the source of embarrassment to his perceived supercool demeanour. He tries to rewrite the school's playground rules, only to find that he isn't quite the trend setter or the visionary he thinks he is, while his plus sized friend somehow manages to climb up the popularity rankings.

It's about that time in our lives where we think we're able to change the world from a very young age, where we think we're infallible, and that whatever we do, we can reset the established norm. It's about how negative emotions such as jealousy and envy get the better of us sometimes, and we react in the nastiest of ways due to pride. Then there's the message of being true to oneself rather than the actor being someone else. Relatively heavy themes for what's essentially a kids' film, but that's how director Thor Freudenthal managed to include in the tale of the wimpy kid's first year in middle school without you feeling overwhelmed but them.

What works here wonderfully is the casting, which is probably just about the highlight of the film itself. Zachary Gordon owns the role as Greg and has this schmuck look on him that doesn't irritate, but will buy you into his exploits, and most times laugh along or at him depending on whether his antics will rub you the right way or not. And nearly stealing the limelight away from Greg, is his best friend Rowley, played to wingman perfection by Robert Capron, who like his character is always on the verge of upstaging Zachary Gordon and stealing his thunder. The two are believable as best friends forever in Harry Potter-Ron Weasley proportions, and it is their play against each other, one using the other to further his cause, the other just happy to have someone whom he can try to emulate, being the strong points in the narrative. Their acting's natural, and have incredible chemistry so much so that you wonder if everything will go downhill when they split.

The humour in the film is manifold, from pure wit right down to the occasional toilet humour with farts, pee and all, from the home to outside of home, and the usual challenges faced when in battlezones such as the canteen, the gym, and festivals like Halloween and even Mother-Child Night?! The basic animation featured in the film also boosted its narrative through its simple, iconic drawings, and provides very much on how Greg sees himself, and that of his friends and family, which no doubt had tinges of familiarity and being stereotypes, such as the nasty big sized girl whose influential family means she can act like a bitch, or that nerd outcast that everyone tries to avoid. Plot elements such as the rotting piece of cheese stuck on the school grounds also provide for plenty of inane moments, and Cheese Touch is something that I'll never forget.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is loads of fun, being reminiscent of the time when growing up was quite the pain and more often than not a time of being misunderstood. Highly recommended!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is one of the greatest movies about middle school I've ever seen in my life, and it's one of the greatest rewatches I've had in a long time, I love this movie so much and absolutely nothing could ruin it for me.

Our central main character, Greg Heffley, is one of the most unlikeable fictional characters ever, and that's the main point of what makes this movie so good, it perfectly captures the school experience, especially through the eyes of a 12-year old, every character arc is done to perfection and it's also truly hilarious, with some of the greatest background characters ever and some of the best book to film writing I've ever seen, this entire universe feels so real and I am completely immersed in these characters journeys.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid gets an A.

Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon) has started middle school and all he wants is what just about every kid wants: to be popular. He truly believes he's already a cool guy, he just needs to show the rest of the school by making the school yearbook's "most (fill in the blank)." But unlike so many other school movies (mostly high school) his ideas and tactics for doing so are hilarious. They all stem from the fact he is completely oblivious and has a false impression of himself.

Throughout the school year he employs one tactic after another which involve his best friend Rowley Jefferson (Robert Capron). Every bit of advice and every gimmick is supposed to make Rowley, and by extension himself, cooler, but his advice and gimmicks only serve to make Robert more of a hit and himself more of a social outcast.

All while trying to master this middle school thing, Greg has to deal with his tyrannical older brother, Rodrick (Devon Bostick). Rodrick seems to have an innate ability to torture his younger brother without his parents, Susan (Rachael Harris) and Frank (Steve Zahn), knowing.

"Diary of a Wimpy Kid" was a riot. I've never read the books though I had an eleven-year-old, known as my daughter, right next to me informing me what was and wasn't in the book. The source material has to be excellent if the movie was this good. The acting was wonderful from the kids; especially Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron, Laine MacNeil who played Patty Farrell, and Grayson Russell who played Fregley. I'm so used to stiff wooden kids in movies it was a welcome sight to see so many kids making the movie work.

I have not read the book by Jeff Kinney on which this film is based, but one thought immediately came to mind: "Ferris Bueller just got younger!" Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon) embodies the wisecracks, smart alecky ideas, and attitude reminiscent of Matthew Broderick's iconic Bueller character. However, this time it's less about cars and girls and more about navigating the challenges of middle school just before puberty kicks in.

Despite the unhelpful lessons on surviving middle school from his brother Rodrick (Devon Bostick), Greg sets out on a mission to become Mr. Popular. However, his schemes often backfire, making his goal seem impossible. His best friend Rowley (Robert Capron) continues to embarrass him, hindering Greg's attempts to maintain a cool image. Greg tries to rewrite the playground rules, only to realize that he isn't the trendsetter he imagines himself to be. Meanwhile, Rowley, his plus-sized friend, unexpectedly climbs the popularity ladder.

The film explores the period in our lives when we believe we can change the world at a young age, thinking we're infallible and capable of challenging established norms. It delves into negative emotions like jealousy and envy, and how they can lead us to react in hurtful ways driven by pride. Additionally, the film conveys the message of staying true to oneself rather than pretending to be someone else. These relatively weighty themes are skillfully incorporated into the story of a wimpy kid's first year in middle school, without overwhelming the audience.

One of the film's standout elements is its exceptional casting. Zachary Gordon perfectly embodies the role of Greg, with a charm that allows us to invest in his adventures and laugh along with him, even when his antics backfire. Nearly stealing the spotlight from Greg is his best friend Rowley, portrayed with wingman perfection by Robert Capron. Their friendship feels authentic, reminiscent of the Harry Potter-Ron Weasley dynamic, and their interactions, with one using the other to further his own interests, form the narrative's strong points. The chemistry between the two actors feels natural, leaving viewers concerned about what will happen when they inevitably face challenges.

The humor in the film ranges from clever wit to occasional toilet humor, appealing to both kids and adults. It explores various challenges faced in middle school, from the cafeteria to the gym, and special events like Halloween and Mother-Child Night. The film's basic animation, featuring simple, iconic drawings, enhances the narrative by providing insights into how Greg perceives himself, his friends, and his family. While some characters may seem like stereotypes, such as the influential yet nasty big-sized girl or the avoided nerd outcast, they add familiarity to the story. Elements like the rotting piece of cheese on the school grounds provide countless humorous moments, including the unforgettable "Cheese Touch."

"Diary of a Wimpy Kid" is a delightful film that captures the pains and misunderstandings of growing up. It is highly recommended for its ability to resonate with both children and adults. The directors deserve praise for making a bold statement with this movie, portraying the emotional ups and downs of Greg's relationships in a moving way. Despite its relatively short duration, the film successfully tells a dramatic story. I highly recommend this enjoyable and relatable movie to everyone who hasn't seen it yet. In one word: zooweemama.

Despite Greg being featured as the hero of the story, he is quite obviously, the villain.

Despite this, Greg goes through many indirectly relatable scenarios, all of which, you could point and the screen and tease a family member with.

The acting is believable enough and the scripting is well done.

As for the directing, I don't think this is a film meant for impressive camera work.

Of course this movie is just comedy all along the way, but I think it's great comedy. It's always fun to watch this movie. The acting is okay too. I think 6 stars is way too low. I like the cheese touch and all the other funny plot elements. I also love reading the Diary of a wimpy kid books, so don't trash on this movie too much.

Like my classmates back in middle school, I had an obsession with the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books. I've read the first 6 books about half a dozen times each, and I've read the 7th one twice I think. And I'm admittedly not much of a reader.

So, as a film buff, you can imagine how an 11 year old me felt when they were adapting the first book to film. I also have the special memory of one of my aunts taking me to see it in theaters.

The film is based on the diary of Greg Heffley(played by Zachary Gordon). Sorry, it's a JOURNAL, not a diary. But it says "diary" on the cover, which his Mom was NOT supposed to get!

The journal chronicles Greg's first year in middle school, and how he has to deal with his mean older brother, weird family, bullies, popularity status, and other school issues. And one thing "holding him back" is his friend Rowley(Robert Capron), who wears clothes of his Mom and still holds onto childish things.

One thing to greatly admire about the movie is how faithful it is to the book. Very little is added or removed from it, and many direct quotes are lifted from the book as well.

The acting is done quite well too. Nothing Oscar worthy, of course, but every actor does great fulfilling their roles from the novel. Steven Zahn of Daddy Day Care and Racheal Harris of The Hangover both do well in their roles as Greg's parents. The kids do very well of course, especially Zachary Gordon, who succeeds in carrying the entire movie with him in the center.

The movie is also filled with a ton of great humor, most of which works. For example, the trouble Greg and Rowley get into on Halloween is often hilarious. Another humorous moment occurs when all the kids are afraid of one kid who simply touched moldy cheese and "spreads" it to other students.

However, my one flaw(something 11 year old me didn't mind) was the movie sometimes resorts to potty and gross out humor, which doesn't quite hold up to an adult re-visiting the movie. In one scene, Greg tries to befriend a strange kid named Fregley, and he chases him with a booger. Fregley gives him a note apologizing for that, and puts the booger on the note so Greg can chase him with it. (Again, true to the book, but still...it's gross.)

Also, in a mildly decent scene(that's not in the book), something happens which causes Greg to accidentally pee on Rodrick, and when the Mom walks in, he tells her: "Rodrick...(omit for lack of spoilers)!" His Mom replies: "And so you PEED ON HIM?" I admit, that line is my favorite part of the movie, so I can forgive the scene for the sake of that single line.

Despite some minor quibbles, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is still an excellent family movie that truly is a family movie. Whether you are a kid or an adult, DOAWK is something all members of the family can enjoy. It is entertaining for all from start to finish.

Note to 1/10 review writers: Quite a few 1/10 star review writers complained that Greg is too much of a selfish jerk to his friend Rowley, out of character for him in the book. I challenge them to read the book again.

Greg does get jealous of Rowley in the middle and he does "terrorize" the kids and let his friend take the blame. As I said, the movie is very faithful to the book. And it's important to note that Greg CHANGES by the end of the movie.

When I was 8 years old,I received the book Diary of a Wimpy Kid as my birthday present.With time past,the book was left in my bookshelf and it had companied me for a long and sweet time.I also watched the movie,and found it was close to the original. The movie is enjoyable and exciting,though I do admit that kids should find it more exciting.Because we have lost the innocense and our childish while invaluable taste?

Despite it being slightly unrealistic, I found it to be a charming movie for the whole family.

It's not perfect, but it's not meant to be anything groundbreaking. I first watched the movie when I was in 5th grade (and loved it), and even as an adult, I'd still watch it. Greg, the protagonist isn't very likable, but he does face his consequences (unlike in the Long Haul movie) and is very entertaining to watch. The actor who played Greg did a pretty great job portraying his character. The same would go for all the actors. It's also very funny. It's an iconic kids' movie of the early 2010s. It gives me a lot of nostalgia for this era. Also, for the most part, it stays loyal to the book. If you enjoyed the book, you'll probably like this movie too.

(Ps: Who the hell is Angie? Not only is she not mentioned in the book, but I feel like she has no purpose in the plot either. She's nice and all, and the actress did a good job with the role she got, but I guess she had no purpose for being in this film aside for being filler.)

Even though I haven't read the novel, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID, in my opinion, is an excellent big-screen adaptation of a Jeff Kinney bestseller. If you ask me, Patty (Laine MacNeil) was a totally b****y ice queen. I think that for many reasons. My favorite part of this movie was when "The Wizard of Oz" was being performed on-stage at school. One reason is because all hell broke loose. If you really want to know why, you'll have to see the movie. When you do, you'll know what I meant. In conclusion, if you enjoyed the novel or are a fan of anyone in the cast, check this movie out and see it today. You'll be glad you did.

I'll be 100 percentages honest... I haven't laughed this much during a movie since in ages. The humor and expressions are absolutely top notch, and his friend really succeeds to embarrasse him in every different way without even realizing it. There's a lot of audios in this movie I recognize from social media, and it's absolutely hilarious. Watched it with my family and we choked on out food. Some of the jokes may be not always be understood by younger people, but it was overal a great movie. Will definitely watch again. The ending was fun and wholesome, teaches kids a lot about how to earn someones trust and how friends dons't stick around long if you act like a jerk. The movie felt a bit fast paced tho, but I still think this is a goated movie.

I really enjoyed this movie because it's funny and so easy to relate to. It doesn't try too hard to be serious or dramatic. Instead, it shows the everyday struggles of middle school life in a way that feels real. Greg Heffley's adventures at school, with his family, and with his best friend Rowley, remind me of what it's like growing up. The story is simple but fun, and every part adds to the humor and charm. What I like most about the movie is how it shows that nobody's perfect, especially Greg. He makes mistakes and learns from them, which makes him feel like a real kid. The ups and downs in Greg and Rowley's friendship are both funny and sweet, showing how important friends are, even when things get tough. The movie is great at showing small, everyday moments that everyone can relate to, like trying to fit in at school or dealing with your family. It uses simple humor to make these moments special, and every scene has a purpose, keeping you entertained the whole time. Another thing I love is the message of the movie. It reminds us to stay true to ourselves and value our friendships. The lessons about being yourself and sticking by your friends are shared in a fun and lighthearted way, making them easy to understand without being too serious. Finally, this movie is a funny and heartwarming movie that shows the good and bad of growing up. It's simple, fun, and perfect for anyone who remembers what it's like to be a kid in middle school. This movie highlights how Greg learns about himself, his family, and what it means to be a good friend, showing the challenges of growing up in a fun and relatable way.

well i will tell you exactly what it is. its a movie that says I WANT THE LAST 92 MINUTES OF MY LIFE BACK. I mean really this movie is nothing like the book i mean if you want to make a successful book adaptation into a hit movie then i recommend that the filmmakers actually read the book. the real reason i hate this movie is the kid that played Greg. it just wasn't faithful to the book

what ever you do do not see this movie

then this movie had a sequel its so bad

Rated PG for rude humor and language

1hr 32min/92min

BOMB/****

The best thing about Diary of a Wimpy Kid is that it starts with variety and quick edits, incorporating fun tunes, wonderful animation and interesting action. I suppose the thing that really sets it apart is the ambition of the lead, brilliantly cast and played, which is for the most part fantasy, but so hopeful and true to a small kid's mind that it instantly charms. The corresponding charm is that this kid has a big and tolerant heart, crucial to the story, so that, despite making mistakes, basically he's prepared to entertain the weirdo kids at the expense of his own popularity. He's good looking, so such an attitude is refreshing, and a credit to his anxiety ridden parents, also superbly cast and played. His best friend is a wizard of non-conformity, also refreshing. There's an array of great characters, such as the bullying older brother, the local punk gang, the precocious popular girl, the do-it-anyway baby brother, two other brilliant weird kids, and the sympathetic yet uncool older nerd girl. With 117 reviews of this movie so far at this site I probably don't need to rabbit on, but I will say that the filming techniques and cameras used still present a crisp and colourful modern looking movie. If I have any criticism at all it is that the story didn't push the adventures a little beyond the routine activities of kids that age. Great watch that anyone can easily enjoy.

I rented this movie for my 9 year old and was surprised at how good it was. The film seemed to come and go in the theaters without much of a fuss, so I figured it would be pretty average. What I found instead, was a really funny, warm and entertaining movie. The film portrays the ups and down of middle school with a lot of humor thrown in. And most importantly, it shows the merit of true friendship and just being yourself. The child actors are all very good, especially the main character, the nerdy best friend, the older brother and the loud obnoxious pig-tailed girl. Great casting, writing and directing on this one--thumbs up!