A young kid tries, and falls, at becoming popular amongst the other kids, chronicling his experiences in his diary and recounting his socially awkward and difficult times in middle school.
Being a young teen is the most awkward time of your life. Usually. And yet it’s still one of the times that you look back on with nostalgia and fondness once you reach adulthood. Diary of a Wimpy Kid captures both sides of this duality perfectly, while also being charming and a little bit goofy in all the right ways. Boy, girl, or anything in between, you’ll find something to relate to in this film, and it’s an enjoyable experience to look back on those weird and awkward days of childhood through the eyes of your adult self, and even your kids if you have any. It’s touching and cute, with just enough heart to keep it entertaining, but not quite enough to be fully endearing. Still, it’s an enjoyable watch.
Thanks to the kid-friendly lens of Thor Freudenthal, as well as the dedication to the source material from the four screenwriters who worked on the script, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is something the whole family can enjoy, including the adults. There’s plenty of humor for all ages on display, and relatability is high with several of the characters, making it a fun watch for anyone who gives it a chance. I only wish there were more representation of females at this awkward stage of life, as it’s a pretty universal experience that we all encounter, and not having more young female characters feels like a missed opportunity for a more diverse cast, and would’ve helped to discredit some of the segregation of boys and girls during childhood.
Still, Zachary Gordon is adorable as the lead character, and his performance is endearing and fun, giving you an intimate look into his life as he bumbles his way through the all too relatable experience of growing up and trying to impress others. Chloe Grace Moretz is wonderful as the film’s sole female kid, and it’s no wonder she grew up to become a bigger deal in film. And Steve Zahn, underrated as always, is a delight as the patriarch of the Heffley family, combined with Rachael Harris as his wife and the mother of the lead. But again, there’s not a lot of female representation on display here, and that’s a shame. The cast is great all around, but having just a little more diversity would’ve been wonderful.
Effects are fun and engaging, with the editing and cinematography giving the film a light-hearted and cutesy look, and despite being a children’s movie, it has a very professional look overall. The score is enjoyable, too, pulling everything together with a carefree and childlike wonder that leaves just a little to be desired.
Overall, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a fun and easygoing movie for the whole family, even if it does miss the opportunity to be more diverse and representative, and it never goes quite deep enough to be super memorable.