Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011)

I enjoyed the first Diary of a Wimpy Kid film. I actually did. I liked this one more. I also liked this one more than the book, which was a bit lackluster in my opinion. This film brings back all of the characters from the first film (minus Chloe Grace Moretz, who in my opinion was the best part of the first film), and including Holly Hills (Peyton List), the object of Greg’s (Zachary Gordon) affection here. In most films, I hate the romantic subplots, but in here, as a 7th grader, I enjoyed it. The main plot of the film is that Greg has to bond with his older brother Rodrick (Devon Bostick), which has its ups and its down, just like any relationship with anyone. The plot is simple, and while it differs a lot more from the novel than the first film did, I think it pulled it off better. Because, in the books, the character of Greg is so unlikable that you want to grind his head into a pulp. And in the books, it worked. But in the film, it did not. So thankfully, they changed that and made Greg a normal human being with feelings. And Zachary Gordon plays this character so much better. The entire cast is better here than they were in the first. The dialogue is funnier, the direction is so much better, this film now being helmed by Astro Boy director David Bowers. The film is just better, all over. It’s funnier, more likable, and better executed. In the end, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules is hilariously funny, admirably charming, and painfully accurate.
8.5/10