(Rated PG for some mild profanity, plenty of gross humor): Remember Jean Shepherd's "Christmas Story" back in the 80s? Though this film is based on the stick figures from Jeff Kinney's best-selling illustrated novels, the film has been patterned on Shepherd's movie in nearly every way, with the usual inclusion of the vicissitudes faced in Middle School and with his main character talking directly to us about them.
The vicissitudes in this episodic flick: A brash kid with an overblown self of importance, Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon) takes us through a year of every abasement kids face in the scariest time of his life - Middle School. You know, harassment from older brother & senior schoolmates, attempt at proving himself a wrestler, the dangers of applying for Safety First patrol, learning how not to be invisible by playing a pompous kid role (and failing), and in general just suffering until, he hopes, to become the Class Favorite at the end of the year.
He is accompanied by the usual characters - a geeky & spaced-out kid who thinks boogers are fun to play with, a fat kid who knows how to roll cheerfully with the punches, a girl in pigtails who makes his life miserable, etc. Teachers, oddly enough, are neither exceptionally kind nor brutal & stupid, while his family - understanding mother, dopey father, unbearable brothers - add little that is interesting or unique.
Director Thor Freudenthal makes an attempt to hold everything together with zippy pace & all the usual gross humor that gets guffaws and that we've been privy to far too many times before. In an attempt to bring low levity to every occasion he belittles what cleverness existed in the original animated story (and sketched as segues throughout the film), resulting in a fairly polished comedy that will please the little kids, but certainly not the parents that are forced to sit with them. The de rigueur food/drink trays augmented in a steady parade. (Grade: C+).
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