DIARY OF A WIMPY KID II
DIARY OF A WIMPY KID II (Rated PG for some crude humor): Of course you recall last year's hit comedy for Middle School kids, the original Wimpy Kid flick - based on Jeff Kinney's illustrated children's books; it was made on a shoestring and grossed $75 million, so why not a sequel, this one subtitled "Rodrick Rules."
Like most sequels, this one's a let-down, more of an extended sitcom for kids than a popcorn movie on the big screen.
Like most sequels, this one's a let-down, more of an extended sitcom for kids than a popcorn movie on the big screen.
It's an inoffensive but far from funny continuation of the trials of one lovable wimp, Greg (Zachary Gordon) and his older, sadistic brother, Rodrick (Devon Bostick), the inevitable bullying bro who lives for playing drums in a home-grown rock band - I kid you not, called Loded Dipers), but who is forced by mom (a clueless Rachael Harris) to "be nice" to Greg so they could bond. (Dad (Steve Zahn) just hangs around, grinning painfully, looking as though he's in bad need of strong a laxative.)
Greg & buddy Robert (Rowley Jefferson, the ubiquitous plump standby) are going through the usual Middle School trials & tribulations, from trying to get a date to dodging the bullies - never succeeding very well. The central story is finding a way for the brothers to hang out pleasantly together in an on-again, off-again relationship. You fill in the blanks.
The fun & laughs (which never raised as much as a giggle in a theatre crammed with kids of peer age) are the product of a lame script from Gabe Sachs, Jeff Judah, & Jeff Kinney and equally feeble direction from Davi Bowers, who sets his sights a bit lower than those of his target audience. Being caught in the women's john in an old folks' home is a sample of the hilarious situations invented.
There is the amusing idea of Kinney's stick figures being used to segue from scene to scene which, along with the cute little animations found during the final credits, make up the only redeeming moments during the entire 96-minutes. (Grade: C-)
The fun & laughs (which never raised as much as a giggle in a theatre crammed with kids of peer age) are the product of a lame script from Gabe Sachs, Jeff Judah, & Jeff Kinney and equally feeble direction from Davi Bowers, who sets his sights a bit lower than those of his target audience. Being caught in the women's john in an old folks' home is a sample of the hilarious situations invented.
There is the amusing idea of Kinney's stick figures being used to segue from scene to scene which, along with the cute little animations found during the final credits, make up the only redeeming moments during the entire 96-minutes. (Grade: C-)
