Diary of a Wimpy Kid Review

A Perfect Dump and Run Movie

LaRae Meadows
Sixth grader Greg Heffley learns important lessons about friendship, being a good friend and identity in Diary of a Wimpy Kid. A light-hearted, middle-school buddy movie, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a perfect dump and run movie.

Entering middle school wasn't as easy as Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon) anticipated. Some of the kids are way bigger than him. The same things that are cool in elementary school become a badge of shame in middle school. Greg does everything he can to fit in and be a school favorite. He wants to change everything, including his best friend Rowley Jefferson (Robert Capron). The harder he tries to fit in, the worse the consequences to his image.

I was never an eleven year old boy but I can see how Diary of a Wimpy Kid touches on issues boys have during the change from a kid to a teen and what it means. A kid of either gender faces many issues as they experience changes in their body, and social lives. How do I become a successful teen? Why is my body doing that thing? How can I be stronger? Are my friends holding me back socially? Is loyalty more important than popularity?

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is an utterly sterile look at this change. There are no controversial moments, nothing that a PTA mother might find too mature for their child. Even the most uptight ninny of a mother should have no concern. The most deviant part of the movie is a scene where Greg is trying to avoid his brother but really has to pee, so he has to hold it for an extended period. The horror. Diary of a Wimpy Kid is an innocent examination of the age and sense of self felt by tweenie aged children.

Controversy and conflict are how more in-depth moral issues are examined on film, so adults may find the glossiness of Diary of a Wimpy Kid like wading through an intellectual kiddie pool. Then again, like kiddie pools, Diary of a Wimpy Kid isn't for adults.

It is the non-odious script that makes it a perfect movie to not see with your tweenie child. Feel free to send your child into the theater with no fear of nightmares, offensive language or sexual content. If you time it right, you can see a rated R movie with your spouse, your kid can see the young buddy film Diary of a Wimpy Kid (without his stupid parents) and everyone can have a pleasant, age-appropriate time.

Just this once, you don't have to feel guilty about dumping your kid and running off to do something grown up.

Published by LaRae Meadows

Writing has always been a passion for me. I have written legislation, legislative opinion papers, comedy, movie reviews and editorials.  View profile

  • A light-hearted, middle-school buddy movie, Diary of a Wimpy Kid is a perfect dump and run movie.
  • Is loyalty more important than popularity?
  • There are no controversial moments, nothing that a PTA mother might find too mature for their child.

1 Comments

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  • anonymous4/6/2010

    Unfortunately the girly magazine component of the movie was unwelcome by me - and unnecessary ("bikes and girls" if I remember correctly). This movie will be the 1st introduction to pornography for children - very very unfortunate (not explicit, but clearly a pivot of the movie). Given the age of kids in the line-up of mostly 6yrs-10yrs old, I would not recommend this film on that basis. Thumbs down.

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