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Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Roderick Rules
| Released |
27 May 2011 |
| Director |
David Bowers |
| Starring |
Zachary Gordon, Devon Bostick, Rachal Harris, Robert Capron, Steve Zahn |
| Writer(s) |
Gabe Sachs, Jeff Judah |
| Producer(s) |
Nina Jacobson, Bradford Simpson |
| Origin |
United States |
| Running Time |
99 minutes |
| Genre |
Comedy |
| Rating |
G |
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No Goonies.
I like a nice kiddie movie. There’s something comforting about watching an innocent and fun kids' film as an adult; you feel like a child yourself and forget the stress that comes with being a codger.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Roderick Rules, the sequel to Diary of a Wimpy Kid, had the opposite effect, serving only to bring my cynical leanings to the fore. It was a weak and lacklustre reel of film that nearly had me snoring in the aisles.
I didn’t see the first one and if this is anything to go by I’m glad. It was boring and if clichés were bullets then I would have been a mangled bloody mess in my seat.
There was no intelligence to it; it was the formulaic ‘boy misunderstood by parents, boy’s older brother hates him, boy is a nerd in a world where being cool is everything, boy has fat funny friend, boy fancies blonde perfect angelic new girl, everything works out in the end for boy’.
Yuck. The usual drivel. Make something with a bit more substance I say, or if you’re going to go down this road at least make sure it’s good.
Plot? Very hard to say. I already gave it really but go on, humour me. Greg Heffly and his older brother Roderick don’t get along so their parents attempt to make them bond. Throw in an upcoming talent show and a crush on new girl Holly and Greg has his hands full.
Rodrick was such an annoying git for the whole film that I felt like giving him a slap. He’s about sixteen years of age yet relishes in making his eleven or twelve year old brother’s life a misery. I’m sorry but locking your little brother in the basement while you have a party is not funny, it’s more ‘call a child psychologist’ territory if you ask me. There is also a scene which would have the RSA in tears where he shoves Greg and his friend into his van with no seatbelts and drives like a maniac.
Steve Zahn’s role didn’t exactly challenge him, but I really like him so I’m willing to leave him off this time. The mother’s (Rachael Harris) character was unrealistic and hysterical, which grated, while the children’s performances were admirable enough. Devon Bostick (Rodrick) is like a young Ashton Kutcher, and just as irritating.
I feel quite mean ripping a kid’s film to shreds and to be fair I’m a twenty-five year old woman with aforementioned cynical leanings, so I’m sure kids will love it as there are a few laughs, but if you’re over the age of twelve and have no children to bring then don’t bother; Home Alone or The Goonies it ain’t.
- Cynthia Bifolchi |
