It has been a while since I saw a film that catered so
specifically to its target audience. It's not a bad thing; it's just unusual during
this day and age. For David
Bowers' Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Roderick
Rules, the storyline is as you would expect from a film targeting
elementary school students - a middle sibling combating his brothers and
parents in an effort to still remain cool with his classmates. The usual hijinks occur, and no one
really learns any sort of valuable life lesson by the time the credits role - well,
maybe a little. Some of the humor
was aimed at adults in the sense that it pokes fun at things adults do such as
reliving the past, but the humor isn't at all inappropriate. Most of the comedy is physical or
situational, so kids will definitely get it, and most likely enjoy it.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
definitely caters to the younger crowd. The plot points are easily predictable.
I wasn't expecting much from a book adaptation, but I had a sliver of hope for
some sort of plot twist. You don't have to see the first movie at all; Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
stands alone without losing cohesion. The orchestrated score was pretty
enjoyable, and the animation sequences were effective for the film's style.
Some of the scenes where the actors address the audience directly seem awkward,
but it wasn't anything that hampered the overall effect of the film. The entire
movie had a made-for-tv vibe to it, but occasional rays of greatness wouldn't
allow that option to be true.
Would I have gone to Diary of a Wimpy
Kid: Rodrick Rules of my own volition? No. Is it completely terrible? No. The film is great in terms
of its family appeal, and should make for a fun family event, however, don't
expect too much from it.
