“Diary of a Wimpy Kid”Directed by: Thor Freudenthal
Starring: Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron, Rachael Harris, Steve Zahn, Devon Bostick, Chloë Grace Moretz, Grayson Russell
Rated: PG
Matt Groening, the creator of “The Simpsons,” has a long running comic strip called “Life in Hell.” He's published many collections of the work, sorted by theme. In the collection entitled “School is Hell,” the piece that caught my attention and spoke to me with the loudest voice is entitled “Lesson 10: Junior High School – The Deepest Pit in Hell.”
The opening frame has one of Groening's one-eared rabbits/people proclaiming, “Junior high school is a holding pen designed to help us through our formative 'snotty' years. By isolating us from grade school kids, we will be less likely to torture them. By isolating us from high school kids, we will be less likely to receive the beatings we so richly deserve.”
Truer words have never been uttered, at least to my ears. It's all raging hormones, the complete inability to “fit in,” kids from a higher income bracket and the confusion and craziness combined with the perceived intent to drive my 12-year-old psyche completely insane. I break out in a cold sweat when I think about it.
Author Jeff Kinney's series of books about the pains of school days is the source material for director Thor Freudenthal's film, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid.” It's the best film of its kind to come along since Bob Clark's classic, “A Christmas Story.” “Diary” and its main characters capture the feeling and frustrations of their real-life counterparts, and the movie never dumbs down the issue or gets gratuitously sappy.
Greg Heffley (played by Zachary Gordon, in a career-making debut) is embarking on middle school. And he's got a plan. At his side is his best friend, Rowley (Robert Capron), who is overweight and somewhere short of Greg's emotional maturity. Rowley asks, “Do you wanna come over and play?” Greg explains to him, when you get to middle school, you “hang out,” you don't “play.”
The third main character (and I wish her role had been expanded) is Angie (Chloë Moretz). Angie meets the boys under the bleachers where she is reading. We immediately know that Angie is wise beyond her years – in some ways – and discovering the world that begins with junior high. The character is so compelling, I hope that they make a movie about her.
Greg sets about to make his mark, but can't quite find a way to do so. He's too small for sports. Greg is fairly cerebral and sets out on a plan to make himself popular – although, as with all things at his age, plans rarely come to fruition. But lessons are learned from places and angles unforeseen.
Greg's older brother, Rodrick (Devon Bostick), is a typical insecure teen whose great delight in life is tormenting his younger brother. As sadistically cruel as the character is, the viewer can't help but like him. We realize he is going through his own tormented times as much as his kid brother is going through his.
The parents involved, played by Rachael Harris and Steve Zahn, don't have major roles, but they are acutely realized characters. Mom is stern but loving, worried about Greg's current condition, and Dad is a textbook example of an “I wanna be your pal” parent. He seems like a kid himself, not ready or mature enough to have a child. But he's a guy who can relate to and communicate with his children because of that trait which could have been perceived as a flaw.
“Diary of a Wimpy Kid” took me back to those years of crazy torment mixed with the glimpses of what life was about to foist upon me. You can't get around it so you might as well embrace it. “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” does that. It's a melancholy – but very sweet and thoughtful – film.
Jim Wunderle owns Wunderle Sound Services and is a Springfield freelance writer and musician. He can be reached at info@wunderlesound.com.
