Title: Diary of A Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011)
Type: Book Adaptation by Jeff Kinney
Genre: Realistic Fiction, Comedy
Elapsed Time: 1 hour and 35 minutes
Cast:Zachary Gordon, Devon Bostick, and Robert Capron
Rating: 4.5/5.0 Excellent!
Review:
Youngster
or should I say a kid’s movies come and go, and some (shamelessly) rely
on big 3D promises to get the younger audience into cinema seats. So,
it’s nice to see a good old-fashioned kids film – minus 3D – with
bundles of straightforward, playful fun that all generations can enjoy.
Sequels are tricky nuts to crack, especially with so much expectation
involved, but with an army of young fans in tow, things should prove
easier. This is definitely the case with Part 2 of the Wimpy Kid called
Rodrick Rules that’s a mix of various moments in the book series, and
feels more heartfelt, funnier, and a little less gross than the first
film last year.
The
bestselling book and the blockbuster film follows Greg Heffley (Zachary
Gordon), a kid who’s ‘wimpy’ cool, and his misfit band of friends. In
this film, Greg’s a year older and begins seventh grade at middle
school. He and his rocker-wannabe older brother – and chief tormentor –
Rodrick (Devon Bostick) must deal with their parents’ (played byRachael
Harris and Steve Zahn) misguided attempts to get them to bond. In the
meantime, Greg starts having feelings for girls – well, one in
particular called Holly (the dolly-like Peyton List), and must deal with
growing up while fending off his brothers’ attempts to ruin his life.
Constitute
like a typical comedy TV show like the one that is aired during
primetime in TV 5, minus the canned laughter, Wimpy Kid 2 does well to
paint a brief picture of who all the characters are, and doesn’t just
annoyingly presume that you know the background story, hence leaving out
the newcomer. For those fond of the book’s cartoon style, the
film-makers still blend animation and live-action to satisfy all tastes.
The story may well be for kids but it still targets adult nostalgia for
school-day issues, fear of social exclusion, and first crushes in a
quirky, snappy and witty fashion.
Observing
and watching Greg grow up feels like watching a little brother of your
own, and the characters are some of the most fleshed out and appealing
of many family films of late. Gordon has developed Greg further, making
him a little wiser and adding more depth in this film, as well as upped
his comic timing for such a young actor. In fact, he and Robert Capron
as his crazy, loyal friend, Rowley, make quite an accomplished comedic
pairing in this, where Rowley is a strong right-hand gag man – much like
tame, child-friendly Superbad, where the friendship strengthens as time
goes on.
Bostick
recompensing as annul teen Rodrick, and shares a lot more screen-time
with Greg – as the title suggests. Both actors convincingly portray that
fine balance between brotherly love-hate with great humour,
sentimentality and unspoken understanding. It’s a bond that anyone with
siblings can relate to, and it’s a tonic to watch the maturing
transformation of both brothers, without them losing all their
innocence. And it’s childhood innocence that this series emphasises and
embraces that makes it so memorable and enjoyable.
Both
Harris and Zahn are the chalk-and-cheese guardians/parents and
excellent as the elder Heffleys, delightfully recreating all the
childhood embarrassments you can possibly imagine – especially when
trying to impress the opposite sex (cue Mom dance). As with the younger
members of the cast, Harris and Zahn have perfect comedy timing and
rapport that keeps things authentic and sparky, making the family unit a
complete one worth spending 101 minutes in the company with. This is
ironic considering its ‘warring factions’.
The
infantile aspect would not be complete without touches of smut
(Rodrick’s Löded Diper band) and bodily-function jokes (Greg’s ‘holy’
embarrassment), but none of it’s done to excess at the expense of the
storyline, with the visual gags never dwelled on but nicely edited to
enhance what a character is going through at any one moment. There’s a
mixture of quick-fire gags and longer-running verbal quips (the Mom Buck
exchange for spending time together) that keep the pace interesting and
non-complacent, too.
We raffle a Mom Buck
you’ll have a good and nice time in the company of the Heffleys, a
family like any other dealing with highs and lows, tears and tantrums
that will have you rolling your eyes and nodding in recognition. Being
able to relate is central to the series’ success, and with the help of a
cracking sense of humour and credible family flaws, Jeff Kinney‘s
illustrated novel Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2 has been carefully adapted and
cannot help but resonate with anyone, regardless of being a fan or not.
No comments:
Post a Comment