With Hollywood flooding the big screen, adults seldom turn off our cell phones for PG and G rated movies anymore. And although sometimes it's only to appease the kids, we'd all highly rate a movie experience that was equally entertaining for adults. That's where this blog comes in. Here I will usher you to front row insight on the latest family friendly films -- from an adults point of view.
This week, let's get started with Color Force and Fox 2000's latest: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days.
Overview:
School is out for summer break and Greg Heffley has big plans to do very little. His father, on the other hand, strongly objects to being unproductive; so born is the battle of the wills. Greg's determination to stick to his own agenda lands him in one obstacle after another.
I simply couldn't connect with Greg's problems. His inability to make even partially good decisions was so blatant that it became predictable and uncomfortable to watch. His lack of depth, made it hard to appreciate an underdog with no underling qualities that were even slightly charming or redeeming. Certainly, even a "wimpy" kid should have some type of variance. He only seemed capable of making the wrong choices so often that he lost my attention and interest by the time he was able to change and learn from his mistakes.
Believability:
I found it strange that Greg's older brother, Rodrick, also had no summer agenda or activities lined up, but never seemed to get targeted by their father's confrontation. It seemed oddly unbalanced and unexplained that only Greg was singled out.
Originality:
There wasn't much. This film duplicated the dance along game, in the arcade, scene. It mimicked the miserable sing-a-long song, on the road trip, segment. And it traced the typical missing swimming trunks, naked in the pool sketch all from previous movies.
Pros:
A few good attributes! I found the animated segments silly and cleverly placed. His best friend Rowley's facial expressions were as well expressed as Ron Weasley's (from Harry Potter) signature horrified looks. And, Steve Zahn, who played Mr. Heffley, did a wacky job of overacting in an acceptable and lovable way.
Overall, It's not engaging enough for adults. I'd consider this movie moderately tolerable, a reward to a deserving child, or incentive to find something better to do.
Check out more of my favorite family films and kids reviews at What to See PG.