Diary of a Wimpy Kid

(2010) ** Pg
91 min. 20th Century Fox. Director: Thor Freudenthal. Cast: Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron, Rachael Harris, Steve Zahn, Devon Bostick, Chloe Grace Moretz.

/content/films/3813/1.jpgRemember Beaver Cleaver and Larry Mondello? These innocent buddies used to get into jams every week on Leave It to Beaver, always learning (and teaching) a lesson in the process. Adjust for cultural inflation and you get the new kid flick Diary of a Wimpy Kid. I say, "Adjust for cultural inflation" because Wally never called his brother "turd burglar," Ward never tried dousing trick-or-treaters with water, and Beaver's crushes never read HOWL. Still, Diary of a Wimpy Kid—based on Jeff Kinney's illustrated novels—plays it pretty safe, more Beaver than Malcolm in the Middle. Think Disney Channel, if slightly less plastic fantastic.

The point is that Thor Freudenthal's movie is sitcomedic, an episodic accounting of a school year in the life of seventh-graders. It's not unpleasant for adults, who can find nostalgia in such middle-school touchstones as popularity ranking, lunch-table seating, scary local legends and gym-class horrors (plus, you get Steve Zahn and Rachael Harris as the parents). Certainly, it'll be catnip for the grade-school set. Still, with ticket prices being what they are, this generic outing isn't a very compelling reason to leave the comfort of the sofa and its basic-cable kiddie fare.

Zachary Gordon plays pint-sized Greg Heffley, whose only concern is becoming a class hero. He has a roly-poly best bud in Rowley Jefferson (Robert Capron), a sweet and loyal friend who plays along with Greg's schemes—to a point. Naturally, nothing works for Greg. Joining wrestling leads to a series of humiliations, including being pinned by his high-strung female nemesis, Patty Ferrell (Laine MacNeil). And when he tries out for the school play, he learns he's a boy soprano, suitable not for the leads but for ... you guessed it, the tree.

Greg's rapacious pursuit of coolness makes him a selfish jerk for much of the film's running time, eventually alienating his only friend. Kids will probably root for Greg anyway, if only with the understanding that eventually he'll learn what's really important and redeem himself with a grand gesture. Perhaps that path to good karma might also win him the respect of Angie Steadman (rising star Chloe Moretz), the Ginsberg reader who's obviously wise beyond her years. Gordon is well cast to be believably uncool for his age group while also roguishly charming in a way all boys like to think they are.

Much of Greg's wit remains private in his diary, to which the audience is privy through narration. Freudenthal predictably works in a few animated bits to evoke Kinney's illustrations, but otherwise Diary is styleless, with old-school costuming (Converse and ringer-Ts) and Canadian locations that evoke a Rockwellian suburban America that never quite existed. Then again, Norman Rockwell never imagined what would happen if a slice of Swiss cheese stayed rotting on the school blacktop. Answer: It would have "nuclear cooties"... so not cool.

[This review first appeared in Palo Alto Weekly.]

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Bluray

Aspect ratios: 1.85:1

Number of discs: 3

Audio: DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1

Street date: 8/3/2010

Distributor: 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment

Fox sends Diary of a Wimpy Kid home in "The Cheesiest Edition": a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital Copy combo pack. At least in its initial pressing, the set comes with a special cardboard slipcover that includes a six-page "look inside Rowley's diary." The Blu-ray sports impeccable tech specs, with a clean, sharp, colorful transfer that accurately recreates the film's theatrical look and a reasonably punchy DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 mix that maximizes the source material with clearly prioritized dialogue and rich music cues.

Special features kick off with a feature commentary by director Thor Feudenthal and writer Gabe Sachs, who discuss adapting beloved source material, casting just the right young'uns, and shooting the film (in Canada).

Deleted Diary Pages comprises scenes not included in the final cut (or extended versions of scenes seen in the film), as well as Rowley's Lost Zoo-Wee Mama Cartoons (HD). The scenes are as follows: "Fregley's Scavenger Hunt" (2:56, HD), "Chirag's Trail of Tears" (2:37, HD), "Fregley's Shuffle" (:47, HD), "Mom Drops Greg Off at School" (:55, HD), "Greg and Rowley Jump Over the Wall" (:26, HD), "Mr. Winsky's Safety Patrol Assignment" (:23, HD), "Mom Suggests a Friendship Card" (:44, HD), "Greg Meets Fregley's Mom" (:37, HD) and "Greg Has the Cheese Touch" (:38, HD).

Also included is the "Theatrical Trailer" (1:52, HD). Odd that the disc includes no interviews or behind-the-scenes with the cast, but there you are. Kids will no doubt repeatedly enjoy this set, which—as a combo pack—is built for flexibility and longevity.

Review gear:
Panasonic Viera TC-P55VT30 55" Plasma 1080p 3D HDTV
Oppo BDP-93 Universal Network 3D Blu-ray Disc Player
Denon AVR2112CI Integrated Network A/V Surround Receiver
Pioneer SP-BS41-LR Bookshelf Speaker (2)
Pioneer SP-C21 Center Speaker
Pioneer SW-8 Subwoofer

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