MOVIE
REVIEW:
DIARY OF THE WIMPY
KID: DOG DAYS

08/02/12

SYNOPSIS: During his summer vacation, "Wimpy Kid" Greg Heffley, the hero of the phenomenally successful book series, hatches a plan to pretend he has a job at a ritzy country club which fails to keep him away from the season dog days, including embarrassing mishaps at a public pool and a camping trip that goes horribly wrong.
REVIEW:
Having not seen the previous movie
installments of the series, I believe I am viewing this third
installment with what I would consider to be extremely objective
eyes. Jeff Kinney's wildly successful “novels,” in the
cartoon series, puts this third release squarely in line with
the last two books. This one seems to narrow the focus more on
seventh-grader Greg Heffler's (Zachary Gordon) relationship with
his dad (Steve Zahn) and from all accounts of the previous
installments, this warm, funny "Dog Days" release
seems to be the best of the three "Wimpy Kid" movies.
There are
many things to speak about positively in this movie, but the
skillful acting by Zahn and Gordon really helps drive those
positive scenes, particularly one in which Zahn expresses his
disappointment, in his son, with so much purity and sorrow that
every parent who has ever said, "I'm not mad…I'm just
really disappointed in you," should worship him as a
‘guilt-tripping’ god. Zahn (along with his co-star in this
particular scene), really nails each and every scene and shows
the diverse side of this veteran comedic actor. Throughout the
movie, Greg and his dad intentionally participate in numerous
father/son activities that are hilarious on every level, but
also have an element of truth that combines constant fatherly
disappoint with a seemingly realistic truthful father/son
relationship.
Another point worth noting
about this flick is that there is nothing forced or
“preachy” in this movie. In fact, Greg's summer is about as
run-of-the-mill (and, to him, earth-shaking) as the summer of
most soon-to-be eighth-graders. Besides that, the film is so
observant, big-hearted and hilarious that it helps one
appreciate what a monotonous, but at the same time phenomenal
thing a family can be.
This movie is
sincere, down-to-earth, and hilarious and in my humble opinion,
“Dog Days” is an
enormous success and is probably the best non-animated
family-oriented film of the year, thus far. Moreover, I believe
it will be well received by general audiences, young and old
alike. I enthusiastically give “Diary
of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days,” an easy five out of five stars
for great performances and over the top wholesome
family-oriented entertainment.
Review
By Movie-Man Stan
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