PRINTMovie review: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days
Every dog gets its day, and so does every wimp
Photo courtesy of 20th Century Fox
August 4, 2012 | 10:48 a.m. CST
The tale of the underdog who goes through troubles only to triumph in the end is as old as storytelling itself. Unfortunately, that makes many of the movies that follow this plot predictable. This movie is no exception. But even though the ending may be known already, it’s hard not to feel proud for the nerd who finally gets his day.
Zachary Gordon plays Greg Heffley, an average middle school student looking to get the most out of his summer vacation. For him, this means non-stop video games and junk food. For his parents, this means outdoor activities and no video games at all. Greg finds a loophole to make his summer more enjoyable. He starts going to the local country club with his friend Rowley Jefferson (Robert Capron).
An extra incentive to spending so much time at the country club is being around his love interest Holly Hills (Peyton List). Greg seems to be taking one step forward and two steps back with Holly. He can’t seem to make that connection with her the way he would like. Their bossy, older siblings are what actually bring them together. This ends up being the match that lights the spark between them.
In addition to his love interest, Greg also finds another blossoming relationship with his father. After Greg disappoints his father through a series of mistakes, he is worried that his dad will send him to a preparatory school to straighten him out. In the process of earning back his fathers trust, they learn they have much more in common than they thought.
This movie is cheesy and predictable. But it is a story that almost anyone can relate to, making it hard to resist.
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