Review: "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days"

Reviewer: Mary Draughon for Previewonline.com

Main Actors: Zachary Gordon, Steve Zahn, Robert Capron, Devon Bostick

SYNOPSIS: This third episode of “Diary of a Wimp” finds best friends, Greg and Rowley (Zachary Gordon and Robert Capron), looking forward to summer vacation following seventh grade. Greg’s dad (Steve Zahn) hopes to bond with his son through scouting, camping and typical guy stuff – anything to get him away from video games. Rowley invites Greg to the country club and even a weekend with his family at the lake. Greg soon learns the best laid plans of mice and men often erupt into disaster. Greg’s older brother, Rodrick (Devon Bostick), continues to be the obnoxious teenager with illusions of being a musician and a lady’s man.

CONTENT: The humor in this third “Diary of a Wimp,” as in the two previous ones, is just what boys of all ages love: bathroom humor, gross situations and clueless parents. Sure, moms and girls will find themselves giggling when insecure, shy Greg finds himself at the deep end of the swimming pool sans trunks. He huddles in a corner until the pool is completely empty at the end of the day. When the dog grabs a pot roast and slobbers all over it and the roast appears on the dinner table, it would be hard not to groan and laugh. And, of course, Rod’s rock band, “Loded Dipers” is so awful it’s funny. It is the kind of movie that would be more fun to watch on DVD with your family and friends.

Parenting is probably the hardest and most important job in the world. Although Greg’s parents try their best to bond with him, somehow their best never seems to work out. When Dad arranges an internship for Greg at his office, Greg lies and tells him he has a job at the country club. Mom tries to organize a book club for Greg and his friends with “Little Women” as one of her selections. Greg almost loses his friendship with Rowley after a weekend with him and his parents, who are gushy sweet and over-protective. Maybe that’s what we all need when we think we can’t bear our family any more – a weekend with a friend’s family. Greg learns that no matter how much he messes up, his parents still love him.

Mean-spirited schoolmates, some crude references to bodily functions and disregard for other’s property may offend some, and certainly the characters are all exaggerated There is some rear nudity in a dressing room, but no sex or strong language.

Distributor: 20th Century Fox

SUMMARY

Profanities, Obscenities: None; but some crude expressions for bodily functions, rude name calling

Nudity: Rear nudity of men in dressing room

Sex: None

Violence: None but teenager wrecks a party, damages furniture

Other: Family issues of bonding, trust, the consequences of lying, learning to let go

Running time: 97 minutes