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CHICAGO – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Dan Baker on WBGR-FM (Monroe, Wisconsin) on March 21st, 2024, reviewing the new streaming series “Manhunt” – based on the bestseller by James L. Swanson – currently streaming on Apple TV+.
Total Retread for ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days’
Submitted by PatrickMcD on August 3, 2012 - 10:45pm
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“Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days” opens everywhere August 3rd. Featuring Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron, Devon Bostick, Rachael Harris and Steve Zahn. Screenplay by Gabe Sachs and Wallace Wolodarsky. Directed by David Bowers. Rated “PG”
© 2012 Patrick McDonald, HollywoodChicago.com
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 Rating: 2.5/5.0 |
CHICAGO – The month of August contain the “dog days” of summer, when the season lumbers to a hazy and hot conclusion. How appropriate that the third film of a popular series would be called ‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days,’ because like summer’s end it feels lethargic. Zachary Gordon, Robert Capron and Steve Zahn star.
This installment of the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series has a couple of distinctions – Zachary Gordon, who portrays the title character, has hit puberty, with a deeper voice and seemingly less energy to tackle wimpy Greg. Secondly, the emergence of background characters in telling the story. Greg’s Dad and brother are more importantly featured than best friend Rowley, contrary to the first two films. This all adds up to less enthusiastic “Diary,” which meanders without any spark, a contractual obligation rather than a beloved adaptation from the popular books.
Zachary Gordon reprises his role as the “Wimpy Kid,” Greg Heffley. It is the last week of 7th grade, and he plans to spend the summer playing video games. His father Frank (Steve Zahn) has other ideas, and wants Greg to do more outdoor activities, including a scout troop. This clash of ideals is the comic engine of the film, as Greg tries his hand at Civil War re-enactment, caring for the new family dog and fending off his abusive brother Rodrick (Devon Bostick).
 Photo credit: Diyah Pera for Twentieth Century Fox Films |
Help comes in the form of best friend Rowley (Robert Capron), who has a country club membership and guest privileges. Greg starts hanging out there, with a eye on the girl of his dreams, Holly (Peyton List). He tells his Dad he has a job at the club, which temporarily gives him a reprieve. But he still has to sneak his brother into the club to keep his secret, spend some time with Rowley’s family at a seaside resort and go on a major camping trip with Dad to finish the season. It looks like the summer has another side.
The antics that are created for this film have a been-there-done-that quality to them. Greg still manufactures “Lucy and Ethel” type schemes to complicate his life, and Rowley reacts to them with the same pained expression. If the narrative had more subtlety, it would indicate that their rate of puberty is separating them – as it happens to many kids friendships during that time of life – but this is the “Wimpy Kid” series, not the “Wimpy Almost a Man.”
Coming to the forefront, as almost a Rowley replacement, is brother Rodrick. He has always been the cruel, torturing comic relief throughout the films, and actor Devon Bostick has done a fine job delivering what’s necessary. In this one, he relies too much on Greg, and the air of mystery about him is gone, replaced by a neediness. He is reduced to being a dweeb, which may be the point, but it’s not as fun. Steve Zahn as Dad worked better as well in the previous films, as a befuddled ex-hippie type in the background. In “Dog Days,” he has a lot to answer to, and this psychological “daddy” element cuts too much reality into a scenario that features tent raids at a scouting event.
The author of the “Wimpy Kids” book, Jeff Kinney, has always injected a sense of “real kidness” into the books, and this movie chapter might reflect that the most. It’s obvious that Rowley is from a wealthier family than Greg, with country club privileges. It is revealed that Steve Zahn’s Dad had a less-than-enjoyable childhood, and wants to make up for that with his own son. Also, Greg finds out that Dad comparisons do exist (“my Dad can beat up your Dad”), which motivates the tent raid. Throw in a summer romance, and this is darn near a daytime soap opera.
 Photo credit: Diyah Pera for Twentieth Century Fox Films |
The mix between maniacal antics and post-millennial family realities is awkward, but fans of the series will most likely go along with it. I’m not familiar with where the book series goes, but does it include Greg developing a Barry White-type changing of the voice? Will the Wimpy Kid be allowed to become a brooding teenager? Will Dad finally get the therapy he needs? And where does Mom (Rachael Harris) get her stylish glasses?
In the books, the Wimpy Kid and his allies are forever and perplexingly pre-adolescent. Not so in live action film adaptations. Real kid actors grow up and their characters move on. Just ask Daniel Radcliffe, Corey Feldman and Mickey Rooney, doing time at the The Last Chance Child Actor’s Saloon.
 | By PATRICK McDONALD |
Wimpy Kid
Its’ was not so bad in fact its’ was kind of funny!!
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dog Days - Great and Fun Entertainment!
I saw the Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dog Days and couldn’t dissagree more with the review by Patrick McDonald. The DWK,Dog Days delivers on all reality accounts showing what life is really like growing up on planet earth.
That the 3 movies shift in their focus is refreshing. How boring the movies would be if they had the same themes each time. The first movie was more about surviving Middle School and the main character’s (Greg Heffley, played excellently by actor Zachary Gordon)relationship with his best friend Rowley Jefferson. The 2nd installment of Diary of a Wimpy Kid,Rodrick Rules, is focusing on Greg’s mom and family dynamics and her trying to get her two older boys to bond. And this 3rd movie DWK, Dog Days focuses on Greg’s relationship or lack their off with his Dad. These are very real experiences we have all shared while trying to survive growing up.
One thing that is very important about the movies is that they take the books and make them very “real”. The movies take one dimensional stick figures and bring them to life. The stories are about “real life” and what “really” happens between people through life experiences. We all change as we grow up and DWK portrays that in a very humanistic and honest manner which is what sets these movies apart from other animated or fantasy kids and family movies. This movie doesn’t make kids stupid or moralistic or super people, it just presents life in a bold, blunt manner.
The fact that Greg doesn’t tell the truth to his father is very real and relates to the truth about kids relationships for all “normal” people and not the “bogusness of “Hollywood” sitcom families. Kids lie to their parents no matter who they are or where they live. There isn’t a kid in the world who hasn’t lied to his parents at one time or another.
What is refreshing about these movies is the “truths” about life and relationships that they are willing to portray by a very fine cast of actors lead by the lead character, Zachary Gordon. Gordon is excellent in the title role of Greg Heffley and my family finds his transitions over life and time extremely refreshing. I don’t agree with this reviewer and I don’t see Greg’s portrayal as being tired in this movie at all. His focus has changed which is what happens in real life from year to year and as we move through the process of growing up and learning life’s experiences - both good and bad. That is what molds us as people and the person we ultimately become.
We don’t necessarily like the same foods we did at 6 that we do at 8. Relationships change from Kindergarten to Elementary School and again in Middle School and again in High School. That is “real” life. Greg’s interest in Holly Hills, a girl is just such a life transition. In the first movie he avoided girls,(gee, duh! like most of us guys). In the second movie, he suddenly wasn’t so afraid of them, and in the third movie, he makes a real effort to connect to the girl he has a crush on, Holly Hills. Duh-sound familiar? That is the essence of life - change, growing up, moving on, having different tastes, desires, and likes as we tread water,and try different things, in the sea of life.
Whether Greg has gone thru is going thru, or is partially going thru puberty or not is irrelevant to the enjoyment of the movie. I don’t watch this movie and neither do most people thinking about Greg’s visual status. It’s the story, the plotlines, the dialogue, the mannerisms,etc. and the rollercoaster ride these films take us on that have all the meaning. Gregs physical stature doesn’t make me like or dislike his role or the movie at all. I didn’t focus on the ages of the kids in Harry Potter and I don’t do it here.
The experiences Greg Heffley goes through, the “laugh out loud” comedy that emminates from these films is what I and most people enjoy about these movies. The hatred between Greg and Patty Farrel is hilarious and changes in depth through each movie and is so true to real life. You don’t like everyone who you meet and everyone has some form of arch enemy or nemisis,especially when you are growing up. This makes the movie believable and relatable for everyone. Having an older brother who is a creep to you is very real and in real life, that type of relationship goes through “ups and downs” connections and disconnections…that’s life!
My father didn’t spend much time with my brother and I as we were growing up. The ony time we really had his attention was on an Indian Guide campout or a Boy Scout event, then we got to have a moment of connection with him and that was the truth and reality of our lives, so I can related to these movies and so can most people on multiple levels. And that’s what makes them all the better! In today’s world, my own kids would, also, rather play video and gaming games all day, rather than play outside…get real people this is reality today for kids! Whoever thinks differently is on something.
There is nothing, not to like about this film. And if you go in to watch, expecting “The Godfather”, you are in the wrong movie theater. It is easy for reviewers to criticize personal experience films that they don’t understand. There aren’t any complex deep meanings meant to be dug up in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid films. That is not what these films are about. They are pure, wholesome, relatable fun films that anyone of any age can enjoy and relate to!
So unless you were born on another planet, there is so much to explore about ourselves and our connection to these movies that makes them just plain funny and enjoyable film entertainment. And those of us who let the real connections in, find a way to laugh at Wimpy Kid stories in a way that allows us to look back and laugh or cry about our own experiences relating to middle school, relationships, family dynamics, fathers and sons or daughters as we ourselves have navigated our way through life experiences and growing up.
I can’t recommend this movie enough. Take a moment out of the curernt insane world and go see the Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Dog Days and enjoy. It is a refreshing break from the trials and tribulations of today’s times. You will find yourself laughing “out loud” no matter what age you are. This is truely a fun and entertaining film experience, well worth the ticket price…
Dog Days
I thought it was cute they were close friends and didn’t want to lie to each other