There are two movie reviewers who I find reliable and helpful: Jeff Vice and Eric Snider. I always agree with them. I choose only to see movies they really like. That said, I LOVED Diary of a Wimpy Kid.
Had I read reviews before spontaneously taking my kids to see Diary of a Wimpy Kid yesterday I probably wouldn't have gone. I hate sitting through a bad movie and kids' movies are no exception. Seeing a dumb cartoon with my kids because they really want to is just not one of the sacrifices of parenthood I'm prepared to make. (That's why I'll never see Squequel.) Life's too short, people.
The first day of spring break we saw How to Train your Dragon. That movie has gotten great reviews and I have to admit that reading the reviews beforehand primed me to like it. It is good. I did like it. The voices, in particular, are quite well-done and the story is compelling. I enjoy a good taming sequence just like I enjoy a good make-over sequence.
The next day we saw Diary of a Wimpy Kid and I loved it. We've read all the books. They are hands down the funniest books I've ever read. I mean, they are genuinely funny. And the movie is funny and well-done, too. I really think it's good. But it's gotten bad reviews and is criticized for the dumb, low, bathroom humor. This hurts my feelings. I laughed out loud through the whole thing and I pride myself on my tasteful, smart sense of humor! Critics say the main character, Greg, is unlikeable. But how do you portray an authentic 7th grade boy without making him unlikeable? And I mean that in the best way. (My son is in 7th grade so I know whereof I speak.) I think Greg is not only likable but entirely lovable. One way of negotiating childhood and Middle School in particular is to adopt some jerk-like qualities: cheating, lying, blowing off unpopular friends, over-confidence, self-importance, trying too hard, etc. He does the right thing in the end. What more could you ask for? And every character, though perhaps a cliche, has an exact dead-on correspondent in my son's real life, which makes it all even funnier.
So, for what it's worth I give both these movies a thumbs up.
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I also loved this movie. You have great taste. I felt like I was the only one in the theatre laughing my butt of. My husband and I saw it on a date and then I had to take the kids. It was just as funny the 2nd time!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite was the Mommy Sweetheart dance sequence.
Good point on the seventh grade boy syndrome. I feel the same way about girls from grade eight to ten. Yikes! When my sunday school kids misbehave I always tell them, "That's okay, you can't help it, you're all just horrible monsters."
ReplyDeleteSo. I guess I will be seeing this movie with my 33 year old husband is what I am saying.
YES! We're also big Wimpy Kid book fans around here and saw this opening weekend... which is a rarity for us. Best movie I've seen in a long time. HI-LAR-I-OUS! They got all the characters just right.
ReplyDeleteI've got a high-schooler, two middle-schoolers and two elementary kids and they all laughed hard through the whole thing. My three-year-old wasn't invited. Can't wait to see it again.
We liked Wimpy Kid and LOVED the Dragon movie. I too will not see Squequels. I pay my teenagers to take the little guys. So worth it.
ReplyDeleteWell, well, well, look at this fancy new blog design! I like what you've done with it.
ReplyDeleteI'm guessing you didn't see "The Spy Next Door" with Jackie Chan. I've seen better acting in pornos. However I do draw the line at live-action-animated animals. No Squeakuel, G Force or Garfield, thankyouverymuch.
Just saw HTTYD today. I thought it was great! Makes me want to get a dragon for a pet. Do you foster those too?
ReplyDeleteInteresting. I adore Eric's reviews, and I don't like Jeff's. While they may agree on ratings, I just can't get in line with Jeff's style. I think I may have even told this to Eric. (No offense, Jeff, you're a nice guy. Just stop telling me to "be ready for a total surprise about two-thirds of the way into the movie.")
ReplyDeleteSaw Wimpy Kid with my kids this week also, I loved it - I embarrassed the preteen by laughing out loud too much. I was thinking while watching it "I'm gonna BUY this movie". Which means something if you know how cheap I am.
ReplyDeleteMy children are watching the Squeequel on DVD right this very minute as I read this. Horrible. I am so happy that someone as smart as you likes the Wimpy Kid books, since my tween sons have spent hours of their lives reading them over and over again. I was a little afraid of taking them to the movie -- little tolerance for kid movies -- but now I will. Thanks.
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