Review: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (U) ***

On general release

Think of an Americanised version of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole and, lo, I give you Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

This mostly harmless exploration of near-teen angst and sibling competitiveness has a whiff of the American Pie franchise via elder brother Rodrick, but with none of the risqué humour.

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Instead it’s a watered down portrait of what all children go through as their young hearts yearn for impossible love while they fend off older, cooler kids seeking to make their lives a misery.

Based on another of Jeff Kinney’s books, this one has brothers Greg and Rodrick Heffley (Zachary Gordon and Devon Bostick) thrown together when mom and dad head off for the weekend. Mom’s intention is to have her warring boys bond: if they’re pleasant to one another, she’ll reward them with Mom Dollars which, as Rodrick swiftly works out, can be turned into real moolah. Of course Rodrick wants Greg out of the way to throw a party. Naturally it all goes wrong and the brothers must work together to clean and cover up.

Brimming with mischief, this is a portrait of an America that doesn’t really exist except within the pages of Kinney’s books. Thankfully screenwriters Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah, with director David Bowers, have retained the essence of the books and the first film. This is how we’d like our children to experience life. They learn from their mistakes in a world where malice appears not to exist and the worst level of punishment is being barred from entering a talent competition.