Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Rodrick Rules (2011)
Average Rating: 5.3/10
Reviews Counted: 95
Fresh: 45 | Rotten: 50
Moderately witty and acceptably acted, Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2 isn't much worse than the first installment.
Average Rating: 5.2/10
Critic Reviews: 26
Fresh: 11 | Rotten: 15
Moderately witty and acceptably acted, Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2 isn't much worse than the first installment.
liked it
Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 31,320
Movie Info
In this sequel to 2010's surprise hit, Greg Heffley, the kid who made "wimpy" cool is back in an all-new family comedy based on the best-selling follow-up novel by Jeff Kinney. (Kinney's Wimpy Kid series has thus far sold 42 million books.) As he begins seventh grade, Greg and his older brother - and chief tormentor - Rodrick must deal with their parents' misguided attempts to have them bond. -- (C) Fox
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Cast
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Zachary Gordon
Greg Heffley -
Devon Bostick
Rodrick Heffley -
Rachael Harris
Susan Heffley -
Robert Capron
Rowley Jefferson -
Steve Zahn
Frank Heffley -
Grayson Russell
Fregley -
Karan Brar
Chirag Gupta -
Laine MacNeil
Patty Farrell -
Peyton R. List
Holly Hillis -
Jeff Kinney
Holly's Dad
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All Critics (95) | Top Critics (26) | Fresh (45) | Rotten (50) | DVD (4)
Most of the kids continue to irritate and, for a comedy aimed at youngsters, the laughs are woefully scarce.
Top CriticThe Diary of a Wimpy Kid series might more aptly be titled Diary of a Wimpy Family.. The film sequel is more engaging than the original was because it spends more time at home.
The physical comedy will have the typical 10-year-old and some grown-ups cackling with glee.
As portrayed by Zachary Gordon, Greg lacks ... charm and spontaneity ... No real sparks of mischievousness or bone-deep embarrassment or endearing flush of affection light this kid up.
The problem doesn't really lie in the acting but in the writing. There's too much effort expended on making the kids cute and cuddly, instead of plausible.
Seventh-graders are far cooler and more anarchic than depicted in this often-dopey movie, which is aimed at more of a fourth-grade sensibility.
Apparently seventh grade doesn't pack as much potential for amusing, scarred-for-life trauma as sixth grade.
The pre-teen cast seems rudderless, without an interested hand guiding them into worthwhile comedic performances.
I'm not asking for Citizen Kane here, but just a wisp of expansion to the characters, an actual narrative that the film can walk down, or just some sort of ambition to the whole project would not have gone amiss.
Maintains the good-natured, playful and zany spirit that made that first movie one of the better non-fantasy-related kid films out there.
A colourful, good-hearted romp with some memorable set-pieces and decent lines, crisply directed by David Bowers.
It's an episodic film, rather less interesting than its British director David Bowers's earlier work as an animator in Britain and America.
Essentially a feature-length sitcom episode, but it's often laugh-out-loud funny, and it respects its young audience.
A U-certificate adventure that all of the family can enjoy together, with some cute little bits of animation thrown in for good measure.
For a family entertainment this isn't at all bad.
It is a bit of a stretch at an hour and forty, but nonetheless this is great fun and a strong opener for the summer's family movie season.
There are momentary shafts of something like wit within this slightly bland mix...
I am giving this film four out of five stars because they made some changes to the storyline, but it is still awesome.
More entertaining than its lacklustre predecessor but has the feel of a straight-to-DVD film.
Greg's screen adventures are too sketchy (hampered by their diary-format origins) and the acting too patchy (hands-up Steve Zahn's cartoony dad) for the film to be any more than a passable half-term diversion.
Not every sequel is a cynical rip-off of innocent moviegoers, and here's the welcome proof.
Funnier and faster than its charming predecessor.
If you think that people falling over is hilarious - and let's face it, most kids do - then you'll love this film.
A release aimed at the half-term crowd, but accompanying adults will find plenty to enjoy, too.
Feels more heartfelt, funnier, and a little less gross than the first film last year.
An entertaining movie that's almost old-fashioned in its innate ability to charm.
Audience Reviews for Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Rodrick Rules
Super Reviewer
Focusing this time on the relationship between main kid Greg Heffley, played wonderfully like the first, by Zachary Gordon, and his older brother Rodrick, played exceptionally by Devon Bostick, the two brothers begin to bond despite their differences.
And straight out of the starting gate the film takes the path of a more adult, and a certainly more impressive motion picture. For adults and older kids. However, for younger children, the main focus of the audience, it dawdles and loses much of the slapstick and gag centred comedy of the first.
The cast however do not let down, with excellent performances from Zachary Gordon and especially Devon Bostick, who really shines throughout the ninety minutes. Steve Zahn and Rachael Harris, as the parents again, make short but as usual great addition to the film.
The story is interesting enough, with many different parts and sketches throughout. But it still keeps a certain more linear style of sophistication with its choice of storytelling and narrative this time round.
But that sophistication does bear the risk of alienating its original half term style audience. It probably does, in certain sections, but overall, maintains a good balance between the more classier comedy and the slapstick and gags of the first, creating a fun, and definitely all round piece of family film.
Super Reviewer
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- Rodrick Heffley: Don't be good at something you don't want to do.
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- Rowley Jefferson: Wow, she's prettier than my mom.
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- Rowley Jefferson: A note, do you want me to spell check it.
- Greg Heffley: Just pass it to Holly.
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- Greg Heffley: [scared from movie]
- Rowley Jefferson: [scared from movie]
- Rowley Jefferson: I wish we watched Andy's Magic Cushion.
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- Greg Heffley: [to Rodrick] what are you doing here?
- Rodrick Heffley: Mom said she'd pay me Mom Bucks to give you a ride home.
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- Frank Heffley: USE CLEAN RAGS!
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Movie: ID: 771202932 Title: Diary of a Wimpy Kid 2: Rodrick Rules Release Date: 2011-03-25 00:00:00.0 MPAA: 2 Status: 1
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Foreign Titles
- Gregs Tagebuch 2 - Gibt's Probleme? (DE)
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (UK)
