The Daddy and The Doggie -- DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: DOG DAYS Movie Review

POTATO ON THE GO REVIEW (Movie):

We were kids once in our life but as we grow old, it's a mystery why we have become unfamiliar with the thoughts and actions we once entertained and hence get us disconnected with the new young ones. Is it because we now know how foolish we were?  :)  This is the thought that ran in my head while watching DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: DOG DAYS last August 11 at SM Megamall sponsored by 20th Century Fox.  The questions / reactions in my head were: Are kids really this bold right now? Did I do such things before?  Oh, the parents need to be extra vigilant!  :)

Based on the book by Jeff Kinney and directed by David Bowers, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: DOG DAYS  stars Zachary Gordon (Greg Heffley), Devon Bostick (Rodick Heffley), Rachel Harris (Susan Heffley), Robert Capron (Rowley Jefferson), Steve Zahn (Frank Heffley), Connor and Owen Fielding (Manny Heffley), Peyton List (Holly Hills), Karan Brar (Chirag Gupta), Grayson Russell (Fregley), Laine MacNeil (Patty Farrell) and Oliver the dog (Sweetie).

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID DOG DAYS is based on the book Jeff Kinney of the same title which is the third part of the movie and the book.  It features Greg Heffley, the so-called "Wimpy Kid" who faces the challenge of his environment while growing up.  During his summer vacation, Greg Heffley hatches a plan to pretend he has a job at a ritzy country club -- which fails to keep him away from the season's dog days, including embarrassing mishaps at a public pool and a camping trip that goes horribly wrong.

For this review, let me focus on the story, screenplay and humor as they are the selling point (besides the stars and its literary value) of the movie. 

To be honest, at the start, I both enjoyed and feared the movie.  Enjoyed because it's really fun seeing these kids go through the adventures of their life and the hilarious situations they got into.  It brought back memories of my childhood.  Afraid because, since it's a G, people of all ages can see it, even young kids, and I don't know how they will react or get influenced by the plot.  I first thought, are the characters too liberal for the Filipino audience?  Will the kids be as bold as the characters to follow their adventures and misadventures?

But as mentioned, I said the movie brought back some childhood memories.  And as I was watching the film, I remembered that I became bold, and foolish, once too, :)  just like Gregg, his brother Rodrick, his best friend Rowley and the rest of his gang.  It was summer and while they have nothing to do, or they don't agree on what their parents want them to do, they thought and did of all the crazy things in the world to enjoy their vacation.  And from a spectators' point of view, a lot of them were hilarious!!! Many of us who were watching the film were giggling about the odd situations they've been through.

But I guess, doing the crazy stuff  is part of life's process.  That's how a kid can explore, learn and grow up.  Of course this is not to encourage foolishness but sometimes, but to open the eyes of adults that raising kids and understanding them is not a one way process or a single method approach.  And this also makes us realize how to properly guide them.  On the other hand, it also opens the eyes of kids how their life's choices can affect not just the lives of the people around but of themselves as well.

I guess, although the movie is a G, it's best that parents watch it with the kids so they can laugh with their children and share the lessons of the movie.  

Without a doubt, the same cast who were in the previous Wimpy Kid movies, including the new ones, were awesome, entertaining and lovable.

I just wish someday, just like in Rodrick Rules, Greg can have another upper hand with his arch enemy  Patty Farrell (Laine MacNeil)!  Goodness, she's so effective that I want to secretly put pepper in her drink and see her breath fire!  Haha :D  Oooops, sorry, I got carried away!  :D

Another thing I want to comment on is the title.  I know it's based from the book of the same title.  But from what I see in the story, it's not really about DOG DAYS, but DADDY DAYS!  This sequel is really more about the father and son discovering each other, and bonding together.  But of course, DOG DAYS is much caller, so why not DAD & DOG DAYS? :)

So I guess that's it.  It's a fun and cool movie but you'll get more than just a roll of laughter.  It's for the kids, it's for the family, it's for both book and movie lovers, it's for people who stay young through the years hehe. From a scale of 1 to 10 claps, I'm giving DOG DAYS a 7 with dog barks! :)  From 20th Century Fox, DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: DOG DAYS opens in theaters starting August 15!

And that has been the TaDi way!  Have a good day!  :)