Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon) is starting middle school, and he is one of the smallest kids in his class.  He is trying everything he can to fit in, but he is just having a hard time.  On his first day, he doesn’t use the bathroom because there are no doors on the stalls and he has to eat lunch on the floor.  His best friend from grade school, Rowley, (Robert Capron) is no help either.  Rowley does not want to grow up, and says his mother wants him to just be himself, which is not really working for him or Greg.  Greg tries to find an activity that will make him fit in, so he picks wrestling, and he gets beat by the biggest nerd in school and a girl.  Greg is trying to turn Rowley into a cool kid so they can rule the school together.Greg also has an older brother, Rodrick (Devon Bostick) who just terrorizes him and a younger brother, Manny (Connor and Owen Fielding) who gets everything he wants.  This film also stars Rachael Harris and  Steve Zahn as Greg’s parents.  As the year goes on, Rowley seems to be finding all the attention that Greg wants, which ends up with them losing their friendship.  Greg has a a difficult time finding a new friend and realizes how much he misses Rowley.  Will they become friends again?  Will Greg make it in the yearbook?

Diary of a Wimpy Kid is based on the novel series written by Jeff Kinney.  I know that a lot of students 3-5 grade in my school where I teach at love this series, so I thought I would see what all the hype was about.  Even though I didn’t read the novels, I thought the movie was cute.  I think a lot of younger kids would like this film with all of its silly scenes, like being chased during trick or treating and throwing apples to ruin a school play.  I would not say that this film has been one of my favorite kids’ films, but I think most kids between the ages of 6 and 10 will enjoy it.