This time I am going to start with "I liked it."  Not only did the movie stay true to the story: a young boy starting middle school stopping at nothing to try and be popular, but it also weaved in nicely the sketches that made the story so unique. 

Let's start with Zachary Gordon, the young man who played the main character Greg Heffley.  We all picture a character in our heads and for this one I heard a voice, a narrator to this diary I was reading and Gordon matched that voice perfectly.  The kid would do well in voice overs.

Then there's the mixing of animation with real-life.  I've always liked these movies especially when it's done well and this movie pulled it off.  It used the sketches as comic relief inserting them at the precise moment to ensure laughter.  My favorite was the popularity list and how Greg moved down the list as he did things that were uncool.  The movie did a good job using sketches from the book as well as creating some of their own.

I tried to remember my experience in middle school and have to admit most of my memories are buried, but I do remember the need to fit in and this story took a topic on most kids mind and gave it a spin.  It worked.

I will end with Rowley, the best friend of Greg and the kid not afraid to be himself.  Robert Capron was perfectly geeky and perfectly sweet you couldn't help to love the character.

Yup, I liked this movie.  Click here to visit the official movie website.