Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules is the animated adaptation of the book and the existing live-action film.
The film is about Greg Heffley wanting to find ways to bond with Rodrick, even though he is a bad role-model to him and isn't always the brightest of people. When Rodrick throws a party and Greg promises that he will not tell his Mom or Dad about it, Rodrick showcases him his own rules of how to go through in life, which includes a visit to Leisure Towers, and a winter talent show as well.
The main problem I have with the movie is that like with the animated adaptation of the first book, the movie doesn't make you feel all that excited if you've read the book, it just throws together scenes without any excitement whatsoever. The live-action movie did a better job at this because you don't expect to see the impossible happen in that. There are a few notable scenes I would say are random, like when Greg plays Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" on a gramophone to get rid of Rodrick's friends, which I think is meant to be based on a scene where Greg's Dad plays classical music to get rid of some teenagers in the book version. The "Peeping Tom" scene was quite humorous and the chase sequence, while uninspiring as it's been seen before in other movies, was entertaining to watch seeing the Leisure Towers ladies chasing Greg around.
As with the first animated movie, the characters are made to be more likeable, which still sorta takes away the character given to Greg, Rodrick, etc. Still, some may like this change, but some may not like it.
The voice acting is okay at best, not much to say there. You still have the cast from the previous movie playing their roles, but there are two notable additions here are Jimmy Tatro as Bill Walter, Rodrick's 35-year-old friend, and the late Ed Asner as Grampa Heffley. Both pretty interesting additions to the animated cast, and may Ed Asner rest in peace.
The animation is once again the same outsourced CGI from Bardel Entertainment, so it's pretty bland at times. It has improved a tiny bit, but barely noticeable.
Overall, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules is just an okay film. The main fact that it takes things away and simplifies some of the storyline much like the first animated adaptation says something, but at the same time it is still an entertaining movie to watch.
The film is about Greg Heffley wanting to find ways to bond with Rodrick, even though he is a bad role-model to him and isn't always the brightest of people. When Rodrick throws a party and Greg promises that he will not tell his Mom or Dad about it, Rodrick showcases him his own rules of how to go through in life, which includes a visit to Leisure Towers, and a winter talent show as well.
The main problem I have with the movie is that like with the animated adaptation of the first book, the movie doesn't make you feel all that excited if you've read the book, it just throws together scenes without any excitement whatsoever. The live-action movie did a better job at this because you don't expect to see the impossible happen in that. There are a few notable scenes I would say are random, like when Greg plays Rick Astley's "Never Gonna Give You Up" on a gramophone to get rid of Rodrick's friends, which I think is meant to be based on a scene where Greg's Dad plays classical music to get rid of some teenagers in the book version. The "Peeping Tom" scene was quite humorous and the chase sequence, while uninspiring as it's been seen before in other movies, was entertaining to watch seeing the Leisure Towers ladies chasing Greg around.
As with the first animated movie, the characters are made to be more likeable, which still sorta takes away the character given to Greg, Rodrick, etc. Still, some may like this change, but some may not like it.
The voice acting is okay at best, not much to say there. You still have the cast from the previous movie playing their roles, but there are two notable additions here are Jimmy Tatro as Bill Walter, Rodrick's 35-year-old friend, and the late Ed Asner as Grampa Heffley. Both pretty interesting additions to the animated cast, and may Ed Asner rest in peace.
The animation is once again the same outsourced CGI from Bardel Entertainment, so it's pretty bland at times. It has improved a tiny bit, but barely noticeable.
Overall, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules is just an okay film. The main fact that it takes things away and simplifies some of the storyline much like the first animated adaptation says something, but at the same time it is still an entertaining movie to watch.