Diary Of A Wimpy Kid 2: Roderick Rules

This second adaptation of US author Jeff Kinney’s series of cartoon novellas is a little more coherent and tolerable than the first, but still plays like an observational channel-Z sitcom. As before, Kinney’s simplistic drawings are arbitrarily superimposed over some of the live-action scenes but do little to enhance what scant story there is. The first film centred on the crisis of confidence experienced by Zachary Gordon’s nerdy middle-school pupil, Greg; this covers his ongoing conflict with his bullying, wannabe-rockstar brother Rodrick (Devon Bostick) and his yearnings for empty-headed schoolmate Holly (Peyton List). Most of the kids continue to irritate and, for a comedy aimed at youngsters, the laughs are woefully scarce.