Quartile rating: 6.5/10 · 1 rating
Wimpy Greg Heffley, now in seventh grade, thinks he has it all together. He has mastered middle school and gotten rid of the Cheese Touch. However, Greg's older brother, Rodrick, is itching to cut him down to size. He gets the perfect opportunity when their mother tries to force the boys to bond. Rodrick may be Greg's chief tormentor, but he feels his constant pranks are just what his little brother needs to prepare him for life's hard knocks.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules is a competent but formulaic family comedy sequel. The sibling rivalry plot is well-worn territory executed without much surprise, and the film largely retreads the first entry's comedic beats with Rodrick as the new antagonist focal point. Acting from the young cast is charming enough and Devon Bostick brings energetic fun to Rodrick, lifting the film slightly above average in that category. Cinematography is functional and unremarkable, typical of studio family fare. Novelty is low given it's a straightforward sequel following a familiar formula. The ending wraps up the sibling bond arc in a predictable but satisfying enough way for its target audience.