‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul’ Examines Adolescent Struggles in the Digital Age

Sandra Miska

Being 12 years old has probably never been easy for anyone during any decade, but it is especially awkward in the digital era. This is proven in “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul,” the fourth installment of the film franchise based on the popular book series. Newcomer Jason Drucker takes on the role of Greg Heffley, the middle child in a family of three boys, including his aspiring rock star 16-year-old brother Rodrick  (Charlie Wright). Things get sticky for Greg during a family dinner at a local pizzeria during which his mom, Susan (Alicia Silverstone), sends him to fetch his toddler brother Manny (Dylan and Wyatt Walters) from a play structure. It’s in the ball pit where Greg gets a soiled diaper stuck to his hands, causing him to freak out and make a scene that causes other patrons to break out their camera phones, turning him into a viral sensation known as “Diaper Hands.” Now a laughing stock, Greg realizes his only chance at redemption is to appear in another viral video, and when he learns that YouTube star Mac Digby (Joshua Hoover) is going to be at a video game convention not far from his great-grandmother’s house, he hatches a plan. As one can imagine, hilarity and a slew of obstacles ensue.

To get to grandma’s (or “MeeMaw’s,” as they call her), Susan and dad Frank (Tom Everett Scott) plan a road trip with the motive of not only saving money on plane tickets but also to bond, as Frank’s overwhelming job has cost him quality family time. What the guys don’t see coming is Susan taking away all of their devices, as she is determined that this trip is an unplugged one. The action picks up once the family hits the road, with Greg and his older brother and dad finding clever ways to circumvent Mom’s “no devices” rule. Susan would rather they listen to CDs of her choosing—including the Spice Girls and an educational one that teaches Spanish, with the latter paying off in a hilarious way in the final scenes.

Greg manages to get Rodrick onboard for Player Con, as he needs money to fix his van and there is a drumming contest with a cash prize at the convention. After discovering the convention center isn’t as close to MeeMaw’s as they previously thought, the boys change the address in the GPS. However, this isn’t another film about kids outsmarting their parents to achieve glory. And while there are plenty of gross-out moments, director and co-writer David Bowers don’t rely too heavily on that kind of humor. He is hard on the family in different ways, throwing obstacle after obstacle in front of them, forcing them to work together. One of these obstacles is a gentleman known as Mr. Beardo (Chris Coppola), a fellow traveler who has it out for Greg.

Overall, “Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul” delivers a positive message about the importance of working as a family—without being overtly cheesy. The cast is charming— especially Silverstone, who exudes maternal warmth.

“Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul” opens May 19 nationwide.