‘Diary of a Wimpy Kid’

Time to get in touch with your inner wimp.

It's easy. All you have to do is surrender to "Diary of a Wimpy Kid's" impish charm.

Based on Jeff Kinney's illustrated novel detailing the misadventures of a middle-school misfit, "Wimpy Kid" serves up endearing child's play.

OK, so 18- to 24-year-old males who are deeply into raunch 'n' roll might not be amused -- unless, of course, they're distracted by the mild antics of the title character's pesky older brother.

But for kids and their parents, this "Wimpy Kid" likely will stir hopes and dreams for the youngsters and rueful memories of past coming-of-age disasters for those who have survived one of the planet's most daunting rites of passage: sixth grade.

As one of "Wimpy Kid's" sardonic observers notes, middle school represents the rocky, raging-hormone transition between childhood and teendom. (Or, as that fondly remembered small-screen exercise in baby boomer nostalgia titled it, "The Wonder Years.")

Not that the hero of our tale, Greg Heffley (embodied by irresistible smarty-pants Zachary Gordon), wonders much about anything.

He already thinks he knows it all.

Well, school is for learning -- and Greg's about to learn some painful (and painfully funny) lessons as he embarks on his pivotal sixth-grade year.

Like most kids, he's determined to be a standout -- desperate to fit in, and stand out, as the smartest, most popular, most talented kid in school.

Alas, a variety of impediments to instant acceptance pop up -- from his delayed growth spurt (he's the second-shortest kid in school) to his best friend, Rowley Jefferson (genial Robert Capron).

Cheerfully rotund and terminally nerdy, Rowley's utterly oblivious to anything remotely resembling a cool factor. As his mother assures him, all he has to do is be himself and people will like him.

But Greg knows better. (Or at least he thinks he does.)

So he embarks on a campaign to prove his exceptional exceptionalness, whether it's in the wrestling ring or onstage, as a singing tree in the school production of "The Wonderful Wizard of Oz." Greg may have a lovely singing voice, but the only role in his range is Dorothy -- and that part's been hijacked by his nemesis, the lethally snotty Patty Ferrell (Laine MacNeil), who's been beating up Greg since kindergarten.

In fact, the only person even more obnoxious than Patty may be Greg's teenage brother Rodrick (a hilariously dim Devon Bostick), who's much better at tormenting Greg than playing drums in his wannabe rock band.

As for the rest of the family, Greg's mom ("Reno 911's" perky Rachael Harris) is the resident island of sanity. Especially compared to dear old dad (eternal goofball Steve Zahn), who was probably just like Greg when he was in sixth grade -- and hasn't matured much since.

Working from Kinney's novel, two veteran TV writing teams ("The New Adventures of Old Christine's" Jackie and Jeff Filgo and "Freaks and Geeks' " Jeff Judah and Gabe Sachs) create a pleasantly timeless world, one with plenty of room for Halloween pranks, playground superstitions, strained friendships and desperate ploys for popularity. Not to mention the inevitable gross-outs, from boogers to a legendarily rancid piece of cheese that casts a peculiarly potent spell on anyone clueless enough to touch it.

Director Thor Freudenthal ("Hotel for Dogs") shows off his animation background, inventively integrating the live action with lively animated sequences that bring Kinney's witty drawings to life.

Freudenthal also maintains an easygoing pace (a bit too easygoing at times), reassuringly conveying the knowledge that this too shall pass, even if Greg doesn't realize it at the time.

And if "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" occasionally wimps out by sidestepping the nastier aspects of growing up, it's reassuring to realize that there's still a place in this world -- and on the screen -- for wimpy kids of all ages.

Contact movie critic Carol Cling at ccling@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0272.