Bullying/violence: There is not much violence to be found in the film, but one girl does keep serving tennis balls at a boy. The two hate each other, and so there is some animosity. Two older kids bully their younger siblings into doing things they do not want to do.
Message: At first the message of this film is not very apparent, but then it hits you in the face when a quote from Albert Einstein is used that says, “The man who has never made a mistake never tried anything.” This is a good film to see with your kids.
Something to do: If you do see this film with your kids, talk about it. They may have questions about making mistakes and what the consequences could be.
This version of the “Wimpy Kid” franchise may seem overly simplified, but it is intended for kids. There are some universal themes in the film that make it a good film for a 7-plus audience. Kids younger than 7 will enjoy the slapstick comedy in the film, but they may not understand everything that is going on.
Shawn O'Neill is the Family Man Movie Reviewer on BYU Radio. His reviews can be heard on BYURadio.org and on SiriusXM Channel 143.