Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days

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Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days is the third and latest big screen installment of author Jeff Kinney’s wildly popular series of illustrated novels about wise-cracking but hapless middle school student Greg Heffley (Zachary Gordon). As Greg confides to his diary (though, as he likes to point out, “It’s NOT a diary, it’s a journal!”), middle school is “the dumbest idea ever invented,” a never-ending ordeal involving – among other appalling things – wedgies, bullies, morons and swirlies. And if you don’t know what a swirly is, then lucky you.

Returning with Zachary Gordon for more mayhem in the community are his brother Rodrick (Devon Bostick) who’s older but not wiser and his best friend Rowley (Robert Capron) whose wholesome outlook in life makes him the coolest kid around along with Fregley (Grayson Russell), Holly (Peyton List), Patty (Laine MacNeil) and Chirag (Karan Brar).

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days is based on Kinney’s third and fourth Wimpy Kid books, The Last Straw and Dog Days. Kinney, who worked closely with the screenwriters, producers and director, says, “We have an obligation to our readers, to make sure we’re protecting their expectations and don’t stray too far from the books.”

Zachary’s Greg still plays off his friends, including Rowley, and troublemaker older brother Rodrick, but Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days also sees Greg spending more time with his dad, Frank. Jacobson notes: “This movie is about Greg and his father, and we get a much fuller sense of who Frank is as a character and more of an opportunity to enjoy Steve Zahn, who’s played the role in all three pictures. And, while we’ve had the amazing comedic weapon that is Steve in our arsenal all along, it’s great to finally let it loose.” Kinney says, “In the books, the parents are kind of background characters; Greg doesn’t even know what his father does for a living. But Steve has done wonders with the Frank character, and adds humor to everything he does.” Rachael Harris adds, “There are some very laugh-out-loud slapsticky things Steve does that nobody can do better.”

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days opens August 15 in theaters from 20th Century Fox to be distributed by Warner Bros..