Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw Parent Guide

Greg Heffley (Aaron D. Harris) has a knack for leaving destruction wherever he goes. His unfortunate mix of bad luck and clumsiness tends to get him in trouble, and his propensity for cutting corners doesn’t help either. Fed up with Greg’s antics, his dad (Chris Diamantopoulos) threatens to send him to military boarding school unless he can get his act together, and soon. To demonstrate his newfound responsibility, Greg joins the Woodchippers and vows to earn every badge before the military school registration deadline - but getting your act together is easier said than done.

Disney+’s animated Wimpy Kid adaptations are notable for their consistency. The streaming giant has released four to date, and I haven’t disliked any of them. The short films are well written, contain simple but sweet messages, and have a few good laughs. I really can’t complain, and my Wimpy Kid-obsessed nine-year-old won’t either. This particular entry, Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw, focuses on Greg’s relationship with his dad, Frank. Both Greg and Frank are well-developed characters with strengths and weaknesses, and their relationship is complicated in a realistic but kid friendly way. It’s a surprisingly thoughtful examination of a father-son relationship that teaches viewers the value of hard work, persistence, communication, and teamwork.

This is obviously a made-for-streaming film, so it’s not groundbreaking, but the production does exactly what it sets out to do: give kids a few laughs and leave them with something to think about. There is very little in the way of negative content, aside from some slapstick antics in a similar vein to the other entries in the series, making this a good choice for most audiences. Adults won’t find it particularly stimulating, but the intended elementary school aged audience is sure to enjoy it.