Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul Blu-ray Review

The Blu-ray presentation of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul" from 20th Century Fox Home Entertainment offers an AVC encoded 1080p transfer in the original 2.39:1 aspect ratio. The digital capture results in a bright and extremely colorful image, maintaining excellent fine detail in various outdoor scenes that dominate the film. The natural lighting in these outdoor sequences supports the rich detail levels, and the candy-coated color palette is vividly rendered with well-saturated hues, especially noticeable in bright pinks and purples. While there is a slight drop in detail during some panoramic wide shots, particularly those that have been digitally enhanced for special effects, these instances do not detract significantly from the overall video quality.

The sharpness and clarity of the transfer are akin to those seen in high-quality television sitcoms, with rich and accurate color reproduction and believable skin tones. Various scenes feature animated interstitials that showcase Kinney's distinctive drawing style; these segments exhibit excellent line detail and sharp delineation in their black-and-white imagery. Contrast has been meticulously applied throughout, ensuring a first-rate viewing experience with expertly balanced brightness and shadow details. The movie is segmented into 24 chapters, facilitating easy navigation through the vibrant and engaging visual landscape presented on this Blu-ray release.

The DTS-HD Master Audio 7.1 mix for "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul" offers a dynamic auditory experience, characterized by substantial surround activity and immersive ambient environmental sounds. The mix excels in scenes involving raucous crowds and sequences loaded with mishaps, enhancing the overall viewer experience. Dialogue delivery is consistently clear, prioritizing the center channel to maintain focus and clarity. Each element, from directional dialogue to ambient sounds, is meticulously crafted, showcasing excellent fidelity.

However, while the mix features strong immersion thanks to well-placed atmospheric effects and directional audio, it sporadically underutilizes the full soundfield, particularly in scenes laden with action and disasters. Edward Shearmur’s background score and select hip-hop tracks benefit immensely from the 7.1 channels, providing the most engaging moments of surround sound activity. Overall, despite some room for greater exploitation of the full soundfield, the audio mix offers a commendable level of engagement and precision.

The extras on the Blu-ray for "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul" offer a comprehensive and engaging look into the making of the film, its characters, and the Wimpy Kid franchise. The behind-the-scenes featurettes, insightful interviews with the cast and crew, and creative sessions by Jeff Kinney provide depth and context that enhances the viewing experience. Fans will find delight in interactive segments like drawing tutorials and road games that blend seamlessly with the film's themes. Additionally, the inclusion of deleted scenes, bloopers, and location showcases add a layer of fun and exploration to the disc.

Extras included in this disc:

• Making a Scene: Behind-the-scenes discussions on three key sequences.
• Greg Heffley's 10 Rules for the Perfect Road Trip: Tips for an ideal road trip interspersed with movie clips.
• Road Games: Real games narrated by Jason Drucker for family trips.
• Learn to Draw: Jeff Kinney’s drawing instructions for five characters.
• A Decade of Wimpy Fun: A look back at the franchise's history.
• Deleted Scenes and Bloopers: Combined montage of cut content.
• Deleted Animation: Two short, separate scenes.
• Haulin' Through Georgia: Insights into filming locations.
• Gallery: Stills and behind-the-scenes shots.
• Theatrical Trailer: Official film trailer.

The transition between actors and the five-year gap since "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days" has significantly impacted the series in "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul". Despite being set just a year after the last film, the entire cast is new. Zachary Gordon is replaced by Jason Drucker as Greg Heffley, with Alicia Silverstone and Tom Everett Scott joining as the new parental figures. While the actors competently fill their roles, they do little to leave a memorable impression. The screenplay, although co-written by Jeff Kinney, struggles to replicate the sophisticated deadpan humor of the books, resulting in something akin to a rudimentary family sitcom. Children will likely find the slapstick and goofball comedy entertaining, but older audiences may feel it falls flat.

The film’s plot revolves around a road trip that echoes "National Lampoon's Vacation" but with less creativity. Greg's viral video gaffe involving a used diaper sets off a series of misadventures, including a no-device decree from his mother and a subplot involving sneaking off to an electronic expo. Silly antics ensue as the Heffley family encounters various outlandish scenarios dished out with lowbrow humor, including seagull attacks, mud baths, and bathroom jokes. Unfortunately, even these setups often seem predictable and fall short of delivering substantial laughs. The presence of "The Beardos", an antagonistic hillbilly-like family encountered repeatedly on their journey, exemplifies the film’s desperate grasp for humor.

Director David Bowers' attempts to inject cinematic flair with references to Hitchcock’s classics feel superficial. The film, teeming with banal slapstick and redundant comedic devices, rarely rises above mediocrity. Brief respite comes through scenes involving a piglet and minor characters offering fleeting amusement. Ultimately, despite Drucker’s earnest performance and sporadic cute moments, "The Long Haul" leans heavily into juvenile antics that might entertain younger viewers but leaves little for others to appreciate.

"Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul" delivers an energetic but largely juvenile experience that struggles to maintain its comedic momentum. While the film occasionally features inventive sequences—such as its tribute to Hitchcock's "Psycho"—these moments are overshadowed by an overreliance on potty humor that quickly wears thin. The cast’s spirited performances aim to compensate for a lackluster screenplay, resulting in exaggerated antics that may entertain very young viewers but fail to engage older audiences.

Technically, the Blu-ray release excels. Picture quality is clean and detailed, revealing the film's vibrant color palette and dynamic range. Audio clarity is consistently robust, with a well-balanced soundtrack that immerses viewers in the onscreen action without overwhelming dialogue. The supplementary package includes behind-the-scenes features, deleted scenes, and a gag reel, offering additional content likely to appeal to the franchise's younger fans.

In conclusion, "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul" may captivate its intended demographic of younger children with its lively visual style and slapstick humor. However, the film’s repetitive comedic approach and weak narrative make it a less appealing watch for families as a whole. Despite its technical strengths and engaging extras, this installment represents a lesser entry in the Wimpy Kid series.