This is the third film in the franchise about a nerdy kid and his experiences in life. Zachary Gordon plays the lead character Greg Heffley. School is out for summer. All Greg wants to do is play video games, get to know the girl he likes from school Holly (played by Peyton List), and maybe play video games with her. Greg's dad Frank (played by Steve Zahn) insists Frank do outside things.
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The family goes to the public pool for crowded opening day. Greg hates being in the water because all the little kids pee in it including Greg's little brother, Manny who tells him he is smiling because he is peeing in the pool. Then Greg's father takes him fishing, which does not go so well when Greg is startled when he opens the bait sees it is full of live worms, and then throws them in the water. Greg's friend Rowley Jefferson (played by Robert Capron) invites him to the country club. Greg sees the girl he likes, Holly, at the country club playing tennis.
When Greg's dad tells him, he got his son an intern job at his work, Greg lies saying he got a job at the country club. Greg goes to the country club every day to hang out with Holly pretending to go to work. His dad is proud of him for getting a job until he drops him off at "work", in the process finding out that Greg has only been hanging out at the country club as well as running up a big bill on the Rowley's father's account that Greg dad has to pay for.
Greg's dad gets the family a dog to teach his son responsibility. When the mom goes out, she tells them to watch over the dinner that is cooking. The dog steals the toddler, Manny's blanket. In an effort to retrieve it, using the pot roast as bait, Greg loses the pot roast to the dog who slobbers all over it. The mom comes back so they wash the dog slobber off the pot roast. Greg and his dad do not eat it at dinner but Greg's idiot older brother Rodrick (played by Devon Bostick) thinks it is delicious. Rodrick has a crush on Holly's older sister Heather (played by Melissa Roxburgh). Rodrick plays in a band called "Loded Diper." To impress his brother Greg gets Heather to agree to let the band play at her sweet-sixteen party.
Greg's dad gets him to join the wilderness explorers with him so they can go on a camping adventure. Greg is worried that his father will send him to a prep school for bad kids, so he tries to impress his father when they go camping. His father has a rivalry with another troupe leader that is their neighbor. Greg makes a plan to prank the other troupe, which backfires. Greg admits it was his plan when it goes wrong. Instead of being angry his father likes that Greg stood up admitting what he did.
At the sweet-sixteen party, the band of Greg's brother Rodrick is terrible. Rodrick cannot sing very well. The band's theatrics cause the destruction of the party. This blows the chances for Rodrick with Heather. Heather is so mean to her younger sister, Holly. Holly thinks the destruction of the sweet sixteen parties is hilarious. In the end, Greg gets to spend the summer with Holly, as he wanted. They hang out together at the municipal swimming pool.
Best part of story, including ending:
It is a good family film about summer with a lot of amusing moments.
Best scene in story:
I like the scene at the sweet-sixteen party when the rock band plays a terrible punk-like version of the Justin Bieber song entitled "Baby." It is performed so badly, it is funny.
Opinion about the main character:
He seems to always get into trouble without intending to, which makes the character very likable.
Greg Heffley wants to spend the summer before eighth grade playing video games and try to get closer to his crush Holly Hills. The plan of his summer is quickly is shut down because, his dad decides to get rid of video games from the house. Greg's dad schedules plenty of fishing trips and signs Greg up for boy scouts. Greg gets lucky when his friend Rowley invites him to go to his family's country club, where his crush works as a tennis instructor. He sees this as an opportunity to get close to her.
Greg lies about working at the country club to avoid hanging out with his dad. His older brother sees this as an opportunity to get Greg in trouble.
Best part of story, including ending:
I liked that the director made this very realistic, like any other kids summer.
Best scene in story:
My favorite scene was when Greg first arrived at the country club for the first time. It was funny when he saw his crush.
Opinion about the main character:
I liked that he would do anything to get to Holly, which made the movie interesting.
