Diaries of a Wimpy Kid

M: This is a pretty fun movie about a kid making his way through middle school. I liked it. The boy and his friend were both very likable. The parents were funny. The brother was a bit over the top but funny. The "cheese touch" was a funny touch. I didn't really care for the overly mean bullies and the overly wise newspaper girl. Otherwise, it is a fun show. 3 stars

V: This had a lot of originality. The main kid was an anti-hero, which is perfect for a kid this age - (weren't we all unacceptable human beings in middle school?) He's insecure and trying to succeed by being anyone but himself. His best friend, a chubby, cheesy boy who professes his admiration for his mother openly is great. He ends up being liked because he's himself. I thought they mixed in the graphic novel sketches well. It was cute. And I'm glad not to be in junior high anymore. 3 stars

Take a Chance

M: This is another in the series of Mormon movies. But, although it has all the same actors as the other Mormon movies, and although it is clearly filmed in Provo, Utah, the characters in the movie aren't Mormon. Or, at least, it is pretty vague. I guess they hoped to expand the viewer base. Whatever. It made it a bit weird. So, two guys from Texas meet a guy from Idaho who looks like a missionary. Texas guy falls in love with Idaho guy's sister after looking at a picture of her. So he goes to Idaho and pretends to be an exchange student to meet her. Pretty funny. Not great, but good. I liked the main guy and the main girl. The story was tough to buy, and I didn't care for some of the secondary characters. 2 1/2 stars

V: It was pretty cute. Both the main guy actors were fun. One problem was that a girl who tells this guy that she'll help coach him so he can successfully woo her roommate gets mad at him because, and I quote, "You were just using me to get to her!" Uh, yeah, that was your plan. So a tighter script there would have been good. But, it was still pretty enjoyable. 2 1/2 stars