Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever is a great way to get in the holiday mood, featuring both naughty and nice twists!
The Wimpy Kid books are a staple in many households, and they have since crossed over to live action and animated films. The newest animated one is here just in time for the holiday season, and is sure to get fans of all ages in the Christmas spirit! Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever is not only hilarious, it is filled with both naughty and nice twists.
This animated, one-hour-long, movie, takes place during the winter holidays, which are turning out to be especially stressful for Greg Heffley. After accidentally damaging a snowplow while making a snowman with best friend Rowley Jefferson, Greg worries he won’t get the new video game console he so desperately wants for Christmas.
As if that was bad enough, he gets snowed in with his family, including his grumpy older brother Rodrick and annoying younger brother Manny. To top it all off, his mother has found Santa’s helper, Elfriendo, who has one job — to watch the boys and make sure that they are being good, and he is willing to report back to Santa.
While there are a lot of similarities to the Wimpy Kid book by the same name, some things had to be changed in order to work on screen. The best part about this is that it feels like you are getting a little bit of a new story, allowing there to be surprises for even the biggest Wimpy Kid fans.
The story itself is a lot of fun. Greg always knows how to keep viewers entertained as he walks the line of being quite self absorbed, but also being a likable character. This time around we really get to see the family dynamic, and dive more into that, which is appreciated. In the previous two films we, of course, have gotten to know the Heffleys, but the first one is the school story, the second is the brother story, and this one is very much the family story.
What better way to tie in a family story than to make it about the holidays. We don’t want to get into spoilers too much, but it is wonderful to see everyone come together to protect one of their own. It is also nice to have a positive message for the little ones watching about doing the right thing, even when you really don’t have to.
There are new voice actors stepping into the roles as well, with Wesley Kimmel taking over as Greg Heffley and Spencer Howell as Rowley. It could be that this is because the previous actors are just getting a little bit to old to play middle schoolers. Or, in the case of Brady Noon, chances are he is just getting a little bit too busy with his budding career.
Either way, it doesn’t effect the storytelling at all. There is not one moment where you think, that isn’t Greg, or that isn’t Rowley. So anyone who was nervous about it, have no fear, it really isn’t obvious or distracting. The new voice actors, in fact, do a wonderful and believable job as these characters.
Overall, Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever is a lot of fun. Getting to see this world from the books come to life in animated form never gets old. The hour long runtime makes it the perfect holiday special to put into your rotation year after year.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever is now streaming on Disney+.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
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About Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever
The winter holidays are turning out to be especially stressful for Greg Heffley this year. After accidentally damaging a snowplow while making a snowman with best friend Rowley Jefferson, Greg worries he won’t get the new video game console he so desperately wants for Christmas. To make matters worse, he gets snowed in with his family, including his grumpy older brother Rodrick and annoying younger brother Manny.
Get ready for the naughtiest, nicest, and wimpiest Christmas ever.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid Christmas: Cabin Fever is streaming now on Disney+.
