Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules is a realistic fiction novel by Jeff Kinney. It is the second book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. The book follows Greg's struggle with getting along with his older brother, Rodrick.[2] The sequel to the book is The Last Straw.[1]
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules was based on the FunBrain.com version where it was read 20 million times [3]. The hardcover was released on February 1st 2008.[4] Diary of a Wimpy Kid was named New York Times bestseller among awards and praise. A film of the same name released March 25, 2011.[5] The sequel to the film is Dog Days.[6]
Plot
At the start of the book, Greg explains how bad his summer was with his brother Rodrick, who knows a secret that Greg is trying to keep. When Greg returns to school, he finds out he still has the Cheese Touch, but he gets away with passing it on to a new kid, called Jeremy Pindle. Later, it is clear that Greg and Rodrick are always broke, so Mom starts a "Mom Bucks" program. Rodrick, at first, mismanages the money on his magazines, while Greg carefully manages the cash. Rodrick has an upcoming science project, and tells it that he would prefer to do it on 'Gravity', but clearly shows no effort, and asks his family members to do it for him. Rodrick later pretended to have the flu and Mom and Dad leave the house for 24 hours, Rodrick later called every friend he knows and has a party. Rodrick tells Greg to go to the basement to fetch some spare tables and chairs, Greg does not like the idea but since he hasn't seen a high school party before, he goes to the basement, however when Greg enters and the door locks, The party trashes the house. Greg and Rodrick clean the house but there is a sign on the inside of the bathroom on the door saying "Hi Rodrick!" They switch the doors with one in the furnace room (basement). Half a month later, Greg notices Rowley has play money identical to that of "Mom Bucks" and takes it home to put under his mattress. When Greg fails to do his history homework, he must borrow an assignment from Rodrick and pay him $20,000 in Mom Bucks. Unfortunately, Mom finds out about the stolen Mom Bucks when Rodrick tries to cash in the lot and she confiscates all of Greg’s Mom Bucks, including his real ones. After Thanksgiving, Rodrick's party is uncovered by a photo and he is grounded and. Greg is accused of being an 'accomplice' to Rodrick, and is banned from playing video games for being Rodrick's accomplice, even though he had been locked in the basement the whole time and had nothing to do with the party, much to Greg's dismay. Rodrick then starts preparing for the talent show, despite his punishment (he wasn't allowed to leave the house). Dad then ends his punishment two weeks early because he hated listening to Rodrick's band, Löded Diper, play every day. After Greg hurts Rowley by putting a dumbell in a pillow that Rowley kicks during a sleepover, Greg must perform in the talent show with a first-grader, Scotty Douglas, who Rowley was partners with. They don't qualify, but Rodrick's band does. Rodrick, eager to continue to the talent show, hands in his Gravity science project earlier, but then is forced to do it again, since his project lacked several requirements. Rodrick tries to tell the teacher clearly about it, but then the teacher claims that it was a fairly easy experiment and did not make clear sense. Dad tries to persuade to Rodrick to give up the show, but Rodrick insists on the show, so that he can send it to record label companies and bail out of school so he and Löded Diper can get noticed. Dad accepts this, half-heartedly. During the talent show, Rodrick has his band's performance taped so he can send it to the record companies, but afterwards the video is rendered useless after it is found that Mom (who was taping the video) had talked the whole time and everything she said was heard on the tape. Rodrick accuses Greg, and they get into a fight, and Their parents send Rodrick down to his room and Greg up to his. Later, Rodrick spills the beans on what happened over the summer, in which there at Leisure Towers the retirement house where their grandfather lives, Rodrick took Greg’s diary only to trip. Greg grabs it and starts ripping pages of his the book Unfortunately he finds out he’s in the ladies room and is pulled out, being called a Peeping Tom. However, Greg ends up getting popular for what he did because the story gets extremely twisted from going to the women's bathroom in the retirement home to invading the girls' locker room in Crossland High School. Greg helps Rodrick with his science project at the end, because he feels sorry for the video of him at the talent show been an internet hit due to Mom dancing in it.
Background
Sequels
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules is the second book in a seven book franchise. The third, The Last Straw was released January 13, 2009, has been on the list for 65 weeks (peaking at number 1).[7] The fourth, Dog Days was released October 12, 2009. The book was peaking at #1 for all 25 weeks of publication, making Dog Days the #1 Best Selling Book of 2009.[8] The fifth, The Ugly Truth was released November 9, 2010.[9] The sixth, Cabin Fever was released November 15, 2011.[10] The seventh, The Third Wheel will release on November 13, 2012.
Development
Rodrick Rules has been on the sellers list for 117 as of April 4, 2010.[8]
Adaptations
Main article: Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (film)Brad Simpson stated he anticipated a sequel movie if the first film is a success. "Our writing staff are writing a sequel right now, "Rodrick Rules," which would be based on the second book" ... "And, you know, we hope that the people to see a second movie, so that we are in position of going again right away and making another film. I certainly know that the fans would like to see all the books made into movies".[11]
Fox 2000 greenlit the sequel and Zachary Gordon returned as Greg Heffley.[12] Steve Zahn (Frank Heffley) and Rachael Harris (Susan Heffley) will also return. The film was directed by David Bowers and the screenplay was written by Gabe Sachs and Jeff Judah. Principal photography began in Vancouver August 2010. A few new characters appeared in the film, including Peyton List as Holly Hills. The trailer was seen with Gulliver's Travels.
The website created for the first was updated for the sequel featuring pictures of the cast and a short synopsis of the film. The film was released on March 25, 2011.[13]