Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw

• Directed by Matt Danner and Gino Nichele
• December 5, 2025
• Disney+
• Based on the 2009 novel Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw by Jeff Kinney

Voice Cast

• Greg-Aaron Harris
• Rowley-Jude Zarzaur
• Frank-Chris Diamantopoulos
• Susan-Erica Cerra
• Rodrick-Hunter Dillon
• Patty-Lila Bahng
• Lenwood-Jabari Banks
• Mrs. Canfield-Jill Basey
• Priest-P.L. Brown
• Troopmaster Barrett-William Stanford Davis
• Organ Lady-Grey DeLisle
• Kindergarten Mom-Annika Erickson
• Chirag-Abhiram Gulati
• Weston-Kyrie Neriah Kennedy
• Gruff Neighbor-Eddie Martinez
• Student-Livingston McConaughey
• Ricky Fisher-Dashiell McGaha-Schletter
• Fregley-Ellis Myers
• Manny-Gracen Newton
• Fitness Instructor-Tunde Oyeneyin
• Mrs. Winsky-Punam Patel
• Mr. Jefferson-Randy Pearlstein
• Mr. Gupta-Sanjay Rao
• Mr. Warren-Bashir Salahuddin
• Mikey-Enzo Valdez
• Oversized 4-Year-Old-Luther Vue

Greg’s father plans to send him to the military school Sag Union to get his life in order so Greg sets out to convince him otherwise.

The story of Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw is built around the perceived differences between father and son. They are polar opposites at this stage of each other’s lives and the father just can’t quite wrap his head around it. Frank (dad) feels like he’s failing Greg and wants to man up his child a little bit. A tried-and-true formula that can either lead to entertaining heartfelt comedy or something annoying.

It’s not that Frank is ashamed of his son Greg. It’s just what he wants his son to do better. And that’s important. For this to be able to be good, the hearts of characters need to be in the right place. If the motivations of those involved are not then the whole story gets soured taking on aspects of meanness or cruelty.

Bonding and realizing that you have more things alike than different is one of the driving themes of this movie. Frank comes to understand that as a boy he was more like the Greg of today than he will admit.

The antics that hit the screen would make quite a few slapstick writers jealous that they didn’t think of it. It’s fascinating to watch how events spin out of control in a very natural way. Being based on the Diary of a Wimpy Kid books and taking a mildly surreal view of things, the story plays into the weirdness as much as it can in a way that only animation is able to accomplish.

In a rather weird scene they meet former bully Lenwood Heath who is now the most stereotypical upstanding young son you could find. It’s almost like he engages in parkour when he moves around-which is funny. And that’s what it’s meant to be. Lenwood keeps coming along at the wrong time adding fuel to Frank wanting Greg to get his act together.

Despite being set around Christmas, this is not a Christmas movie. With minor tweaks here or there any season could’ve been lingering in the backdrop. Events of the story are not intimately tied to the holiday and by the end nary a Christmas decoration is to be found. This would be perfect to set at Christmas while also tying it into the holiday but the season is marginal stage dressing.

The opening church service scene is not even a Christmas service. The chocolate Santa that our wimpy kid gets on his pants could’ve easily been a chocolate bar. Heck, you could even switch out the Christmas lights for an extension cord. But I’m getting a little off track.

Rowley-Greg’s loyal friend-gets treated like crap. Greg throws Rowley under the bus to avoid trouble. After forming a partnership for a little snow removal business, Greg just declares Rowley his employee and drives him away. I think some of my issues with that comes down to there is never an apology. After a little bit, the kids are back to being best friends again. That makes Greg just a little bit of a jerk and Rowley a doormat.

What the story gets right is it just doesn’t proceed and then suddenly everybody makes a realization. It is moments that come slow and steady. It’s a nudge that builds on the other. Greg is probably the first to start realizing because he’s having fun spending time with his dad. Frank takes a little longer realizing that there’s nothing wrong with his son other than the kid is a lot like him. 

I am more familiar with the appearance of the Wimpy Kid books than I am with their actual content. Part of what makes them special is captured in the general visual style and specific cut scenes. The characters are a one-to-one translation with occasional interstitials drawing direct inspiration from the pages of the box.

Yet there is something missing. Maybe it is the vanishing presence of Christmas in the story. The film is well paced with some very clever moments. You will chuckle and laugh. You could even find some stuff you can identify with amongst the absurdity. I found myself asking what exactly was ‘the last straw’ of the title? Maybe the ending just does not work somehow like it should. Greg and Frank bond while coming to an understanding. Nothing terrible but it just does not work as well as it sounds. If you go in expecting a Christmas movie to put you in a festive holiday vibe, you will be disappointed.

If you go in expecting some family friendly offering that you wouldn’t be ashamed watching by yourself or with the kids, then you will have a pleasant experience Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Last Straw and may watch again.