Film Review – Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life

Perhaps looking to snatch a little of the money the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” series has collected (another sequel is on the way), the producers of “Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life” return to the plight of a young adolescent facing numerous challenges to his head, heart, and hallway reputation. An adaptation of the YA novel, co-authored by James Patterson, “Middle School” offers a familiar smorgasbord of teen rebellion and parental cluelessness, only the tonality of the movie is problematic at best. Director Steve Carr (“Paul Blart: Mall Cop,” “Daddy Day Care”) enjoys his mischief, with pranks staged by kids against their educational overlords dominating sections of the film. However, the rest of the effort is unexpectedly solemn, requiring more attention to psychological damage than Carr is comfortable offering. Read the rest at Blu-ray.com