By: Lynn Barker
In Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul, which is set one year after the last “Wimpy Kid” movie, young actors Jason Drucker and Charlie Wright play brothers Greg and Rodrick. This time, the bros are mostly in agreement as they con their parents into driving them to see their granny (Meemaw) where they can take an unauthorized detour to a cool video game convention. Of course their plan backfires crazily with fun results.
The guys at Meemaw's placeCourtesy of 20th Century Fox
We got info from the two young actors who both have multiple TV credits and learned that they had mega-fun making this road trip film which included getting soaked with mud, fake bird poop and other gooey delights. Check it out!
Q: Charlie, what is Rodrick like in this new film?
- Charlie: He’s big into metal and rock ‘n roll and he’s a drummer although he’s not really good at it. I feel like deep down he has a good heart but he has a tough time dealing with his brother and his family because he thinks he knows better.
Rodrick, Greg and family watch as the first disaster unfoldsCourtesy of 20th Century Fox
Q: Jason, how was playing Greg?
- Jason: So fun. He’s such a new character to me and that’s what I love about acting; that I get to play different characters and go through what that character goes through. Greg gives me more to enjoy because there is so much coming his way and he always finds different ways to resolve problems and his resolution always leads to something else and it’s non-stop and I just love that.
Greg is a raspberry red!Courtesy of 20th Century Fox
Q: What is Greg’s problem?
- Jason: He can’t really seem to get anything right. Anything that comes his way he tries to find different ways to resolve it but never manages to.
Q: Both of you, what is the relationship between Greg and Rodrick this time?
- Charlie: I think Rodrick and Greg have a great relationship although there are times when they don’t agree on certain things but when they can see the same page and understand each other then they work together as a team and that is when they have a great brotherly relationship.
The bros tangle with the lawCourtesy of 20th Century Fox
Jason: Yeah but no matter what Greg does, Rodrick won’t care. If what he does effects Rodrick, he will go full throttle, all the way down on Greg.
Q: The mom Susan (Alicia Silverstone) has restrictions on the boys for this trip?
- Jason: Susan is a very protective mommy and I use that specifically. For example, she is anti-technological. She does not want anyone on their phones on the trip. She believes in old-fashioned games and what she calls fun is not even close to fun in the kids’ minds.
- Charlie: Yeah. On the road trip Susan has outlawed pretty much all electronic devices, the internet; everything a regular kid wants to have on a road trip and needs to have on a road trip so Greg and Roderick come up with little ways to kind of move around that rule then they come up with a great idea to go to Player Expo where it’s like the Mecca of electronics.
While Rodrick and Greg look on, mom brags on great outdoorsCourtesy of 20th Century Fox
Q: Who has the idea to sneak away to the Player Expo?
- Charlie: Greg has the idea to go to the Player Expo in Indiana which is the video game/electronics convention so on the trip they sneak away to go then they get found out and get in trouble then all this hectic stuff happens at Player Expo and on their way back to their Meemaw’s house.
- Jason: Player Expo is the most important thing to a kid like Greg because he is totally into the gaming world and the best part is his idol Mac Digby is going to be there which is a dream come true for him but nothing can go right for him so when he gets there, more trouble is awaiting.
Rodrick (Charlie) and Greg (Jason) hope to get to the ExpoCourtesy of 20th Century Fox
Q: You guys all get super dirty/messy in the film.
- Charlie: Right. The whole movie, there’s all kinds of make-up stuff that goes on. We’ve got the bird poop, there’s a shampoo scene and we have the mud and shooting those scenes was great. When you get sprayed and splashed with all that stuff it’s fun. They actually do it but when they have to do it over and over again, it gets a bit rough but, yeah, it’s always fun to be dirty!
- Jason: Yeah, mud, bird poo, shampoo, exploding cinnamon, everything. Some are new to me because I’ve never been in mud or exploding cinnamon so I find it very interesting but, after a while, maybe it will get to me but I loved it. Nothing’s wrong with trying something new.
Greg (Jason) and family are a muddy messCourtesy of 20th Century Fox
Q: How much fun did you have filming the movie?
- Charlie: I had a lot of fun. After all the time we were there and all the crazy things we did, the stunts, it’s been a lot of fun. I hope it looks good on film because doing it was way more fun!
A slimed Greg (Jason) makes a getawayCourtesy of 20th Century Fox
Q: Are you looking forward to seeing the movie all put together?
- Jason: I’m so excited to see the movie because we’ve been through so much and gotten to know each other so well. It’s kind of like my second family.
Q: What does he hope the audience will get from the movie?
- Jason: I’m just hoping it will be as successful or even more successful than the other Wimpy Kid movies. All of them are so great but this one specifically, it’s heartwarming, funny, exciting. There’s just so many things about it that I think the audience will love. I want them to see it and tell me what they think. It’ll be amazing.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul PosterCourtesy of 20th Century Fox
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul is in theaters Friday!
Have Your Say
Have you been on a family road trip that went crazy wrong? Tell us about it below with a comment!
