Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul
A Heffley family road trip to attend Meemaw's 90th birthday party goes hilariously off course thanks to Greg's newest scheme to get to a video gaming convention. This family cross-country adventure turns into an experience the Heffleys will never forget.
Working with a moderate budget of $22.0M, the film achieved a modest success with $40.1M in global revenue (+82% profit margin).
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (2017) showcases deliberately positioned plot construction, characteristic of David Bowers's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 12-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 31 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.8, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Greg Heffley is obsessed with his online image and video game fame, disconnected from real family life. The family is dysfunctional with everyone on their devices.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 10 minutes when Greg becomes a viral meme ("Diaper Hands") after a humiliating video at a county fair goes online, destroying his carefully crafted image and making him a laughingstock.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 22 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 24% of the runtime. This indicates the protagonist's commitment to The family embarks on the road trip in their minivan, phones confiscated. Greg secretly plans to get to the gaming convention to restore his reputation, while Susan hopes to reconnect the family., moving from reaction to action.
The Collapse moment at 68 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, The family discovers Greg's deception about the convention. They miss Meemaw's birthday party entirely. Susan breaks down realizing her family road trip has failed, and the family fragments completely., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Synthesis at 72 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Greg leads the family in an elaborate plan to recover their lost pet pig and salvage the trip. They work together, overcome the Beardos, and make it to Meemaw. Greg publicly embraces his "Diaper Hands" identity., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 12 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul against these established plot points, we can identify how David Bowers utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul within the adventure genre.
David Bowers's Structural Approach
Among the 5 David Bowers films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete David Bowers filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional adventure films include Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, The Bad Guys and Zoom. For more David Bowers analyses, see Astro Boy, Flushed Away and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Greg Heffley is obsessed with his online image and video game fame, disconnected from real family life. The family is dysfunctional with everyone on their devices.
Theme
Susan suggests the family needs to reconnect and spend quality time together without technology, stating "We need to be a family again."
Worldbuilding
Establishment of the Heffley family dynamics: Greg's online obsession, Rodrick's band, Manny's mischief, Susan's frustration with technology, and Frank's work stress. The family is fragmented.
Disruption
Greg becomes a viral meme ("Diaper Hands") after a humiliating video at a county fair goes online, destroying his carefully crafted image and making him a laughingstock.
Resistance
Susan sees the viral video as an opportunity and proposes a technology-free family road trip to Meemaw's 90th birthday. Greg resists but sees a chance to rebrand himself at a gaming convention on the way.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
The family embarks on the road trip in their minivan, phones confiscated. Greg secretly plans to get to the gaming convention to restore his reputation, while Susan hopes to reconnect the family.
Mirror World
The Beardo family appears as a mirror to the Heffleys - a rival family on the same route who seem perfect but are equally dysfunctional, embodying the theme of authentic vs. fake family connection.
Premise
Road trip chaos ensues: disastrous motel stays, the Beardos rivalry intensifies, a country fair mishap with a pig, Greg schemes to reach the gaming convention, and family tensions escalate with each stop.
Opposition
Greg manipulates the family to detour to the gaming convention. His selfishness causes the family to miss Meemaw's birthday. The Beardos continue to one-up them. Tensions reach a breaking point.
Collapse
The family discovers Greg's deception about the convention. They miss Meemaw's birthday party entirely. Susan breaks down realizing her family road trip has failed, and the family fragments completely.
Crisis
The family sits in devastated silence. Greg feels guilty but doesn't know how to fix things. Everyone is angry, hurt, and separated emotionally despite being in the same vehicle.
Act III
ResolutionSynthesis
Greg leads the family in an elaborate plan to recover their lost pet pig and salvage the trip. They work together, overcome the Beardos, and make it to Meemaw. Greg publicly embraces his "Diaper Hands" identity.