Dear Dumb Diary
Film poster
Written byJim Benton
Kristin Hanggi
Directed byKristin Hanggi
StarringEmily Alyn Lind
Mary-Charles Jones
David Mazouz
Sterling Griffith
James Waterston
Lea DeLaria
Maddie Corman
Laura Bell Bundy
Jeffrey Hanson
Tom Markus
Music bySteven Argila
Country of originUnited States
Original languageEnglish
Production
ProducersJim Bechtold
Sean Gesell
Don Schain
Brian Wells
EditorDan Schalk
Production companiesZucker Productions
Walden Media
Triple D Productions
Original release
NetworkHallmark Channel
Release
  • September 6, 2013 (2013-09-06)

Dear Dumb Diary is a Hallmark Channel television film based on the book series of the same name by Jim Benton.[1] It stars Emily Alyn Lind as Jamie Kelly, a seventh-grader who documents her experiences at Mackerel Middle School in her diary, as well as Mary-Charles Jones as her best friend Isabella and Sterling Griffith as popular girl Angeline. The film first aired on the Hallmark Channel on September 6, 2013.[2]

Plot

Jamie Kelly is a student at Mackerel Middle School. Her closest relationships include her best friend Isabella Vinchella, her 'nemesis' Angeline and her love interest Hudson Rivers. Upon finding out that art classes are being revoked due to budget cuts, she inadvertently signs up for the Jump-A-Thon, which Angeline is also participating in. Jamie and Isabella go door-to-door asking for donations, with Isabella also getting donations for a charity called the "Juvenile Optometry Federation" that provides eyeglasses to poor children in need. Meanwhile, her Aunt Carol applies for a job as a secretary after Jamie accidentally injures an older secretary in Assistant Principal Devon's office.

Aunt Carol starts dating and Jamie tries to figure out who this mysterious date is. Meanwhile, Angeline begins to spend more time around Jamie, although Jamie suspects she has an ulterior motive. Jamie conspires to steal Angeline's permanent record in an attempt to find things she can use to ruin Angeline's reputation. A few days prior to the Jump-A-Thon, Jamie finds out that Isabella lied about the "Juvenile Optometry Federation" and used the money to buy herself some contact lenses. Meanwhile, Jamie's diary is misplaced and found by the other students, who ridicule her for the things she has written. Humiliated, Jamie refuses to return to school and almost bails on the Jump-A-Thon, but decides to attend after some encouraging words from Carol. At the Jump-A-Thon, Jamie learns that Angeline, despite all the sponsors she has received for the Jump-A-Thon, cannot do jump-rope. Against her own preferences, she decides to help Angeline with the aid of Isabella, successfully saving the school's art program. She later learns that Angeline had protected Jamie by claiming that the lost diary belonged to her "cousin Jenny" who goes to a different school.

Jamie's family hosts a gathering at her house, with several teachers and staff members in attendance. At this party, she learns that the mystery boyfriend of Carol is her school's assistant principal, Dan Devon. She also learns that Dan is Angeline's uncle and that he and Carol are engaged, making Angeline and Jamie second cousins. Isabella later starts up her own charity, turning the Juvenile Optometry Foundation into a reality. The movie ends with Jamie concluding that everyone has some form of "inner beauty," though much to her chagrin, Angeline calls her to proclaim that Hudson is going to be her date to Carol and Dan's wedding.[3]

Cast

Production

The movie was first announced on Jim Benton's website.[4] The movie utilizes plot-lines and aspects from various instalments in the Dear Dumb Diary. The main storylines of the Jump-A-Thon and Aunt Carol's mystery date originate from Never Do Anything, Ever and Can Adults Become Human, respectively. The side story of Jamie stealing Angeline's permanent record is borrowed from Let's Pretend This Never Happened, while the "zone-shampooing" gag originates from a storyline in Am I The Princess Or The Frog. Three of the original songs, "Dear Future Jamie," "My Awesomeness is Awesome," and "Meatloaf Mystery," were written by Dan Mackenzie.[5] Other songs were written by Steven Argila and Seth Freeman.

Music

The songs include:

  • Dear Dumb Diary-performed by Emily Alyn Lind
  • Same Girl-performed by Emily Alyn Lind
  • Just A Number-performed by Emily Alyn Lind
  • My Awesomeness Is Awesome-performed by Emily Alyn Lind
  • May The Dumb Be With You-performed by Emily Alyn Lind
  • Dear Future Jamie-performed by Emily Alyn Lind
  • Meatloaf Mystery-performed by Lea DeLaria
  • Perfect People Of The World-performed by Emily Alyn Lind
  • Paparazzi-performed by Emily Alyn Lind
  • Love Is Everything-performed by Lea Andreone

The soundtrack includes "Score Suite for Dear Dumb Diary" performed by Steven Argila, the film's composer, and "Dear Dumb Diary (Karaoke Mix)" by Emily Alyn Lind.[6]

Reception

The movie received mixed reviews. Common Sense Media gave it 4 out of 5 calling it a "books-inspired movie has great social messages for kids".[7] Pretty Famous has ranked the movie 49%.[8]

References

  1. ↑ "Dear Dumb Diary". www.jimbenton.com. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  2. ↑ "Breaking News - "Dear Dumb Diary," a Hallmark Channel Original Movie Starring Emily Alyn Lind and Mary-Charles Jones, Begins Production in Salt Lake City | TheFutonCritic.com". www.thefutoncritic.com. Retrieved 2016-01-30.
  3. ↑ "Dear Dumb Diary (2013) Movie Script | SS". Springfield! Springfield!. Retrieved January 30, 2016.
  4. ↑ "Dear Dumb Diary". jimbenton.com. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
  5. ↑ Dear Dumb Diary Original Soundtrackwww.allmusic.com
  6. ↑ "Dear Dumb Diary Soundtrack (2013)". www.soundtrack.net. Retrieved February 9, 2016.
  7. ↑ "Dear Dumb Diary - Movie Review". www.commonsensemedia.org. Retrieved 2016-02-08.
  8. ↑ "Dear Dumb Diary -". movies.prettyfamous.com. Retrieved February 8, 2016.
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