Ever since my dad bought me the first one years ago, I started collecting them. I'm missing number 14 and 15 now soon to arrive! I really enjoy to read them.
The heffleys Sociopath who manipulates his best friend Toddler who manipulates people and even puts his family at risk Dad who neglects kids unless they live up to his standards Mom Teenager who likes drumming
I honestly feel bad for Greg. I often get vibes that he’s depressed and his parents don’t really seem to help and I think that’s also a reason why Greg can be bad sometimes.
but greg should bully his family for revenge rather than bullying rowley who did nothing wrong. I do feel sorry for him but what he does to rowley is not one bit justified
@@redfatseal2407 I think Greg’s like that because he’s jealous of how much Rowley’s family loves him. Like he said once when he was little, his family couldn’t get enough of him, but when Manny was born, they told him to grow up and he said Rowley’s lucky he’s an only child for that reason. In fact, he said “One day, you’re hot stuff, then the next day, you’re a dirt sandwich.” Obviously, Greg feels betrayed about that
@@ShazzledWolf32 and Greg claimed that he ate the cheese. Greg is a victim. But Rowley is a victim of a victim. I think your right. Maybe Greg isn't too bad afterall
rodrick is the best out of the family. I'm mean he actually has an aspiration and the bad things he does is more or less slight embarrassment or getting rid of items
Remember when he stole Greg's money when he told him that he could grow a money tree by burying underground. That wasn't out of embarrassment it was just his greed and utter selfishness
The theory of him being bullied and seeing himself in greg during his middle school years only solidifies after we read this part in the book where he sees his bosses sons and compares them to his own. Dude really just wants some sort of comfort or closure from a matter he never solved from his younger self and tries to do so by basically molding greg (since rodrick failed) into something he wanted to be
I always got the impression Frank desperately wants his boss's life and family, but his boss doesn't really seem to care about what his family should be, he was just happy to have them and maybe trying to subtly tell Frank that he should still be proud of what he has.
I think Greg’s wording in that passage was, “he throws whatever he’s got in his hands at you” and then the page says “bad time to screw up” while he’s working with bricks 😬
@@LateNightPies maybe frank is a veteran with ptsd and that is why he is pressuring his sons to be “men” I don’t have much proof and if it was true they might have mentioned it by now, but I think it’s true in my head canon.
Honestly, Frank is a way better father in the movie trilogy than in the books. In Dog Days, it is revealed that his father didn't really spend much time with him. So he makes the conscious decisions to try to become a better father and become more involved with his children. Then later in that movie, Greg himself learns to be a better son.
The movie scenarios are almost completely different. The characters actualy have development unlike in the book series where everyone just mostly retains the same personality throughout
In one of the books, Greg says his dad punishes him by immediately throwing something at them. The example Greg gives is that a good time to misbehave is when Frank is reading the paper, but not when he's laying bricks. Another time, Greg's mother had to force her husband to hug his children. She watched to make sure that he'd do it. In the movies they portray him as more of a flawed dork than an outright terrible father, he's called out on it, and him working to connect with his children better is a subplot. Of course, how bad Greg claims he is in the books should be taken with a grain of salt since the narrator is a middle schooler only giving one side of the story.
and let’s not forget how in the movie it’s been told that “ Franks dad never even put the time to spend time with him, he never had that father and son moment “ which is why he goes alone in the basement cause Greg and rodrick don’t have anything interesting with him Honestly I wished my dad was interested in the Civil War but no he doesn’t oof
My POV when I was younger: Greg: A normal kid overcoming middle school Rodrick: A metal older brother who’s mean Manny: A normal younger brother Susan and Frank Heffley: Normal Parents My POV now: Greg: Sociopath Rodrick: The most normal Manny: Psychopath Susan and Frank Heffley: Bad parents
When i was younger and first saw the books I actually thought that the family were all friends. Greg still being our main protagonist that gets picked on Rodrick being the bully Manny being the really short kid Susan who I thought was a boy (bc of the short hair) who was a nerd Frank......I honestly dont remember who i thought he was supposed to be Now I remember, I thought frank was supposed to like the jock/supporting friend.
Greg: Sociopath Manny: Pyschopath Frank: Dead beat Father Susan: Enabled Mother Rodrick: Just a Teen who likes to rock n roll. . When we were young, we think Rodrick was the weird and rude brother, but when we got older and try to understand the family. Rodrick seems the most normal out of anyone of his family
Rodrick is the only one who actually realizes how messed up the family is. Frank and Susan think they're good parents, Greg thinks the family is just your normal family (and he thinks Rowley's family is weird because of how loving they are.), Manny is a toddler, but he is also willing to exploit the family for his own purposes. One day Rodrick will hop into his van and drive away to freedom.
@Swag Monke have you watched a video on what makes Greg a sociopath? And there's a video on why Manny doesn't care for his family and also shuts down power on all of the house but his room and that kills his family
@@genericname2747 once rodrick has the money he needs, he'll get out of the house and become a successful millionaire singer. Greg will live in a dead beat job and talks about how he deserves to be the famous and rich one
@@genericname2747 well Rodrick can still be a bit of a bully to his brothers; hogging the big blanket, forcing Greg to ride in the back of his van, hiding the phonesets, recording Greg’s embarrassing play, stealing Greg’s old journal, forcing Greg to help him clean up after The Party. Frank is a deadbeat Susan is an enabling Karen of a mother Greg is a manipulative sociopath Manny is a selfish psychopath Roderick is a bully
These books are actually really interesting, because as you age your entire perspective of them changes. Manny goes from a typical annoying brother to a textbook psychopath. Greg , the lovable protagonist becomes the sociopath. His dad, who we first thought to be just a stonier type of love, he is now a abusive, distant father. His mom, who used to be a kind and doting mother, is now only after “the perfect family” (as seen in The Long Haul). Most interesting, Rodrick was once the bad guy, but now he is the most normal one of all of them.
@@marinetter.8423 Every person in the heffley family has some sort of psychological issue (mannys a straight up psychopath lol) except rodrick. He plays in a band, he gets in trouble time to time, he hangs out with his friends a lot. All normal teen stuff.
@@beelee9866 well rodrick was an asshole but a) he could be funny at times b) he had a point about some things (like not all learning is done through school some things you can teach yourself) c) he and Greg end up becoming closer at times
@@oooh19 but you have to remember that this is in Greg’s point of view. So we see his family through his side. Not anyone else’s. So Rodrick is just being a normal big brother. Always picks on Greg because he’s the little brother and yes he does get in trouble but for stupid teen things. Greg even BROKE his friends arm and didn’t pay a price for it. All he got was a few days of the silent treatment and they were back to being friends. He didn’t even get in trouble by his parents.Manny does the worse and he doesn’t even get any yelling or anything. Rodrick is being the normal one in the family. He’s just doing stupid teen shit. And I’m not getting mad at your opinion because everyone has an opinion. And no opinion can be wrong. All I’m saying is that we only see Gregs point of view throughout the books and movies.
I’m surprised you didn’t mention in The Last Straw, Frank was stealing snacks from the snack bin for weeks and ALLOWED Susan to punish the kids who were not given any until the culprit came forward, thinking it was either Greg or Rodrick. Of course he was exposed when Greg camped out to catch the thief in the act. (After falling asleep in warm laundry) and what do they do when the noise wakes up Susan? Both grab as many snacks as they can and bolt.
Oh yeah, I remember that! He doesn't even feel remorse or apologize, and this happens long after he made a New Year's resolution to go on a diet...only to be stuffing his face with brownies.
How sad is it that I find myself liking Frank’s dad, Grandpa Heffley more than Frank Heffley himself. At least Grandpa Heffley has a better relationship with his grandkids (He even states Greg is his favorite in the 2nd book) and lets them be themselves and not force them to be something they’re not.
I have to wonder if Grandpa Heffley was a very different man when Frank was a child. Think about it: He outright admits he has a favorite grandchild. If he's so bold to admit that, it makes me think he also has a favorite SON who isn't Frank (Frank IS one of three siblings after all). So this mentality may have bled onto Frank, seeing as he, like his wife, clearly favors Manny, he just never admits it out loud.
I think in one of the later books (the tenth one, to be exact), it’s implied that Grandpa Heffley doesn’t really approve of how Frank and Susan (more so Frank, probably) are raising the kids.
Tbh, Grandparents can be very different to a grandchild than their actual kid, for many reasons. Potential? Guit Tripping? Not even Noticing? Are all reasons. It’s sad that there’s a stereotype (and reality for me) that grandparents spoil their grandkids and just kinda forget about their actual kids they created.
@Lissette G Orozco Diaz True. But he doesn’t have as many negative qualities or bad actions as much as his son, daughter-in-law, and 2nd and 3rd grandsons.
I can relate to Greg when it comes to the whole sports situation, when I was really young, my dad wanted me to play sports but I wanted to be an animator. There's nothing wrong with that in it of itself, but the problem is that he wouldn't let me play sports and do my art at the same time, it was quite insensitive of him to only make me to be like him rather than let me express my passion and support my ideas.
I can relate to. My Dad is making me do Boy Scouts (ik thas not a sport but it's getting forced to do something crappy) and never really let me have an opinion if I did it or not. Every day i've hated it, the only good part is that I made a friend who lives 2 hours away. Never told him, idk how too. Really sucks.
The only time I've seen things like Greg actually being sorry, manny maturing, and Frank being a better dad was in the movies, but that's basically just because they need to show character development
I grew up with a father A LOT like this unfortunately. The "only caring about his kids' interests when he is interested" aspect hit very close to home for me
@@andyblanton6570 Grandpa Heffley is also another family member that’s not terrible either. Unlike his son, he at least loves his grandkids for who they are and doesn’t try to change them.
0:46 I remember from the first movie, that after Greg flees from Finley's (or was his name Fregley?) house, his dad picks him up, hugs him and tells him it will be all OK. I think this was the only moment in the entire series where he was acting like a "normal" dad with parenting skills.
@@CrazyIshan69 Agreed. I think it's because they characters are portrayed by real people, so having them be the exact same as they are in the books would make them too cartoonish. Someone else in this comment section mentioned that the characters and the relationships grow and change throughout the trilogy, unlike in the books, and I reckon it's because the actors themselves were literally growing and changing as time went on. The actor playing Greg Heffley was around 13 by the time Dog Days was filmed, so having him act like he was still 11 years old would be unrealistic. That's why the character growth in the films was so necessary, even if it wasn't present in the books. That's just my thoughts, so I could be wrong.
@@throwawayaccount4008 You make sense. Besides, a movie requires more a plot than a book does, so it would have been weird to never add any character development in them.
Frank's worst sin is his indifference and apathy to his kids. It seems to me most likely intentional, he wants the rewards without the risks. Frank basically does the bare minimum to prevent his kids from becoming like Uncle Gary and even then it ain't a lot. I wouldn't say he's given up on Greg though, he probably still see's some potential in him and his faith in Roderick is probably very low. Frank is a good dad in a sense he has a just above blue collar job and helps support the family but he's bad because he neglects them.
@@Kleebo that is assuming that we get a full picture through the eyes of our MC. Which is honestly unlikely. this theory doesn't hold much water, unlike greg bieng a sociopath. in that theory, we get all our information right from the source, and it's an unbiased form of inormation.
You should do Susan next. She’s mostly responsible for how Manny turned out and is arguably worse than Frank. Edit: How does this have so many likes?! It only had a few the last time I checked.
@@mr.leeleeleee7153 Yeah, except neither of them show much love towards Greg and Rodrick. Frank just plays with his war toys and Susan spoils Manny rotten.
It goes to show how the movie adaptations are something a lot different and (in my opinion) better than the books. In the third movie, when Greg and his dad go camping, there are disagreements between them about how Greg acts, something that's been important the whole trilogy Than, when both get kicked out of the camp with, they go to a hotel, get a pizza, and just talk, where his dad relates to him and they just talk Obviously I'm paraphrasing, but the characters and relationships change throughout the movies, unlike the book, where everyone remains stagnant
I've listened to David Bowers' commentaries on the movie adaptations he directed, and although he never outright says it, it's very clear he fully knew the events of the books would never work as a comedy because of how f'ed up the family is.
1:09 Oh my god, I just realized that Frank was constantly telling Greg that he should go outside instead of playing video games, while Frank himself was locking himself with those toys
Manny: *BIGGEST PYSCHOPATH* Greg: Narcicist Frank: “The dad that hated the child” stories Susan: biased Rodrick: basic teenager Rowley: The child that trusts his friends.
This Freaky Frank has a serious effect on his kids as well! Rodrick always finds excuses to problems rather than solutions, just as his dad does too. Frank doest beat Manny because he is spoiled, as for Greg, there is no proof, but there was a scene in book 11 double down where Frank probably was attempting to beat Rodrick and did something worse after. Rodrick spat gum and it accidentely hit Frank and it said that Frank was chasing him, and that Rodrick was "pretty fast" so this behaviour of abuse which he was probably gonna smack Rodrick was probably often where Rodrick PREPARED for it because he is hit often by Frank. Greg said in book 3 that Mr Litch was the reason Rodrick quit sports, so how does Rodrick run so fast unless he has some secret trainer which he is too lazy to work for?! And Frank LIED to a DOCTOR after he tripped attempting to hit Rodrick running. He said he tripped on Mannys toys, blaming his small son for his injury which Manny, a 4 year old, probably didnt even KNOW his father was lying to a medical professional about a broken LEG. Or maybe he did know because he's a freaking psychopath mastermind as explained in another episode of latenightpies ruclips.net/video/Yzz8g5ag0eY/видео.html and Manny is defenitely one as he knew his dad blamed him and later in the book sabotaged his civil war diorama. But the worst part about this meant to be FUNNY scene is that Frank knows his behaviour is wrong and most people thought he lied because of embarresment about gum in his hair, but really he doesnt want anyone to know he beats his kids. None of the sons stepped in to tell that Frank was lying to the doctor when Susan came back from school. This rubs off on his son Manny making him a psychopath, proven in this link I am totally not sending for the second time, ruclips.net/video/Yzz8g5ag0eY/видео.html Rodrick a sack of crooks who expects beatings, and his son Greg which gives him a horrible mentality. In a "funny" scene in cabin fever book 6, Frank got stuck in the door but Greg thought a stranger was knocking because like 99% of kids, he was taught that mom and dad have a key, so anyone else is suspicous. Greg simply obeyed his parents word and refused to open but that got him shaken when he saw it was his dad. I'll admit this scene Frank didnt do anything wrong, but Greg wrote in his journal how his dad would probably turn him into the cops without caring and drew a picture of himself being hauled in chains by the police with his dad sipping coffee and watching. This is the first thing coming to Gregs mind is proof FRANK IS A FREAK FATHER
In one of the first books it's said he throws what's the closest to him when the kids make him mad and it's implied he could have thrown a brick at Greg..
I think the worst of them all is Susan Heffley Like in Double Down Greg tries to convinces her that he did steal a Lego piece but she just doesn't listen to him And a normal mother actually listens to her child's opinion You can see a lot of babying done to Manny by her And when I say lot I mean a LOT
And yet, the 8th book reveals she has a stash of parenting books that she keeps secret from her sons by hiding them behind some old shoe boxes in the hallways closet. So she would know from reading those books that babying Manny isn’t a good thing and is just going to make him too dependent on her.
@@frankielovejoy9928 I think the not caring thing is an exaggeration. I think Frank tries to act mature but he is really grown up Greg. As seen in Old School. Where he made up a scary story to have a cabin to himself.
I guess Frank is just disappointed that his sons turned out not to be his idea of ‘men’ even though he IGNORED THEM ALL THE TIME. Edit: Jesus didn't expect it to blow up like this.
Frank is not that bad of a dad in movie, especially in Rodrick Rules. In first part, he was the only one who admire and cheer for Greg when he joins the Wrestling club. Frank was also the only person to stand by Greg's side after the plays end, and realize that Patty was wrong, while Rodrick and Susan just ditch Greg there. In Rodrick Rules, Frank is shown up to be a real responsible and fair dad. Frank is a type of person that if his child do the right thing, he will praise them and proud about them,no doubt. Frank is always the mediator for Greg and Rodrick, and treat them fairly. He wants Rodrick to stay away from Bill, and that's a good thing In the third movie, Frank lost some point of the viewer for being too fastidious and conservative about Greg's summer before Susan told him. But later on, we see that Frank is actually a good father, who will drive over a thousand miles just to come and get his son home, and actually respect Greg's opinion about his fake job at the country club. He doesn't force Greg to follow his way of becoming an intern for Frank's company, but instaed, he willingly accept and proud that his son has a job. I think that Frank Heffley deserve a better understanding from the viewer. He is not a bad father, or at least in the film
@@voidnoidoid I have a theory about Long Haul the movie. Greg heard that they are going on a trip and then greg falls asleep. He has a fever dream about the trip which is the Long Haul movie, then wakes up and does the actual trip.
The reason frank's favorite son is Manny is cause manny still has a chance to be all manly, and thats what he wants. Why else do you think his name is MAN-ny? Edit: I'm being serious, I think Frank will make manny how he wants, not how manny does, like how greg did so to rowley
I like to think bits of the movie are canon, like how his family is portrayed in the movie. But Greg being an egotistical dork, portrays them as they do in the books to make him seem better than them. :)
@@Userjustuserokjustuser he has the mind of a child so he’s not exactly reliable either but there’s a quote that says there is a piece of truth in every lie
@@dragonmaster3207+ If you want a super dysfunctional family I'd stick with the books. But the live-action movies (especially the first three) are great.
Honestly especially when it came to Dog Days (Movie) I really liked that in the scenes you can tell he's trying to encourage Greg though not the best job you got to give him credit especially with the motel scene
@Izuku Midoriya The show's ending stated that Pops is literally he embodiement if good in the universe. Besides, if he ever had a kid, he'd probably let him play with the Civil War figures with him, unlike Frank
In the book The Getaway, at one point they go on a cruise and end up leaving Rodrick behind. But they couldn't have left him cuz he must of seen them going on the boat and said "Oh hey time to go" Or smt but no he ends up being stuck in the middle of the ocean with private islands nearby. But Rodrick stayed there as if he was forced to
Despite still being a messed up family still in the movies, the family is way better and way less distant and chaotic in the films, at least the first 3. The third movie really does Frank's character well because it's showing us that he goes at extreme lengths to try and make Greg do things, but he's very passionate, doesn't just watch from the sides with things that happen, he may be not understand his kids interest or vice versa, but he's really trying at least in the camping portion where he shows he really cares about Greg and they CAN agree on things as well as make deals not to tell Susan about things that won't hurt her
Frank would be much happier as a single, childless father. Granted, we see them through Greg’s interpretation, but there’s no indication Frank and Susan would be compatible as friends, let alone romantic partners. The way they treat their sons is polar opposite. Frank is only motivated to help them when he has something to gain, while Susan is stuck in handholding mode. There is one instance of Frank and Greg genuinely having a bonding moment. In Old School, during the camping section, Greg discovers the source of the bogeyman story, Silas Scratch, was his father and invented to keep the good bathroom a secret. When leaving the camp, Greg decides to maintain the tradition and keep the legacy of Silas Scratch alive.
When you put this into perspective, it shows how different the books and movies truly are. I mean, the books paint a dysfunctional mental family, whilst the movies follow an asshole who slowly betters himself and actively repairs the family (yes, Long Haul included)
In my opinion, they aren't all that dysfunctional in the books. I feel like stuff in the video is exaggerated a little bit for comedy. The biggest difference to me is in the books greg is more of a strightman reacting to things around him and he is kinda selfish and egotistical. Most of the time he is a victim of circumstance. Like when he was at swimming lessons. He thought the starter pistol was an actual gun so he hid at the bottom of the pool. In the movies, he acts like a bigger jerk so that they can have a lesson at the end. Like when he lied about the party, or when he committed identity theft in Dog days.
I think the difference is less to do with the different mediums and more to do with the inherent bias in Greg's perception. In the books, Greg is actively trying to paint himself as the hero of the story so he actively exaggerates how bad the family is while downplaying or justifiying his own wrong doings whereas in the films everything is more balanced.
honestly i feel really bad for greg. if he sees himself as a quitter and feels that his dad would send him away at any point , its honestly really sad. like how unloved does he feel to think so negatively, and the worst part is he probably thinks its normal to feel that way. not only that, but his mom favorites manny, so it must make greg feel really bad and left out.
BRO WHY TF ARE U ANYWHERE YOU ALWAYS COME IN AND OUT ON EVEYR GODDAMN VIDEO!!!! CAN YOU STOP FOLLOWING ME FOR ONCE?! WHATS WITH THE DEAL WITH ALL THOSE STUPID CHECK MARKS IN THE COMMENT SECTION ANYWAY?! THEY ARE SO ANNOYING!!!! I HOPE THAT RUclips WILL REMOVE THEM FROM THE COMMENT SECTION FOREVER WHABAHHAAHHAHAHHAHHHAHAHHSJDD DO DTJXDJDRZKFJZuxdzoxgizxghrsjjrzdiyzigzigxufxlgtgxkgxhzoc)&")&9*5$85*7&fiF7&u_u_uf7i_i$iri÷%ו8rirUtzuf,id8_ir84it84ur74,7,8_irIrUrzu... *faints
Frank: Deadbeat dad with misogynistic ideals, also excludes himself from his family as he's disappointed in them. Susan: The sole delusional enabler of Manny, and shows blatant favoritism towards Manny and Rodrick, is possibly the most delusional mother one could ask for. Rodrick: Oldest child who's had to deal with Frank's shenanigans for the longest, actually has a career plan even if "he's not good" according to Greg. Greg: The middle child who's almost always ignored in favor of Rodrick and Manny, is the sole victim of Rodrick's "bullying" and Rowley being his only friend. His dreams being denied by his parents, which may explain why he's just a dick to everyone overall. Manny:....you already know why this little shit sucks.
@@5soda I mean his family overall is just horrible, I mean looking at how successful Rowley's family is even without their money is it's kinda clear that the family is possibly one of the best, with Greg's family just being more broken than Rowley's arm.
@@swagmeister696 I mean, Frank is basically just trying to push stereotypical 'manly' things, and it's to the point where he WILLINGLY tries to avoid them due to them not being what he considers a man, Misogyny is a hatred for women (aka incel or sexist) with Misandry being hatred for men (aka sexist or every feminist ever). So yes, both are 'bad' things in this society.
Let’s not forget the time Frank chased Rodrick around the parking lot because gum landed in his hair (I forget which book that was). What was he intending to do to Rodrick once he caught up to him? Frank only stopped because he tripped and twisted his ankle. Pretty scary to think about.
There was ONE other time Frank actually cared for Greg. I forgot what book this was in, but when Greg told Frank about Nasty Pants, the kid who chased him and Rowley with a stick, Frank actually empathized with Greg, reciting that he also had a bully. Greg was worried that Frank would tell him to just "be tough," but he didn't. In fact, Frank got in contact with Rowley's dad and they both went to Nasty Pants' house to confront him. So there's that, at least.
@@redfatseal2407 I mean, that is true, but he originally did care that his son was being picked on. And it was sorta on Greg for not telling his dad the whole truth. That Nasty Pants chased him with a stick. I mean, I think the problem got resolved somehow, because after that happened, we never hear of that incident or Nasty Pants again.
5:42 "It's only left out of his diaries bc he is trying to repress the memories" This just reminded me of my theory I had when I was younger that Greg's mom reads through his diaries without him knowing but Greg has a hunch but can't really prove it and that's why he kind of writes about his family in the way that he does
You know. Even though the dad in the movies is kinda insane. At least he is shown to care about his family and is willing to adapt. Even got Greg to grow as a person within 3 movies. The books. Damn.
Ironically, the movies do a better job at presenting greg as a decent person. Such as in the second movie where he helps rowley with his magic act (despite previously saying no) so that rodrick could play in his band. Why, because he didn’t think it was fair that rodrick’s band was playing without him.
Theory: frank is an ageless being that fought in the civil war and he got ptsd and the only of coping is to play with his figurines Also the reason none of them have aged past middle school in Greg’s case is because he has put them all in an endless time loop
He's less unbelievable and more unreliable; he's obviously going to paint himself in the best possible light, and shows anyone who goes against him as the bad guy (except for one time in 'The ugly truth.')
@@lupo3555 sure. but i think his credibility (or lack there of) is exaggerated. The books I don’t think are intended to have it so that Greg lies about every detail. Otherwise, that would be uninteresting.
@JAMS Dream For the right reasons though. His mom was upset that he went off-script even though SHE SIGNED HIM UP WITHOUT CONSENT! And Rodrick was trying to record the act to humiliate Greg and was annoyed that the footage showed Greg enjoying himself, so he's got nothing on him. Manny and Frank had neutral expressions, so they don't really count.
@@marcusvergara6193 he doesn't lie about every detail, he manipulates certain events to make himself look the best in that situation. I assume that all the things that he talks about are real but the way that he fits into those situations is slightly falsified. Not in a deliberate way but in the way that a cocky teenager might see it.
I feel bad for frank, he weirdly reminds me of Walter white, he’s extremely dissatisfied in life and obviously feels like he doesn’t make his own decisions and not in control. Honestly in this story if it was written in a different way he would be a very interesting character. He already is. He is clearly a very depressed man.
This is a great point. I feel like in an alternate timelines where Diary of wimpy kid became a worldwide phenomenon on the level of Star Wars or something, this concept could become an amazing spinoff sequel.
Don't insult Pops like this. He might play with toys and enjoy a jolly good show but Pops would do anything for their family (the park in this case but you get it). Pops is a real one
As much as I think most of the time Greg exaggerates how the people around him are to a ridiculous extent. I genuinely do think Frank and Susan seem to be some mediocre parents
I can't believe the Mom makes the decisions for the family such as how they decided to use their relatives inheritance money and the mom made a *executive decision* and that she was going to use the money how she wanted to despite everyone not agreeing. No wonder she smiles all the damn time.
Yes I agree with you because I just got Wrecking Ball for my birthday gift from my mom's friend. Susan was abousetly at her worst in the book since she was only thinking about herself as it's always about her and what she wants in all the books. When Greg's great aunt passed away giving Greg and his family inheritance to improve their house by adding a new bigger kitchen, she was only thinking about herself once again despite Greg showing his parents and brothers his plans for his dream house where everyone could have their own floors to buy their dream gifts but no as usual, Susan wants a new kitchen just for herself. She doesn't even care what her husband and her children want to have for their dream house and she actually had the nerve to get mad at them all because wanted to buy a tour bus, a private boat and expensive civil war statute despite a inheritance could buy everyone what they always wanted since they couldn't afford before. And Frank was just as bad as Susan in the book, he forces Greg to go outside in nearly freezing cold conditions to fix the hot hob strap since the strap had fallen off during the a big snow storm when Frank could have done that instead of asking Greg to go fix it. Greg could have gotten seriously injured or even much worse by standing on a slippery steps to put down the hot tub cover. And another time Frank forced Greg to clean the ceiling gutters, once again Greg could have gotten seriously injured from doing such a dangerous job. And his worst when he forces Greg to help the construction workers build the kitchen addition for the house and I didn't like what he did to his preteen son in the book. Parents should never ever force their children to do activities they don't like to do instead they should be happy with their kids for the activities they like to do. I really feel sorry for Roderick and Greg because they have two parents who don't love them at all and favor their younger brother over them by spoiling their younger son. Poor Roderick and Greg they don't deserve way to get treated this way by their excuse of parents. If you ask me, they should be placed in foster care where they would find a lovely genuine family who gives the amount of love and happiness Susan and Frank had never ever in all books and support their dreams.
The only times Frank shows any "affection" towards his children is when Susan forces him to. Like going on trips or hugging his older sons. His love for his kids is so nonexistent, Greg even admits that it's awkward on the rare occasions he does so.
In the defense of Frank: Considering our only point of view of him is through the eyes of Greg, he’s probably a okay, if very flawed, father, and we only see him through a teenagers eyes, who is obviously very stressed and probably doesn’t really see when he does show love.
yall remember that one time in Cabin Fever where Frank threw away Gregs doll Alfrendo just because Greg was attached to it, and it Alfrendo was one of the few things Greg actually was responsible for.
Honestly I'm surprised no one's contacted social services about this family. Rodrick deserves better, Frank and Susan need to be in jail, Greg needs therapy and Manny ought to be institutionalised.
Always thought that there was something wrong with Frank, he just had the wrong vibes and it seemed like he doesn't exactly care about his family. Anyway, great video, I'm still never gonna stop watching these until RUclips gives you the justice of rewarding this high quality content and not whatever fucking garbage lies in the weird world of RUclips Kids
This is _exactly_ how my dad is and always has been. I can't stop thinking about that as you analyze Frank as a person and it's making me realize that a lot of the things that my friends say about my family really do have some solid foundations...
Also in Cabin Fever, Frank has to stay at a hotel because of blizzard and when the mom calls him and tells him that they're starving he doesn't do anything he just says he's sorry and and hangs up
I remember I used to hate Gregg because of how self centered he is, but the more I thought about it, it makes sense, considering how isolated he seems from his family, like he is the odd one, always wanting to be popular because he feels like that’s the only way people will like him and pay attention to him. Taking advantage of Rowley because he feels jealous of how his family actually seems to love each other and have a better life.
Honestly, this is why I like the Movie version of Frank (the one from the first three movies), especially in the movie version of Dog Days. He actually tries to bond with his son, and while yes, he still seems pretty embarrassed by him, they both eventually come to understand eachother. Frank learns to respect his son and not try to force him to be someone he’s not. The book Frank is seriously a terrible father. Like, geez. Richard Watterson is a better father than him.
I agree. Frank is a lot better in the films and does try to be like an actual father and learns not to take away his sons’ favorite things of force them to be something they’re inevitably not going to be. Then again, the characters are actually a lot better in the films with Greg being less of a sociopath and actually having a healthy relationship with Rowley instead of a manipulative one, and Holly Hills actually has more personality and Greg does try to actually talk to her in person instead of stalking her.
@@hunterolaughlin I also really love the movies better, like holly actually is friends with Greg and she even bonds with him, and in the books they aren't even friends 😭
Despite Richard Watterson being a lazy father and irresponsible sometimes, he is still a good dad that is trying to be a good father and husband for his family.
3:35 this has to be one of the worst thing Frank's ever done. He's got Rodrick thinking that he's a failure when his reality, his fans aren't even allowed to listen to him.
To add to this in the latest book Greg got lost in a stadium when he was younger, when frank took him to see a game and when they put his location on the Jumbotron when he got lost frank got mad when he missed the last shot. He cared more about the game more than his own son
Plus, he shouldn’t have sent his son, who was younger than the current age he is in the books, by himself to get snacks and souvenirs. That’s bad parenting. He SHOULD have accompanied Greg to the snack and souvenir stands.
@@hunterolaughlin Exactly Greg was just trying to win a prize by acting crazy for the Jumbotron but his father told him not to but after the game when Greg was lost he actually did win that contest by winning tickets to another and that time frank probably took Roderick instead of Greg probably because of what happened
he definitely physically abused Greg, in the first book Greg implied that his dad threw newspapers and bricks at him when he did something accidental and stupid
@@GhostGuy99but Greg literally says something about how his dad throws (or hits them with?) anything he's holding at the moment. Like I'm pretty sure it gets out of control when you do that?
@@ninjaked1265 Greg crushes on girls. Crushes are normal for every middle schoolers who aren't aro. Just because he crushes on them doesn't mean he respects and likes them.
Thank you for making this! I indeed think that Greg’s dad is really screwed up. In the first book, he yells at him just for eating cereal at 3:AM in the morning. Mainly because Greg’s older brother tricked him. But I feel like he should have reacted as if he thought maybe one of his kids was hungry or couldn’t sleep
Well, I actually have to agree with you about Frank! Did you ever read Double Down? Greg got locked in a room with Rowley and when he found out, instead of listening to Greg about what happened, he jumps to the conclusion “they were goofing around” and unfairly grounds him! I hated that so much, I wanted Frank to receive some sort of punishment for treating his son like that!
Same. I would pull a Darth Vader from the Planet Vulcan from Back to the Future and visit Frank and Susan during the night and threaten to melt their brains if they don’t change for the better.
@@latosomosplace And what about in old school, how Frank monitors greg and grandpa's action everytime which makes him into a nervous wreck. It's not Greg's fault the car broke, it was a life and death situation
What about the third movie? At the end, there was a heartwarming scene of them giving up on the millitary school (and camping), instead eating pizza together at hotel room, telling eachother how similar they are.
I have a small Theory: frank heffley is a control maniac, that's another reason why he plays with his toys, its to "control" what he can because he can't have a his own "perfect" family. he always wants it his way and if you do it wrong its like going left when you're supposed to go right. in his mind its like EVERYTHING is imperfect and disorganised, so therefor he has an escape from his imperfect world to go to his "perfect" world he is controlling. I really hope you read this comment and find this useful :] if you do read my comment you should totally make a video about this!
Tbh even as a kid i knew frank was messed up and never really seemed happy with his life. But at the time i brushed it off as him being of those mysterious cool stone hearted but deep down a family man. But no i see hes just borderline depressed and dissatisfied
I feel like calling him a dead beat is a big reach. I mean, yes he is quite distant from family but he doesn't straight up neglect his kid at all to be considered deadbeat. Like besides the fact that he is the main provider of the family, meaning that most of the bills, payments, and money being moved/spent in the house is his own that he gets by working a hard job. And by the sound of it, they don't OFTEN have financial issues meaning that he's working hard to make sure they set and isn't spending too much on his own hobbies. So he's considerate to his family to not just waste his money for himself He wrote all of Rodrick's papers through his high school or Junior year(Yeah, he quite literally spent hours doing his sons essays, after already coming from a full 8 hour job, and after already trying to help Rodrick try to do it himself. You could say his attempt to get Greg into Sports is selfish but at least it's a attempt to both get his son into something he would throw his support into. And seeing as Greg was allowed to quit most of those with little issue, it wasn't like he fully forced into being in these things for long. Probably as soon as Frank realize he wasn't going to be into it, he stopped it instead doing what a lot of parents do and threaten him or keep forcing him to stay in. Frank and Greg have been shown to be able to bond, though it was usually through insulting that one comic stripe in the papers. It's not much but it shows that Frank is willing to bond with his kids and isn't actively trying to ignore their existence because they're not into sports. When the parents thought Manny was being affected in school by his and Susan's fighting because of a drawing, he put on a act with Susan to look like they're not fighting as much. Showing he does care what his actions can do to his child. Considering how it's his house, he's already doing enough letting rodrick and his band often practice at their house. Where a grown adult was hanging around teenagers(I forgot how old bill and Rodrick was in the second book when they met). I say he does have a right to move away greasy edgelord from HIS OWN LAWN before they start making it a habit and more realistic things like "drug disturbing" and vandalism takes place. Considering how all Greg wants to do is play games alone, and Rodrick just goes to the garage to practice with his drums. Frank spending most of his time doing his own hobby is quite fair. And on top of everything, Frank never just leaves Greg to dry. Like to my memory, there wasn't a time Greg was lost and Frank went, "well, find your own way back I'm not picking you up." He always goes to pick him up, or take someone to the hospital like when Rowley broke his leg. I just find the title, "Dead beat Dad" to be almost disrespectful considering how much he does for his family VS what his family actually do for him.
No he is a misogynistic psycho who literally abuses his children such as throwing bricks at Greg and being mad and fighting with his wife because his son wanted a barbie house.
Whats up, hope you enjoyed the vid, don't forget to sub :)
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u nasty man that was cruel
tHeRe NoT “tOyS” tHeRe FiGuRiNeS
Please do a fregley video pleaseeeeeeeee!!!!$
ruclips.net/video/yPYZpwSpKmA/видео.html
Do one on Susan, she seems like a Karen and loves her stupid little annoying “I’m only thwee”.
Havent read the books in a while but the only thing I remember Greg and his father bonding over was their mutual hatred of a newspaper comic.
Yep Lil Cutie a parody of Family Circus. A very schmaltzy curtsey comic where they don't even tell jokes.
@@icecreamhero2375 zoo wee mama!
He also took Greg to a baseball game which Greg screwed up by accidentally calling the cops.
@@irvinmorales1409 The baseball game was their mom's idea; she bought the tickets
Ever since my dad bought me the first one years ago, I started collecting them.
I'm missing number 14 and 15 now soon to arrive! I really enjoy to read them.
The heffleys
Sociopath who manipulates his best friend
Toddler who manipulates people and even puts his family at risk
Dad who neglects kids unless they live up to his standards
Mom
Teenager who likes drumming
*Mom who enables the toddler
Mom never listens to reason and legit shows that she likes manny best
*Sociopath who manipulates everyone he sees
So Manny is a psychopath?
*Mom who is the sole cause of the toddler being a psychopath
I honestly feel bad for Greg. I often get vibes that he’s depressed and his parents don’t really seem to help and I think that’s also a reason why Greg can be bad sometimes.
but greg should bully his family for revenge rather than bullying rowley who did nothing wrong. I do feel sorry for him but what he does to rowley is not one bit justified
@@redfatseal2407 I think Greg’s like that because he’s jealous of how much Rowley’s family loves him. Like he said once when he was little, his family couldn’t get enough of him, but when Manny was born, they told him to grow up and he said Rowley’s lucky he’s an only child for that reason. In fact, he said “One day, you’re hot stuff, then the next day, you’re a dirt sandwich.” Obviously, Greg feels betrayed about that
@@MustacheCashStash125 oh wait, you got a good point. I've never thought of that. Thanks for telling me
@@redfatseal2407 I see it as somewhat justified because rowley did rat him out on the poster board incident
@@ShazzledWolf32 and Greg claimed that he ate the cheese. Greg is a victim. But Rowley is a victim of a victim. I think your right. Maybe Greg isn't too bad afterall
The only time Frank showed love to any of his kids was when he bought Greg a Bench Press.
it was because he was happy one of his kids finally turned out to be a "man"
And when they were going to disney land until manny….
Remember the camp trip he took Greg to and then the camp manager was trashing greg and Frank stood up for greg
@@thepizzalova what happened?
@@yeetdelete851 Manny whined because he wanted to visit his great aunt, so his parents cancelled the Disneyland trip to go to a retirement home
rodrick is the best out of the family. I'm mean he actually has an aspiration and the bad things he does is more or less slight embarrassment or getting rid of items
I realise that now
Remember when he stole Greg's money when he told him that he could grow a money tree by burying underground. That wasn't out of embarrassment it was just his greed and utter selfishness
@@HenryCortezWarrp well it’s not good to be selfish and greedy. Edit: how did this get so many likes?
No Susan is the best
uh.... no!
The theory of him being bullied and seeing himself in greg during his middle school years only solidifies after we read this part in the book where he sees his bosses sons and compares them to his own.
Dude really just wants some sort of comfort or closure from a matter he never solved from his younger self and tries to do so by basically molding greg (since rodrick failed) into something he wanted to be
Jesus loves you 🙏w
I always got the impression Frank desperately wants his boss's life and family, but his boss doesn't really seem to care about what his family should be, he was just happy to have them and maybe trying to subtly tell Frank that he should still be proud of what he has.
@@Yuki-qs5mtPlease stop spamming this shit in the comments
It feels like narcissism but without the blatant condescending aspect. I get not all narcissists are boastful, but they are still terrible POS's
@@Yuki-qs5mt yeah I know
Isn't one of the first things they tell us about him how he throws bricks at the kids? Like wtf
He also throws Newspapers at them
mans wack af
I think Greg’s wording in that passage was, “he throws whatever he’s got in his hands at you” and then the page says “bad time to screw up” while he’s working with bricks 😬
Hol up-
Greg have n the bad time to screw up be like: oh shi-!!!
Frank must be messed up if his escape is a simulation of war
fr
@@LateNightPies maybe frank is a veteran with ptsd and that is why he is pressuring his sons to be “men” I don’t have much proof and if it was true they might have mentioned it by now, but I think it’s true in my head canon.
@@DianneAlexander4858 .
Oh god
Gamers: *oh no*
Honestly, Frank is a way better father in the movie trilogy than in the books. In Dog Days, it is revealed that his father didn't really spend much time with him. So he makes the conscious decisions to try to become a better father and become more involved with his children. Then later in that movie, Greg himself learns to be a better son.
YEAH FR
One of the few times the movies are actually better than the books
another reason why i find the og movies to be decent
The movie scenarios are almost completely different.
The characters actualy have development unlike in the book series where everyone just mostly retains the same personality throughout
Despite the minor flaws the directors really made the characters better and more fleshed out in the original trilogy
Well, as Greg said, whenever he screws up in front of his dad, Frank will just throw whatever is in his hands at him.
What book was that in again?
Lemme check
@@PyroNick01 it’s ok it’s in the first book I just saw it and I literally went😦 BAII-
YES AND AT ONE SCENE GREG DREW FRANK WITH A BRICK
That drawing was in the video
In one of the books, Greg says his dad punishes him by immediately throwing something at them. The example Greg gives is that a good time to misbehave is when Frank is reading the paper, but not when he's laying bricks. Another time, Greg's mother had to force her husband to hug his children. She watched to make sure that he'd do it.
In the movies they portray him as more of a flawed dork than an outright terrible father, he's called out on it, and him working to connect with his children better is a subplot. Of course, how bad Greg claims he is in the books should be taken with a grain of salt since the narrator is a middle schooler only giving one side of the story.
grain assault*
@@someguy9380 frank when Greg upsets him while frank is holding Rice
and let’s not forget how in the movie it’s been told that
“ Franks dad never even put the time to spend time with him, he never had that father and son moment “ which is why he goes alone in the basement cause Greg and rodrick don’t have anything interesting with him
Honestly I wished my dad was interested in the Civil War but no he doesn’t oof
Yes but if he thinks his dad doesn't like him and he mentions it multiple times in his diaries, that's probably a bad sign
Now that I think about it doesn’t he recognize that people read his diaries? Gotta wonder how much is fabricated.
My POV when I was younger:
Greg: A normal kid overcoming middle school
Rodrick: A metal older brother who’s mean
Manny: A normal younger brother
Susan and Frank Heffley: Normal Parents
My POV now:
Greg: Sociopath
Rodrick: The most normal
Manny: Psychopath
Susan and Frank Heffley: Bad parents
THIS but I thought Manny was the devil
the grandparents were awesome
relatable
When i was younger and first saw the books I actually thought that the family were all friends.
Greg still being our main protagonist that gets picked on
Rodrick being the bully
Manny being the really short kid
Susan who I thought was a boy (bc of the short hair) who was a nerd
Frank......I honestly dont remember who i thought he was supposed to be
Now I remember, I thought frank was supposed to like the jock/supporting friend.
I used to feel bad for Greg, but now that I think about it deeply, Rodrick and his grandpa are the only normal ones in the Heffley family.
Greg: Sociopath
Manny: Pyschopath
Frank: Dead beat Father
Susan: Enabled Mother
Rodrick: Just a Teen who likes to rock n roll.
.
When we were young, we think Rodrick was the weird and rude brother, but when we got older and try to understand the family. Rodrick seems the most normal out of anyone of his family
Rodrick is the only one who actually realizes how messed up the family is. Frank and Susan think they're good parents, Greg thinks the family is just your normal family (and he thinks Rowley's family is weird because of how loving they are.), Manny is a toddler, but he is also willing to exploit the family for his own purposes. One day Rodrick will hop into his van and drive away to freedom.
@Swag Monke have you watched a video on what makes Greg a sociopath? And there's a video on why Manny doesn't care for his family and also shuts down power on all of the house but his room and that kills his family
@@genericname2747 once rodrick has the money he needs, he'll get out of the house and become a successful millionaire singer. Greg will live in a dead beat job and talks about how he deserves to be the famous and rich one
@@Shizilol I want a book from Rodricks point of view
@@genericname2747 well Rodrick can still be a bit of a bully to his brothers; hogging the big blanket, forcing Greg to ride in the back of his van, hiding the phonesets, recording Greg’s embarrassing play, stealing Greg’s old journal, forcing Greg to help him clean up after The Party.
Frank is a deadbeat
Susan is an enabling Karen of a mother
Greg is a manipulative sociopath
Manny is a selfish psychopath
Roderick is a bully
These books are actually really interesting, because as you age your entire perspective of them changes. Manny goes from a typical annoying brother to a textbook psychopath. Greg , the lovable protagonist becomes the sociopath. His dad, who we first thought to be just a stonier type of love, he is now a abusive, distant father. His mom, who used to be a kind and doting mother, is now only after “the perfect family” (as seen in The Long Haul). Most interesting, Rodrick was once the bad guy, but now he is the most normal one of all of them.
What makes rodrick normal?
@@marinetter.8423 Every person in the heffley family has some sort of psychological issue (mannys a straight up psychopath lol) except rodrick. He plays in a band, he gets in trouble time to time, he hangs out with his friends a lot. All normal teen stuff.
@@beelee9866 well rodrick was an asshole but a) he could be funny at times b) he had a point about some things (like not all learning is done through school some things you can teach yourself) c) he and Greg end up becoming closer at times
@@oooh19 but you have to remember that this is in Greg’s point of view. So we see his family through his side. Not anyone else’s. So Rodrick is just being a normal big brother. Always picks on Greg because he’s the little brother and yes he does get in trouble but for stupid teen things. Greg even BROKE his friends arm and didn’t pay a price for it. All he got was a few days of the silent treatment and they were back to being friends. He didn’t even get in trouble by his parents.Manny does the worse and he doesn’t even get any yelling or anything. Rodrick is being the normal one in the family. He’s just doing stupid teen shit. And I’m not getting mad at your opinion because everyone has an opinion. And no opinion can be wrong. All I’m saying is that we only see Gregs point of view throughout the books and movies.
Childhood is when you idolize Greg. Adulthood is when you realize Rodrick makes more sense
I’m surprised you didn’t mention in The Last Straw, Frank was stealing snacks from the snack bin for weeks and ALLOWED Susan to punish the kids who were not given any until the culprit came forward, thinking it was either Greg or Rodrick.
Of course he was exposed when Greg camped out to catch the thief in the act. (After falling asleep in warm laundry) and what do they do when the noise wakes up Susan? Both grab as many snacks as they can and bolt.
Oh yeah, I remember that!
He doesn't even feel remorse or apologize, and this happens long after he made a New Year's resolution to go on a diet...only to be stuffing his face with brownies.
yeah it proves franks a bad parent as well
@@GhostGuy99he also purposefully avoids his family close after the snack incident so he won’t get in trouble
How sad is it that I find myself liking Frank’s dad, Grandpa Heffley more than Frank Heffley himself. At least Grandpa Heffley has a better relationship with his grandkids (He even states Greg is his favorite in the 2nd book) and lets them be themselves and not force them to be something they’re not.
I have to wonder if Grandpa Heffley was a very different man when Frank was a child.
Think about it: He outright admits he has a favorite grandchild. If he's so bold to admit that, it makes me think he also has a favorite SON who isn't Frank (Frank IS one of three siblings after all).
So this mentality may have bled onto Frank, seeing as he, like his wife, clearly favors Manny, he just never admits it out loud.
I think in one of the later books (the tenth one, to be exact), it’s implied that Grandpa Heffley doesn’t really approve of how Frank and Susan (more so Frank, probably) are raising the kids.
@@leigh3659 And I don’t blame him.
Tbh, Grandparents can be very different to a grandchild than their actual kid, for many reasons. Potential? Guit Tripping? Not even Noticing? Are all reasons. It’s sad that there’s a stereotype (and reality for me) that grandparents spoil their grandkids and just kinda forget about their actual kids they created.
@Lissette G Orozco Diaz True. But he doesn’t have as many negative qualities or bad actions as much as his son, daughter-in-law, and 2nd and 3rd grandsons.
I can relate to Greg when it comes to the whole sports situation, when I was really young, my dad wanted me to play sports but I wanted to be an animator. There's nothing wrong with that in it of itself, but the problem is that he wouldn't let me play sports and do my art at the same time, it was quite insensitive of him to only make me to be like him rather than let me express my passion and support my ideas.
Did the animator thing turn out?
@@Typical_Generic who knows maybe
@@Typical_Generic I've been working on some animations but for the most part I'm too busy doing other things
I can relate to. My Dad is making me do Boy Scouts (ik thas not a sport but it's getting forced to do something crappy) and never really let me have an opinion if I did it or not. Every day i've hated it, the only good part is that I made a friend who lives 2 hours away. Never told him, idk how too. Really sucks.
Makes me glad my dad has always been a gamer.
The only time I've seen things like Greg actually being sorry, manny maturing, and Frank being a better dad was in the movies, but that's basically just because they need to show character development
I grew up with a father A LOT like this unfortunately. The "only caring about his kids' interests when he is interested" aspect hit very close to home for me
damn bro, hope at least someone was there for you cuz nbf but this parenting aint right
I'm sorry, I'm sure you didn't deserve that
:(
define "interested"
Bruh same
You should analyse the mom next! She's just as toxic as the dad, if not worse. Overall a complex character and not just a "mom stereotype"
Either that or an analysis an Rodrick, the 1 person in the family who isn't terrible.
@@andyblanton6570 Grandpa Heffley is also another family member that’s not terrible either. Unlike his son, he at least loves his grandkids for who they are and doesn’t try to change them.
@@hunterolaughlin grandpa the chad
@@ChillGamerLad megachad
@@ChillGamerLad the dog
0:46 I remember from the first movie, that after Greg flees from Finley's (or was his name Fregley?) house, his dad picks him up, hugs him and tells him it will be all OK. I think this was the only moment in the entire series where he was acting like a "normal" dad with parenting skills.
Most of the characters are a lot better in the movies.
@@CrazyIshan69 Agreed. I think it's because they characters are portrayed by real people, so having them be the exact same as they are in the books would make them too cartoonish.
Someone else in this comment section mentioned that the characters and the relationships grow and change throughout the trilogy, unlike in the books, and I reckon it's because the actors themselves were literally growing and changing as time went on. The actor playing Greg Heffley was around 13 by the time Dog Days was filmed, so having him act like he was still 11 years old would be unrealistic. That's why the character growth in the films was so necessary, even if it wasn't present in the books.
That's just my thoughts, so I could be wrong.
@@throwawayaccount4008 You make sense. Besides, a movie requires more a plot than a book does, so it would have been weird to never add any character development in them.
@@throwawayaccount4008 Zach was 14 in _Dog Days,_ I think.
Fregley
Frank's worst sin is his indifference and apathy to his kids. It seems to me most likely intentional, he wants the rewards without the risks. Frank basically does the bare minimum to prevent his kids from becoming like Uncle Gary and even then it ain't a lot. I wouldn't say he's given up on Greg though, he probably still see's some potential in him and his faith in Roderick is probably very low. Frank is a good dad in a sense he has a just above blue collar job and helps support the family but he's bad because he neglects them.
Hes definitely a mixed bag
@@Kleebo that is assuming that we get a full picture through the eyes of our MC. Which is honestly unlikely. this theory doesn't hold much water, unlike greg bieng a sociopath. in that theory, we get all our information right from the source, and it's an unbiased form of inormation.
@@galatic-wyvern2993 He's not a sociopath, he's a narcist
@@dustyrose192 Hmmmm...I can see that
You should do Susan next. She’s mostly responsible for how Manny turned out and is arguably worse than Frank.
Edit: How does this have so many likes?! It only had a few the last time I checked.
I guess Greg's parents are both sides of the extremes, a parent that doesn't give enough love and one that gives too much love.
@@mr.leeleeleee7153 Yeah, except neither of them show much love towards Greg and Rodrick. Frank just plays with his war toys and Susan spoils Manny rotten.
She's the definition of a karen too.
@@theelementalgriffin2092 really? Wait hold on now that I think about it..
Seriously, Susan reminds me of my mother
Susan: I bet he is thinking about other women.
Frank: Mmm yes the war.
“Every child deserves a parent, but not every parent deserves a child”
Awesome quote
Manny doesn't deserve anyone
@@iggles6954 LMAO
"Every child deserves a parent, except Manny, that little shit can die"
It goes to show how the movie adaptations are something a lot different and (in my opinion) better than the books.
In the third movie, when Greg and his dad go camping, there are disagreements between them about how Greg acts, something that's been important the whole trilogy
Than, when both get kicked out of the camp with, they go to a hotel, get a pizza, and just talk, where his dad relates to him and they just talk
Obviously I'm paraphrasing, but the characters and relationships change throughout the movies, unlike the book, where everyone remains stagnant
I've listened to David Bowers' commentaries on the movie adaptations he directed, and although he never outright says it, it's very clear he fully knew the events of the books would never work as a comedy because of how f'ed up the family is.
I don’t think there better or worse then the books there just completely different
1:09 Oh my god, I just realized that Frank was constantly telling Greg that he should go outside instead of playing video games, while Frank himself was locking himself with those toys
Manny: *BIGGEST PYSCHOPATH*
Greg: Narcicist
Frank: “The dad that hated the child” stories
Susan: biased
Rodrick: basic teenager
Rowley: The child that trusts his friends.
The more accurate term for Greg's mom would be a Karen and as for rodrick he is an edgy punk who bullies his siblings
@@Oueenazolatigressgina bruh half of older siblings bully their younger siblings he is a basic teenager
@@plugshirt1684 can confirm you're right
@@plugshirt1684 I'm highly aware of that
From meanest to nisest
Rowley 😃
Rodrick😀
Susan🙂
Frank 🙁
Greg😡
Manny: 😈😈😈😈😈😈😈
This Freaky Frank has a serious effect on his kids as well! Rodrick always finds excuses to problems rather than solutions, just as his dad does too. Frank doest beat Manny because he is spoiled, as for Greg, there is no proof, but there was a scene in book 11 double down where Frank probably was attempting to beat Rodrick and did something worse after. Rodrick spat gum and it accidentely hit Frank and it said that Frank was chasing him, and that Rodrick was "pretty fast" so this behaviour of abuse which he was probably gonna smack Rodrick was probably often where Rodrick PREPARED for it because he is hit often by Frank. Greg said in book 3 that Mr Litch was the reason Rodrick quit sports, so how does Rodrick run so fast unless he has some secret trainer which he is too lazy to work for?! And Frank LIED to a DOCTOR after he tripped attempting to hit Rodrick running. He said he tripped on Mannys toys, blaming his small son for his injury which Manny, a 4 year old, probably didnt even KNOW his father was lying to a medical professional about a broken LEG. Or maybe he did know because he's a freaking psychopath mastermind as explained in another episode of latenightpies ruclips.net/video/Yzz8g5ag0eY/видео.html and Manny is defenitely one as he knew his dad blamed him and later in the book sabotaged his civil war diorama. But the worst part about this meant to be FUNNY scene is that Frank knows his behaviour is wrong and most people thought he lied because of embarresment about gum in his hair, but really he doesnt want anyone to know he beats his kids. None of the sons stepped in to tell that Frank was lying to the doctor when Susan came back from school. This rubs off on his son Manny making him a psychopath, proven in this link I am totally not sending for the second time, ruclips.net/video/Yzz8g5ag0eY/видео.html Rodrick a sack of crooks who expects beatings, and his son Greg which gives him a horrible mentality. In a "funny" scene in cabin fever book 6, Frank got stuck in the door but Greg thought a stranger was knocking because like 99% of kids, he was taught that mom and dad have a key, so anyone else is suspicous. Greg simply obeyed his parents word and refused to open but that got him shaken when he saw it was his dad. I'll admit this scene Frank didnt do anything wrong, but Greg wrote in his journal how his dad would probably turn him into the cops without caring and drew a picture of himself being hauled in chains by the police with his dad sipping coffee and watching. This is the first thing coming to Gregs mind is proof FRANK IS A FREAK FATHER
Me when I passed this, whoa holy shit what’s this.
How did you get the time for this...
Huh, this is a very valid point.
In one of the first books it's said he throws what's the closest to him when the kids make him mad and it's implied he could have thrown a brick at Greg..
Manny's 3 years old
“A man who never spends any time with his family can never be a real man”
-Don Corleone
I think the worst of them all is Susan Heffley
Like in Double Down Greg tries to convinces her that he did steal a Lego piece but she just doesn't listen to him
And a normal mother actually listens to her child's opinion
You can see a lot of babying done to Manny by her
And when I say lot I mean a LOT
And yet, the 8th book reveals she has a stash of parenting books that she keeps secret from her sons by hiding them behind some old shoe boxes in the hallways closet. So she would know from reading those books that babying Manny isn’t a good thing and is just going to make him too dependent on her.
the amount of babying done to manny by susan is probably equivalent to the amount of babying done to gonta by 90% of the danganronpa fandom
Suzan is caring but she just does too much. She is a technology-hating Karen who isn't too bright.
@@icecreamhero2375
I think that's part of the problem. Susan cares too much and Frank doesn't care enough.
@@frankielovejoy9928 I think the not caring thing is an exaggeration. I think Frank tries to act mature but he is really grown up Greg. As seen in Old School. Where he made up a scary story to have a cabin to himself.
I guess Frank is just disappointed that his sons turned out not to be his idea of ‘men’ even though he IGNORED THEM ALL THE TIME.
Edit: Jesus didn't expect it to blow up like this.
69th like
Everyone knows that neglected children turn out to be real men, it's just common sense
@@Pingoz Why do you think that ‘Fatherless Behavior’ is an insult? What you said is not true. Or at least for the vast majority.
Frank doesnt even give his sons any advice
@@ThanosDestroyeryearsago he was using sarcasm
I like how the only bond between Frank and Greg is hating a news paper comic.
Kinda sad considering greg’s family is based off Jeff Kinney’s...
I pray that it's just an exaggeration
@@stevepensando2593 it better be
Its not and I think the book series is more of a reflection of Jeff himself Jeff doesn't realize that this type off behavior isn't normal and its sad
prob an exaggeration
Sp who is Jeff meant to represent? If thats true that is
Frank is not that bad of a dad in movie, especially in Rodrick Rules. In first part, he was the only one who admire and cheer for Greg when he joins the Wrestling club. Frank was also the only person to stand by Greg's side after the plays end, and realize that Patty was wrong, while Rodrick and Susan just ditch Greg there. In Rodrick Rules, Frank is shown up to be a real responsible and fair dad. Frank is a type of person that if his child do the right thing, he will praise them and proud about them,no doubt. Frank is always the mediator for Greg and Rodrick, and treat them fairly. He wants Rodrick to stay away from Bill, and that's a good thing In the third movie, Frank lost some point of the viewer for being too fastidious and conservative about Greg's summer before Susan told him. But later on, we see that Frank is actually a good father, who will drive over a thousand miles just to come and get his son home, and actually respect Greg's opinion about his fake job at the country club. He doesn't force Greg to follow his way of becoming an intern for Frank's company, but instaed, he willingly accept and proud that his son has a job. I think that Frank Heffley deserve a better understanding from the viewer. He is not a bad father, or at least in the film
Yeah, he’s great in the first three movies, but he’s completely devoid of personality in The Long Haul movie. Good job that’s a different universe.
@@ianhawke2203 long haul was shit anyway
they killed rodrick
@@ianhawke2203 I consider Long Haul a bad dream….
@@voidnoidoid I have a theory about Long Haul the movie. Greg heard that they are going on a trip and then greg falls asleep. He has a fever dream about the trip which is the Long Haul movie, then wakes up and does the actual trip.
@@gmdrandom6287 Sounds reasonable
Frank really just projects his insecurites on his children, it's crazy.
It happens everywhere on this world, for some It may be abnormal and for others it may be the norm.
The reason frank's favorite son is Manny is cause manny still has a chance to be all manly, and thats what he wants. Why else do you think his name is MAN-ny?
Edit: I'm being serious, I think Frank will make manny how he wants, not how manny does, like how greg did so to rowley
genius
I always though Manny was a weird name. Makes sense now
How did I never think of this- that’s why his name is-
@@sussuri3037 true-
manny not manly doesnt make sense but K still cool tho
Greg is an unreliable narrator, so everything in the diary probably isn’t a 100% accurate portrayal.
I like to think bits of the movie are canon, like how his family is portrayed in the movie. But Greg being an egotistical dork, portrays them as they do in the books to make him seem better than them. :)
Well it makes sense , We are looking at it from a character's perspective and not the author's. So it is bound to be a little biased
Why we should listen to Rowley the HONEST ONE
@@Userjustuserokjustuser he has the mind of a child so he’s not exactly reliable either but there’s a quote that says there is a piece of truth in every lie
@@ShazzledWolf32 Rowley would HINT the truth very easily like when Greg poured ice cream on to Rowley’s head in his (Rowley) journal
In the movies, we do see Frank grow as a person and accept his son, which is honestly a really beautiful arc for him
Are the movies better? I feel like they are
@@dragonmaster3207 i honestly prefer books
@@dragonmaster3207life action movies have their charm (still the only time i prefer a book over a movie) , the animated ones on Disney plus tho …yeah
@@dragonmaster3207+
If you want a super dysfunctional family I'd stick with the books. But the live-action movies (especially the first three) are great.
Honestly especially when it came to Dog Days (Movie) I really liked that in the scenes you can tell he's trying to encourage Greg though not the best job you got to give him credit especially with the motel scene
Hey, don't diss my boy Pops like that. He's the most wholesome character in Regular Show
@Izuku Midoriya The show's ending stated that Pops is literally he embodiement if good in the universe. Besides, if he ever had a kid, he'd probably let him play with the Civil War figures with him, unlike Frank
"Would you like a popsicle?"
Jolly good comment
@Izuku MidoriyaHe didn't deserve what happened 😔
Ikr I love him
In the book The Getaway, at one point they go on a cruise and end up leaving Rodrick behind. But they couldn't have left him cuz he must of seen them going on the boat and said "Oh hey time to go" Or smt but no he ends up being stuck in the middle of the ocean with private islands nearby. But Rodrick stayed there as if he was forced to
Roderick: "Guess I'll die. :/"
@@1FenFen1 yes lol
Despite still being a messed up family still in the movies, the family is way better and way less distant and chaotic in the films, at least the first 3. The third movie really does Frank's character well because it's showing us that he goes at extreme lengths to try and make Greg do things, but he's very passionate, doesn't just watch from the sides with things that happen, he may be not understand his kids interest or vice versa, but he's really trying at least in the camping portion where he shows he really cares about Greg and they CAN agree on things as well as make deals not to tell Susan about things that won't hurt her
Frank would be much happier as a single, childless father. Granted, we see them through Greg’s interpretation, but there’s no indication Frank and Susan would be compatible as friends, let alone romantic partners. The way they treat their sons is polar opposite. Frank is only motivated to help them when he has something to gain, while Susan is stuck in handholding mode.
There is one instance of Frank and Greg genuinely having a bonding moment. In Old School, during the camping section, Greg discovers the source of the bogeyman story, Silas Scratch, was his father and invented to keep the good bathroom a secret. When leaving the camp, Greg decides to maintain the tradition and keep the legacy of Silas Scratch alive.
You do realize if *that* happened, the book series wouldn’t exist because the main character is never born?
How do you be a childless father
@@giornogiovanna3477 😂😂😂
Sound like my father,some people are not meant to be parent
@@giornogiovanna3477 late-term abortion
"no son of MINE is a quitter"
"which isnt really true at all. im a HUGE quitter, and so is rodrick."
felt
That comeback was deserved
@JAMS Dream Nah Manny got kicked out of 2 or 3 preschools for shutting off the power
@@fireinthehole_727 yes
His son isn't a quitter, his SONS are.
@@TheRealBellatrixLestrange FACTS
It might have came from the fact that Frank wanted to take Greg to a baseball game, but he called the cops because he thought he was getting sold
i dont even want to imagine what he thinks a perfect daughter is
oh hell no
oh no
Oh hell no
*N O*
*no.*
When you put this into perspective, it shows how different the books and movies truly are.
I mean, the books paint a dysfunctional mental family, whilst the movies follow an asshole who slowly betters himself and actively repairs the family (yes, Long Haul included)
In my opinion, they aren't all that dysfunctional in the books. I feel like stuff in the video is exaggerated a little bit for comedy. The biggest difference to me is in the books greg is more of a strightman reacting to things around him and he is kinda selfish and egotistical. Most of the time he is a victim of circumstance. Like when he was at swimming lessons. He thought the starter pistol was an actual gun so he hid at the bottom of the pool. In the movies, he acts like a bigger jerk so that they can have a lesson at the end. Like when he lied about the party, or when he committed identity theft in Dog days.
I think the difference is less to do with the different mediums and more to do with the inherent bias in Greg's perception.
In the books, Greg is actively trying to paint himself as the hero of the story so he actively exaggerates how bad the family is while downplaying or justifiying his own wrong doings whereas in the films everything is more balanced.
@@connorcampbell-bisson8721 I think everything in the books is canon because he puts some embracing stuff in there. And the movies don't count.
honestly i feel really bad for greg. if he sees himself as a quitter and feels that his dad would send him away at any point , its honestly really sad. like how unloved does he feel to think so negatively, and the worst part is he probably thinks its normal to feel that way. not only that, but his mom favorites manny, so it must make greg feel really bad and left out.
This guy is the Game Theory of DOAWK lmao
Yes
BRO WHY TF ARE U ANYWHERE YOU ALWAYS COME IN AND OUT ON EVEYR GODDAMN VIDEO!!!! CAN YOU STOP FOLLOWING ME FOR ONCE?! WHATS WITH THE DEAL WITH ALL THOSE STUPID CHECK MARKS IN THE COMMENT SECTION ANYWAY?! THEY ARE SO ANNOYING!!!! I HOPE THAT RUclips WILL REMOVE THEM FROM THE COMMENT SECTION FOREVER WHABAHHAAHHAHAHHAHHHAHAHHSJDD DO DTJXDJDRZKFJZuxdzoxgizxghrsjjrzdiyzigzigxufxlgtgxkgxhzoc)&")&9*5$85*7&fiF7&u_u_uf7i_i$iri÷%ו8rirUtzuf,id8_ir84it84ur74,7,8_irIrUrzu...
*faints
@@sillyfegart5455 bruh
@@sillyfegart5455 also ray mak
@@sillyfegart5455 calm your nerves
Frank: Deadbeat dad with misogynistic ideals, also excludes himself from his family as he's disappointed in them.
Susan: The sole delusional enabler of Manny, and shows blatant favoritism towards Manny and Rodrick, is possibly the most delusional mother one could ask for.
Rodrick: Oldest child who's had to deal with Frank's shenanigans for the longest, actually has a career plan even if "he's not good" according to Greg.
Greg: The middle child who's almost always ignored in favor of Rodrick and Manny, is the sole victim of Rodrick's "bullying" and Rowley being his only friend. His dreams being denied by his parents, which may explain why he's just a dick to everyone overall.
Manny:....you already know why this little shit sucks.
I honestly feel kinda bad to Greg, since children are mostly likely to immitate what their parents do
@@5soda I mean his family overall is just horrible, I mean looking at how successful Rowley's family is even without their money is it's kinda clear that the family is possibly one of the best, with Greg's family just being more broken than Rowley's arm.
Rowley: A kid who just wants a friend
You say misogynistic like its a bad thing...?
@@swagmeister696 I mean, Frank is basically just trying to push stereotypical 'manly' things, and it's to the point where he WILLINGLY tries to avoid them due to them not being what he considers a man, Misogyny is a hatred for women (aka incel or sexist) with Misandry being hatred for men (aka sexist or every feminist ever). So yes, both are 'bad' things in this society.
Let’s not forget the time Frank chased Rodrick around the parking lot because gum landed in his hair (I forget which book that was).
What was he intending to do to Rodrick once he caught up to him? Frank only stopped because he tripped and twisted his ankle. Pretty scary to think about.
That happened in The Ugly Truth
Frank's family: Honey, please, we haven't seen you in 7 months
Frank: HAHA CIVIL WAR GO BRRRRR
Edit: Thabks for 1k likes on this cringey comment XD
Nah it’s more like *musket firing* *like 5 minutes of reloading*
@@ro-droidmemesandstuff8616 True, true
@Logan Roof
Shut.
@@nonameuntilifindanewone.6053 let's report him
@@Chad_Darwin
Yeah.
There was ONE other time Frank actually cared for Greg. I forgot what book this was in, but when Greg told Frank about Nasty Pants, the kid who chased him and Rowley with a stick, Frank actually empathized with Greg, reciting that he also had a bully. Greg was worried that Frank would tell him to just "be tough," but he didn't. In fact, Frank got in contact with Rowley's dad and they both went to Nasty Pants' house to confront him. So there's that, at least.
He ended up getting mad at Greg and wasn’t interested in helping him after finding out nasty pants is only 5
@@redfatseal2407 I mean, that is true, but he originally did care that his son was being picked on. And it was sorta on Greg for not telling his dad the whole truth. That Nasty Pants chased him with a stick.
I mean, I think the problem got resolved somehow, because after that happened, we never hear of that incident or Nasty Pants again.
@@Nick-xp6cr yeah, but at this point, were just nit picking all the good things Frank has done to greg
also in meltdown he told greg some advice when his mom said he should deal with it himself
@@redfatseal2407I would get mad if my 14 year old son's bully is a 5 year old he can knock out with a single kick
if this is what he wants his son to be imagine if he had a daughter
Oh GOD-
That would have been a disaster.
5:42 "It's only left out of his diaries bc he is trying to repress the memories"
This just reminded me of my theory I had when I was younger that Greg's mom reads through his diaries without him knowing but Greg has a hunch but can't really prove it and that's why he kind of writes about his family in the way that he does
That is a smart theory and this deserves more likes.
Frank: *ignores and neglects his family to play with toys in the basement*
Also Frank: "sToP pLaYiNg DrUmS aNd ViDeO gAmEs!!!! bE a MaN!!!!!!!!!!!!"
"THEY'RE NOT TOYS THEY'RE FIGURINES"
_Frank, 2013
4:21 Holy shit, I've never seen Frank's character in that kind of light before. You're a genius.
You know. Even though the dad in the movies is kinda insane. At least he is shown to care about his family and is willing to adapt. Even got Greg to grow as a person within 3 movies.
The books. Damn.
The Movies: Reality
The Books: Greg trying to convince you he’s an okay guy and a decent person
@@orrorsaness5942 Goddamn now that I think about it this makes sense
@@rorkeslayer3925 Thanks☺️!
Ironically, the movies do a better job at presenting greg as a decent person. Such as in the second movie where he helps rowley with his magic act (despite previously saying no) so that rodrick could play in his band. Why, because he didn’t think it was fair that rodrick’s band was playing without him.
@@firewarrior8298 Indeed
Theory: frank is an ageless being that fought in the civil war and he got ptsd and the only of coping is to play with his figurines
Also the reason none of them have aged past middle school in Greg’s case is because he has put them all in an endless time loop
I support this theory.
Theories
But that’s just a theory….
*A GAME THEOR-*
Anyone: ages
Greg: *KIRA QUEEN! DAISAN NO BAKUDAN! BITES ZA DUSTO!*
@@ItsMePea *A BOOK THEOR-*
4:56 uhhhh thanks for creating a new type of anxiety for me i will never forget buff greg
To all the people saying Greg is an unbelievable narrator: Do you honestly think Greg is even creative enough to make up this many bonkers situations?
He's less unbelievable and more unreliable; he's obviously going to paint himself in the best possible light, and shows anyone who goes against him as the bad guy (except for one time in 'The ugly truth.')
@@lupo3555 sure. but i think his credibility (or lack there of) is exaggerated. The books I don’t think are intended to have it so that Greg lies about every detail. Otherwise, that would be uninteresting.
@JAMS Dream For the right reasons though. His mom was upset that he went off-script even though SHE SIGNED HIM UP WITHOUT CONSENT! And Rodrick was trying to record the act to humiliate Greg and was annoyed that the footage showed Greg enjoying himself, so he's got nothing on him. Manny and Frank had neutral expressions, so they don't really count.
@@marcusvergara6193 he doesn't lie about every detail, he manipulates certain events to make himself look the best in that situation. I assume that all the things that he talks about are real but the way that he fits into those situations is slightly falsified. Not in a deliberate way but in the way that a cocky teenager might see it.
Maybe he didn't make it up but he probably exaggerates it. Always seeing things from his childish and sociopath eyes
I feel bad for frank, he weirdly reminds me of Walter white, he’s extremely dissatisfied in life and obviously feels like he doesn’t make his own decisions and not in control. Honestly in this story if it was written in a different way he would be a very interesting character. He already is. He is clearly a very depressed man.
This is a great point.
I feel like in an alternate timelines where Diary of wimpy kid became a worldwide phenomenon on the level of Star Wars or something, this concept could become an amazing spinoff sequel.
Now I want a llb where Frank goes through a Walter white character arc and starts delving into crime
@@mrvespuccia.k.ameganite1747
Frank: I am the one who knocks.
Jesus loves you guys
@@Yuki-qs5mt thanks :)
Don't insult Pops like this. He might play with toys and enjoy a jolly good show but Pops would do anything for their family (the park in this case but you get it). Pops is a real one
Agreed
Pops is the most wholesome character ever
Agreed
There was a part where Susan made Frank give Greg and Roderick a hug, and it weirded Greg out a lot.
As much as I think most of the time Greg exaggerates how the people around him are to a ridiculous extent. I genuinely do think Frank and Susan seem to be some mediocre parents
Frank: bad parent
Susan: bad parent
Manny: psychopath
Greg: narcissist
Rodrick: only normal one
I can't believe the Mom makes the decisions for the family such as how they decided to use their relatives inheritance money and the mom made a *executive decision* and that she was going to use the money how she wanted to despite everyone not agreeing. No wonder she smiles all the damn time.
Yes I agree with you because I just got Wrecking Ball for my birthday gift from my mom's friend. Susan was abousetly at her worst in the book since she was only thinking about herself as it's always about her and what she wants in all the books. When Greg's great aunt passed away giving Greg and his family inheritance to improve their house by adding a new bigger kitchen, she was only thinking about herself once again despite Greg showing his parents and brothers his plans for his dream house where everyone could have their own floors to buy their dream gifts but no as usual, Susan wants a new kitchen just for herself. She doesn't even care what her husband and her children want to have for their dream house and she actually had the nerve to get mad at them all because wanted to buy a tour bus, a private boat and expensive civil war statute despite a inheritance could buy everyone what they always wanted since they couldn't afford before. And Frank was just as bad as Susan in the book, he forces Greg to go outside in nearly freezing cold conditions to fix the hot hob strap since the strap had fallen off during the a big snow storm when Frank could have done that instead of asking Greg to go fix it. Greg could have gotten seriously injured or even much worse by standing on a slippery steps to put down the hot tub cover. And another time Frank forced Greg to clean the ceiling gutters, once again Greg could have gotten seriously injured from doing such a dangerous job. And his worst when he forces Greg to help the construction workers build the kitchen addition for the house and I didn't like what he did to his preteen son in the book. Parents should never ever force their children to do activities they don't like to do instead they should be happy with their kids for the activities they like to do. I really feel sorry for Roderick and Greg because they have two parents who don't love them at all and favor their younger brother over them by spoiling their younger son. Poor Roderick and Greg they don't deserve way to get treated this way by their excuse of parents. If you ask me, they should be placed in foster care where they would find a lovely genuine family who gives the amount of love and happiness Susan and Frank had never ever in all books and support their dreams.
The only times Frank shows any "affection" towards his children is when Susan forces him to. Like going on trips or hugging his older sons.
His love for his kids is so nonexistent, Greg even admits that it's awkward on the rare occasions he does so.
He never even acknowledges how fucking dedicated Rodrick is to music
DOAWK is one of those books where you'll look at it as a child and think it's okay, then turn back as an adult and have a completely different view
It explains why this generation is the way it is
In the defense of Frank: Considering our only point of view of him is through the eyes of Greg, he’s probably a okay, if very flawed, father, and we only see him through a teenagers eyes, who is obviously very stressed and probably doesn’t really see when he does show love.
I've never met anyone who has gotten better from being sent to military school/forced into the military. They just become bad in different ways.
yall remember that one time in Cabin Fever where Frank threw away Gregs doll Alfrendo just because Greg was attached to it, and it Alfrendo was one of the few things Greg actually was responsible for.
That’s just as bad as manny almost freezing his family to death (me somewhat exaggerating)
Reading DOAWK as a kid: haha zoo wee mama
Reading DOAWK as an adult: okay wow this is actually pretty dark and depressing
Honestly I'm surprised no one's contacted social services about this family. Rodrick deserves better, Frank and Susan need to be in jail, Greg needs therapy and Manny ought to be institutionalised.
"Frank only cares about his son's interests when he is interested." I, sadly, know that feeling all too well.
define "interested"
@@sebastianc5155 he only cares if it's a shared interest. Like, if it's Pokémon, it's dumb. If it's the MCU, THEN we can bond.
I think we all do.
Always thought that there was something wrong with Frank, he just had the wrong vibes and it seemed like he doesn't exactly care about his family. Anyway, great video, I'm still never gonna stop watching these until RUclips gives you the justice of rewarding this high quality content and not whatever fucking garbage lies in the weird world of RUclips Kids
Maybe he's just on the spectrum.
1:19 isn’t pops like a God in the regular show universe? (Watch the final season for context)
BROOOOO
This is _exactly_ how my dad is and always has been. I can't stop thinking about that as you analyze Frank as a person and it's making me realize that a lot of the things that my friends say about my family really do have some solid foundations...
Also in Cabin Fever, Frank has to stay at a hotel because of blizzard and when the mom calls him and tells him that they're starving he doesn't do anything he just says he's sorry and and hangs up
He was in a blizzard.
@@andyblanton6570 even then, the dude could’ve at least sent condolences at the VERY least
@@numberonecrate he did.
What could he have done?
He also was relaxing in a bathtub while watching TV.
I remember I used to hate Gregg because of how self centered he is, but the more I thought about it, it makes sense, considering how isolated he seems from his family, like he is the odd one, always wanting to be popular because he feels like that’s the only way people will like him and pay attention to him. Taking advantage of Rowley because he feels jealous of how his family actually seems to love each other and have a better life.
Honestly, this is why I like the Movie version of Frank (the one from the first three movies), especially in the movie version of Dog Days.
He actually tries to bond with his son, and while yes, he still seems pretty embarrassed by him, they both eventually come to understand eachother. Frank learns to respect his son and not try to force him to be someone he’s not.
The book Frank is seriously a terrible father. Like, geez. Richard Watterson is a better father than him.
I agree. Frank is a lot better in the films and does try to be like an actual father and learns not to take away his sons’ favorite things of force them to be something they’re inevitably not going to be. Then again, the characters are actually a lot better in the films with Greg being less of a sociopath and actually having a healthy relationship with Rowley instead of a manipulative one, and Holly Hills actually has more personality and Greg does try to actually talk to her in person instead of stalking her.
@@hunterolaughlin I also really love the movies better, like holly actually is friends with Greg and she even bonds with him, and in the books they aren't even friends 😭
Despite Richard Watterson being a lazy father and irresponsible sometimes, he is still a good dad that is trying to be a good father and husband for his family.
3:35 this has to be one of the worst thing Frank's ever done. He's got Rodrick thinking that he's a failure when his reality, his fans aren't even allowed to listen to him.
Even SUSAN disapproved of him for that.
@@error-try-again-later Yeah, and he made a dumb excuse when she got mad at his decision
To add to this in the latest book Greg got lost in a stadium when he was younger, when frank took him to see a game and when they put his location on the Jumbotron when he got lost frank got mad when he missed the last shot. He cared more about the game more than his own son
Plus, he shouldn’t have sent his son, who was younger than the current age he is in the books, by himself to get snacks and souvenirs. That’s bad parenting. He SHOULD have accompanied Greg to the snack and souvenir stands.
@@hunterolaughlin Exactly Greg was just trying to win a prize by acting crazy for the Jumbotron but his father told him not to but after the game when Greg was lost he actually did win that contest by winning tickets to another and that time frank probably took Roderick instead of Greg probably because of what happened
he definitely physically abused Greg, in the first book Greg implied that his dad threw newspapers and bricks at him when he did something accidental and stupid
I think the bricks was just an example
Did he?
Because I read that book a lot as a kid, and I don't think it's ever mentioned at all that he does.
@@GhostGuy99 Late reply but it's shown in the video at 5:38
@@LightSoul-8 I'm not blind.
All I said was that I read the book a lot as a kid and never assumed that Hank throws bricks at Greg.
@@GhostGuy99but Greg literally says something about how his dad throws (or hits them with?) anything he's holding at the moment. Like I'm pretty sure it gets out of control when you do that?
the cycle of bad parenting will repeat
forever
And that’s the saddest part
you're right but I think Greg's gonna grow up and die an incel Virgin just off of how he wrights in the book.
@@khalifrhodes9503 incels hate girls but Greg clearly loves them
@@ninjaked1265 Greg crushes on girls. Crushes are normal for every middle schoolers who aren't aro. Just because he crushes on them doesn't mean he respects and likes them.
I feel like the only “bond” they’ve ever had is their hatred of Lil Cutie
4:31
Therapist: Chad Heffley isn't real. He can't hurt you.
Chad Heffley:
HOLY SHI-
Thank you for making this! I indeed think that Greg’s dad is really screwed up. In the first book, he yells at him just for eating cereal at 3:AM in the morning. Mainly because Greg’s older brother tricked him. But I feel like he should have reacted as if he thought maybe one of his kids was hungry or couldn’t sleep
Not to mention that in the getaway he got himself ONLY a first class ticket
Well, I actually have to agree with you about Frank! Did you ever read Double Down? Greg got locked in a room with Rowley and when he found out, instead of listening to Greg about what happened, he jumps to the conclusion “they were goofing around” and unfairly grounds him! I hated that so much, I wanted Frank to receive some sort of punishment for treating his son like that!
Same.
Same. I would pull a Darth Vader from the Planet Vulcan from Back to the Future and visit Frank and Susan during the night and threaten to melt their brains if they don’t change for the better.
@@hunterolaughlin I really would love to see that! That’s practically what they deserve
@@latosomosplace And what about in old school, how Frank monitors greg and grandpa's action everytime which makes him into a nervous wreck. It's not Greg's fault the car broke, it was a life and death situation
@@redfatseal2407 That certainly true
I like how everyone's hating on Greg's dad and Manny while Greg is a straight up sociopath
That's also because of Greg's parents. If his parents were more caring towards Greg then he would have not turned out like this
Manerva is worse than Gregory.
@@glacierlegion9439 who is manerva?
@@Oueenazolatigressgina manny
@@glacierlegion9439
Manerva lmaooo
What about the third movie? At the end, there was a heartwarming scene of them giving up on the millitary school (and camping), instead eating pizza together at hotel room, telling eachother how similar they are.
Ok you've done both Manny and Frank
Now you HAVE TO DO Susan Heffley.
Susan is Just a Mother
Manny stopped being annoying in the later books.
He’s done it.
@@cupio-stardust Pretty sure they know
When did they do Manny???
I have a small Theory: frank heffley is a control maniac, that's another reason why he plays with his toys, its to "control" what he can because he can't have a his own "perfect" family. he always wants it his way and if you do it wrong its like going left when you're supposed to go right. in his mind its like EVERYTHING is imperfect and disorganised, so therefor he has an escape from his imperfect world to go to his "perfect" world he is controlling.
I really hope you read this comment and find this useful :] if you do read my comment you should totally make a video about this!
This guy is just like my dad. Kind of upsetting how hard this hits.
😔😔😔
I think we’ll see more of Frank like he was in The Last Straw in Big Shot.
Tbh even as a kid i knew frank was messed up and never really seemed happy with his life. But at the time i brushed it off as him being of those mysterious cool stone hearted but deep down a family man. But no i see hes just borderline depressed and dissatisfied
I feel like calling him a dead beat is a big reach.
I mean, yes he is quite distant from family but he doesn't straight up neglect his kid at all to be considered deadbeat.
Like besides the fact that he is the main provider of the family, meaning that most of the bills, payments, and money being moved/spent in the house is his own that he gets by working a hard job. And by the sound of it, they don't OFTEN have financial issues meaning that he's working hard to make sure they set and isn't spending too much on his own hobbies. So he's considerate to his family to not just waste his money for himself
He wrote all of Rodrick's papers through his high school or Junior year(Yeah, he quite literally spent hours doing his sons essays, after already coming from a full 8 hour job, and after already trying to help Rodrick try to do it himself.
You could say his attempt to get Greg into Sports is selfish but at least it's a attempt to both get his son into something he would throw his support into. And seeing as Greg was allowed to quit most of those with little issue, it wasn't like he fully forced into being in these things for long. Probably as soon as Frank realize he wasn't going to be into it, he stopped it instead doing what a lot of parents do and threaten him or keep forcing him to stay in.
Frank and Greg have been shown to be able to bond, though it was usually through insulting that one comic stripe in the papers. It's not much but it shows that Frank is willing to bond with his kids and isn't actively trying to ignore their existence because they're not into sports.
When the parents thought Manny was being affected in school by his and Susan's fighting because of a drawing, he put on a act with Susan to look like they're not fighting as much. Showing he does care what his actions can do to his child.
Considering how it's his house, he's already doing enough letting rodrick and his band often practice at their house. Where a grown adult was hanging around teenagers(I forgot how old bill and Rodrick was in the second book when they met). I say he does have a right to move away greasy edgelord from HIS OWN LAWN before they start making it a habit and more realistic things like "drug disturbing" and vandalism takes place.
Considering how all Greg wants to do is play games alone, and Rodrick just goes to the garage to practice with his drums. Frank spending most of his time doing his own hobby is quite fair.
And on top of everything, Frank never just leaves Greg to dry. Like to my memory, there wasn't a time Greg was lost and Frank went, "well, find your own way back I'm not picking you up." He always goes to pick him up, or take someone to the hospital like when Rowley broke his leg.
I just find the title, "Dead beat Dad" to be almost disrespectful considering how much he does for his family VS what his family actually do for him.
you need more likes
No he is a misogynistic psycho who literally abuses his children such as throwing bricks at Greg and being mad and fighting with his wife because his son wanted a barbie house.
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@@amazingaquaticsandexotics3030 comments don't have rates shutup bot
@@cloak679 no it doesn't