Directed by Miguel Arteta from a screenplay written by Rob Lieber and based on a book by Judith Viorst, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is Disney’s latest attempt at a family comedy feature film.
Alexander Cooper (Ed Oxenbould) is a regular, almost-12 year old boy who experiences the usual pre-teen struggles and believes that he is the only one who experiences really terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days.
He awakens the day before his birthday to find gum in his hair, a classmates video announcement that he is throwing the birthday party of the century on the same day as Alexander’s, and the news that his best friend and crush are both bailing on him to attend.
Alexander’s father Ben, played by Steve Carell, is a perpetual optimist who never seems to let anything bring him down while his mother, Kelly (Jennifer Garner), is a busy career woman who is wrapped up in her work and caring for her infant son Trevor, played by Elise and Zoey Vargas.
His older brother Anthony (Dylan Minette) and his sister Emily (Kerris Dorsey) also appear to be wrapped up in their perfectly happy and successful lives. This leaves Alexander feeling alone and misunderstood, so in the early morning of his 12th birthday he makes a wish that his family could understand him by making sure he isn’t the only one who experiences such terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days.
Predictably the following morning his family awake to embark on a nightmare of a day leaving Alexander feeling guilty and responsible for the angst and suffering that his wish has caused.
Oxenbould is enjoyable as Alexander, who is completely and strangely obsessed with anything Australian, while Carell and Gardner make very easy going and likeable parents. Gardner and Carell’s experience is demonstrated as they make the most of the available laughs, although their characters and the story line are fairly thin.
Dorsey has some wonderful moments, particularly in her Peter Pan scenes, and she relishes her role as a theatre geek while Minette as her brother provides able support.
This family film might not be suitable for children under 8 as it lacks the visual comedy or colourful story telling that would engage younger children, but it will have greater appeal for pre-teens and parents to enjoy together. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day does not achieve the hilarity of many of Carell’s previous films, falling short in a few flat scenes and it lacks the magic and warmth of many of Disney’s offering. Still, you can expect to laugh, and there are some pleasant moments to be enjoyed.
Reviewed by Ceri Horner
Your Twitter: @CeriHorner
Rating out of 10: 6
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