Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is one of the most endearing family films I have seen in a long time. Between the incredible cast, charming plot, and overall heartfelt message, this movie is a win that you will want to watch over and over.
Based on the best-selling book, it follows the exploits of Alexander as he experiences the most terrible and horrible day of his young life and wonders if bad things only happen to him. But he discovers he’s not alone when his dad, mom and family live through their own terrible – and hilarious – day. It will tickle everyone’s funny bone, and warm their hearts as they discover how even on rotten days, families can grow closer.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day features a cast that is hard to top with chemistry that is undeniable. Steve Carell of “The Office” fame plays the father opposite of Jennifer Garner as the mother. The titular role of Alexander is played by Ed Oxenbould (Paper Planes). Dylan Minnette plays Alexander’s brother Anthony, Kerris Dorsey as his sister Emily, and Bella Thorne appears as well as Ceclia, Anthony’s girlfriend.
Carell, as always, is perfection. He is hilarious and always hits the comedic marks for each scene. Whether he is trying to fit in with a group of hip 20-somethings or overcome an embarrassing moment of wearing a pirate blouse because you don’t have another option, he makes it work and even better makes it believable when most actors would be over the top. Carell is the perfect father figure actor and Garner as his wife is the perfect foil in this movie. She was reserved but confident in her role as the back to work mother. When it came time to support her family as things went wrong, her sweetness and charm was tear worthy. Minnette and Alexander both played off each other making the little brother/big brother dynamic believable and more importantly propel the tory forward. Without Alexander’s anguish in the beginning we would have no story and we needed that to move forward.
Most importantly about this movie is the actual plot. They took a tiny little children’s book and turned it into a fully fledged movie and it is impressive. Even more is that the plot is conceivable. Every terrible, horrible, no good, very bad thing that happens to the Cooper family is something that could easily happen to every one of us and maybe it even has. A lot of us have failed a driving test, we’ve had a freak accident that destroyed something, we’ve awoken sick on an important day, we’ve had days where everything that CAN go wrong, definitely does go wrong. (In fact, I am pretty sure that is how I live my life.) Having a movie where all this happens, and more, but in the end, the family is stronger because of it, is a FANTASTIC message. The Coopers preserver. Yes, they break for a second, but only for a second. They are angry, and who wouldn’t be, but they don’t let it ruin their relationship as a family. They love each other and that is what gets them through this terrible day. THAT is such a monumental part of the movie and hopefully families can take that away when they watch it.
Stick together and you’ll make it thorough the toughest of days!
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is available on Digital HD, Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, Disney Movies Anywhere and On-Demand now!
Bonus Features:
(Digital HD*, Disney Movies Anywhere, Blu-ray)
- Alexander…In Real Life
- Snappy Crocs & Punch Roos: The Australian Outback Party
- Walkabout: A Video Diary
- The Delightful, Magnificent,
- Very Good Bloopers
- “Hurricane” by the Vamps – Music Video
DVD
- Snappy Crocs & Punch Roos: The Australian Outback Party
- “Hurricane” by the Vamps – Music Video
Facebook
Twitter
Google+
YouTube
RSS