It seems as though Disney releases a new film every month. And with the recent success of movies like Frozen and Saving Mr. Banks, any movie that has the Disney name attached to it usually leaves viewers happy and entertained. Walking into Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, I knew I was in for a mouthful just from the lengthy title. Looking around at the many children in the theater, I was well aware that this film was geared towards kids and “tweens.” But I still knew that even I, as a college student, could find the kid inside myself while watching a Disney film. Sure enough, when the lights came on at the end of the film, I left the theater smiling and laughing, knowing that only the charm of a Disney movie could have such an effect on me.
The film is based on the popular children’s book by Judith Viorst and is directed by Miguel Arteta. It follows the story of twelve-year-old Alexander, the quirky yet sweet younger son of the Cooper family, played by Australian actor Ed Oxenbould. Alexander seems to be the unlucky member of his family, always picking the short end of the straw. On the day before his twelfth birthday, he wakes up with gum in his hair, trips going into his car pool, does not get the country he wants to write about for his school project, and to top it all off, the coolest kid in his school is having his birthday party the same night as his. When trying to explain his awful day to his loving yet distracted parents, played by the ever-funny Steve Carell and the talented Jennifer Garner, he finds they are too busy to listen to him. He wishes the night before his birthday that his family can experience the same unlucky day that he constantly suffers, and voila! The action begins.
The remainder of the movie takes place the following day, when it looks like Alexander’s wish has come true. His siblings, Anthony (Dylan Minnette), Emily (Kerris Dorsey), and even his baby brother all experience unpleasant events that day. The curse also affects his parents, though Steve Carell’s character throughout the film tries to put a pleasant spin on the “terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.” The film does a great job of pairing the distressing scenes with comedy; whenever something bad is happening on screen, there is always some forthcoming joke or gag. Although a comedy, the movie makes sure to include the Disney lesson every child can walk away with. At the end of the day, family will always have your back; a message that the movie executes well without turning the comedy into a sappy drama.
With the movie running for only eighty minutes, even the most active kids will be able to sit through the film and have a good laugh while doing so. The film is fast paced, with one scene jumping to the next, a choice Mr. Arteta may have made intentionally with so many terrible things happening in one day.
Disney has once again churned out another comedy that will delight kids of all ages, and one that also entertains those adults who, like me, are still kids at heart.