Disney Pictures presents Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day; a contender for longest title for a motion picture released this year. The film’s title actually comes from the classic 1972’s book of the same name, but there is few else that the film takes from the book. Instead of focusing on Alexander’s day of mishaps and misfortune, the film focuses on the following day when it is Alexander’s family that must endure the run of incredibly bad luck.
The film is directed by Miguel Arteta (Youth in Revolt, Cedar Rapids) with a script by Rob Lieber, an impressive first-time feature film writer. The talented cast is an assembly of movie stars and well known character actors with Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner as Alexander’s father and mother Ben and Kelly Cooper. Alexander’s older brother and sister are played by Dylan Minette (Prisoners) and Kerris Dorsey (Ray Donovan).
Alexander himself is played by future star in the making Ed Oxenbould (Puberty Blues). Making up the remainder of the cast is Megan Mullally (Will and Grace) as Kelly’s disapproving boss, Donald Glover (Community) is a video game developer looking to employ Ben, Burn Gorman (Pacific Rim) is a pretentious drama teacher, and Jennifer Coolidge (American Pie) is a cruel driving instructor.
The film plays out in a series of “what next?!” moments as each family member suffers their own bad day at the same time. Part of the comedy of this film is the surprise element of what will happen next, so there is only one kinda-spoiler I will reveal. There is a scene where father Ben Cooper has hired what he believes to be “Authentic Australian Cowboys,” but in reality are three dancers from the male revue show Thunder from Down Under. While having male revue dancers in a Disney Family film does sound risqué, I assure that not only is there no actual stripping from the dancers, the name Thunder from Down Under is not even mentioned. Their appearance and the scene itself is really an inside joke for the adults that take their children to see this film. While the film is a modern take on the book and does incorporate modern humor like that found on Disney Channel shows, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is great and wholesome family fun in the tradition that can be brought only by the magic of Disney.
Although the film is filled with hilarious disasters and troubles through out, the actual purpose of the film is to convey the message that it is important to stay positive when everything goes wrong. Any bad day can be turned around when a loving family works together. And that is truly showcased in Alexander and his family.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day has a running time of 1hour and 21 minutes and is rated PG. It’s in theaters now!
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