Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Director: Rob Lieber
Starring: Steve Carell, Jennifer Garner, Ed Oxenbould
81 mins; Class 15;
Eden Cinemas Release
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (or Alexander for short) is an amiable family film about the titular Alexander (Ed Oxenbould).
Alexander experiences a really bad day at school, but gets little sympathy from his cheerful family – mum Kelly (Jennifer Garner); dad Ben (Steve Carell), older brother Anthony (Dylan Minnette) and sister Emily (Kerris Dorsey) and baby brother Trevor on hand to look cute.
Upset by their reaction, Alexander wishes they all experience a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day – which much to his amazement, they proceed to do.
The structure of the film, the various comic trials imposed on the family and the overall sense of fun that does prevail throughout is reminiscent of typical Disney classics of the studio’s heyday.
Though there are some moments that feel a little forced. The various plot strands include Kelly’s important book launch, where a misprint causes quite an embarrassment (and offers a cameo from Disney stalwart Dick Van Dyke).
There is an extended job interview for Dad that ends up rather badly in a sushi restaurant; Anthony and his snotty girlfriend’s preparations for the junior prom and sister Emily’s lead role in the school play also play a part.
Keeps ths schmaltz to a minimum
At the film’s heart is the message that no matter how badly things can go, if you keep a sense of perspectiveand humour things will turn out right at the end.
Kudos to screenwriter Rob Lieber, who adapted the screenplay from the book by Judith Viorst, for keeping the schmaltz to a minimum, the warmth genuine and the humour quotient high. If overall proceedings are a little predictable, many of them do raise quite a chuckle – Anthony unwittingly destroying a showcase in his school hall and the family coming home to be greeted by an alligator among many highlights.
The actors give their all and it would be a little heartless to not feel for them in their moments of need. Alexander is played by young Australian actor Oxenbould, and he takes all the stuff thrown at him (pratfalls, embarrassing texts, fires in the classroom) in his stride like a little man, stoically fighting on as his day gets progressively worse.
He serves as the film’s narrator, adding humour and pathos to his role.
Garner plays the comedy well, and has some great interactions with her boss Nina (played by Will and Grace’s Karen, Megan Mullally).
Carell is sympathetic as the stay-at-home dad trying to venture out into the world of employment once again (with a green-faced baby Trevor in tow…) and the actor once more gives a well-judged performance playing the comedy just right.