"Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" is Delightful; Good Family Fun

 
 Disney's "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No-Good, Very Bad Day" is quite simply a delight. I remember reading the book as a child, as I'm sure many people have, and it was one of my favorites. The film does an excellent job at capturing the essence of the story, the moral that everyone is going to have bad day, but it's those bad days that make you cherish the good ones. Leave it to Disney to deliver a family film full of comedy, heart, and a touching message.

   Seeming to always come up on the short end of life's stick, young Alexander (Ed Oxenbould) can't seem to squeeze out a good day if his life depended on it. On this particular day, he wakes with gum in his hair followed by one calamity after another. Finding no solace from the other members of his family, Alexander resorts to the idea that everyone else's lives are perfect and that he is destined to live one horrible day after the next. Soon, his father, mother, brother and sister all begin to have their own versions of a terrible day, leaving Alexander to contemplate his previous mindset.

   The biggest thing this movie has going for it is its cast. Steve Carell plays Alexander's dad, an unemployed rocket scientist (essentially) who plays the stay-at-home dad role while simultaneously searching for a new job. Carell is no stranger to comedy and is extremely funny as he deals with the craziness of his horrible day while juggling his daddy duties with his infant. Jennifer Garner plays the mom, a strong business woman working her way up the ladder for a publishing company. Garner brings the funny as her tightly-spun character unravels throughout the terrible day. Alexander's older brother (Dylan Minnette) is the stereotypical high schooler with the beautiful, snobby girlfriend and the aspirations of being the duke of the prom; and Kerris Dorsey plays Alexander's older sister, an aspiring stage performer and a budding diva. Both siblings deal with their own chaotic moments and its fun to watch. Although the film is jam-packed with comedy, the message at its core is the main engine that drives the story. It's a great reminder that though we all have bad days, they exist in order to make the good ones taste that much better.

   The movie is over the top. It's a silly story based on a silly book, and it's quite enjoyable. This is a movie that everyone can enjoy. Disney seems to hold the monopoly on family entertainment and this film is just another example of why we love Disney movies. I would imagine that sales for the book are going to go up with this movie out now, which is great. It's a fabulous book. If you're looking for a wholesome film to take your family to, "Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" is a no-brainer.