Review: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, Not Good, Very Bad Day
Judith Viorst's 1972 children's book chronicling the series of unfortunate events that unfold during a day in young Alexander's life comprised a mere 32 pages, most of them taken up by Ray Cruz's illustrations. The not bad film adaptation moves along nicely, clocking in at 82 minutes. It's a harmless and serviceable piece, passably entertaining and instantly forgettable.
Alexander (Ed Oxenbloud) wakes up with bubble gum in his hair, finds himself a laughingstock at school after some funny pictures of him are circulated, and learns that both his best friend and the girl he likes won't be coming to his birthday party because they, and the rest of the class, will be going to the bash being thrown by the most popular kid in school on the same day. To top it all off, Alexander doesn't even get to do his school report on his favourite continent Australia.
His family doesn't seem to understand what he goes through so when midnight ushers in his 12th year, he makes the following wish: "I just wish they knew what it felt like to have a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day." Alexander more than gets his wish. His mom (Jennifer Garner) faces the wrath of her boss (Megan Mullaly) when an embarrassing misprint forces them to halt publication of their latest children's book; she then has to pedal for her life to prevent Dick Van Dyke from reading the book aloud to a group of children and their parents. Alexander's unemployed engineer dad (Steve Carell) has to tote his infant Trevor to his job interview, not a good move when his potential employers are young enough to be his own children. While the baby decides to feast on a green marker for lunch, older brother Anthony (Dylan Minnette) is busy battling a giant pimple on his forehead, his demanding girlfriend girlfriend (Bella Thorne), who may or may not go to that night's prom with him, and his nerves over that afternoon's driver's test. Sister Sally (Kerris Dorsey) drowns her cold with copious amounts of cough syrup, determined to go onstage as Peter Pan in her school musical.
There's a great deal packed in the short amount of time - some of it preposterous, most of it not unamusing. Director Miguel Arteta and his cast keep things moving, delivering the film's message of togetherness through the bad times with a surprisingly uncloying tone. Elise and Zoey Vargas are adorable as baby Trevor as are the guinea pig, kangaroo, and wallaby that put in brief appearances.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, Not Good, Very Bad Day
Directed by: Miguel Arteta
Written by: Rob Lieber; based on Judith Viorst's book
Starring: Steve Carell, Jennifer Garner, Ed Oxenbloud, Dylan Minnette, Bella Thorne, Kerris Dorsey, Jennifer Coolidge, Megan Mullaly, Donald Glover, Dick Van Dyke
