Good movie. The reason I'd give this a 7 out of ten is because at the beginning it was ok nothing happening that much much but in the end all the drama came into it. There's a valuable lesson in this about that bad days can turn into good days
92 Reviews
Very good family movie
MovieWatcher225 July 2020
light family move
gunsnroses805211 March 2017
nice light family movie show the importance of the family and positives and show that you can extract the good from any bad day or worst situation
nice way to show the funny events through the movie nice casting in summary the movie have all the element of watchable good movie nothing much to say about it
nice way to show the funny events through the movie nice casting in summary the movie have all the element of watchable good movie nothing much to say about it
A very good 'Very Bad Day'
Fluke_Skywalker22 January 2016
This was a total blind watch. I mean knew nothing about it. I had never read the book (didn't even know there was a book). Hadn't even watched the trailer. It was just brief (81 minutes) and lightweight (Disney family comedy) and both of those just happened to meet my particular criteria yesterday. To my complete and utter surprise, I loved it.
Let me just be real clear. I loathe Disney. Loathe it. It's history and iconography do nothing for me, save perhaps make me a bit queasy. It's not that I'm some artsy-fartsy, highfalutin type either. Disney just doesn't agree with me. But despite a lot of Disney trappings, I thought AatTHNGVBD was an energetic and genuinely funny little movie that left me not queasy, but with a bit of a sugar buzz. I don't know that there's a genuine moment in the entire thing, but it plays its tune more skillfully than most Disney fare.
Let me just be real clear. I loathe Disney. Loathe it. It's history and iconography do nothing for me, save perhaps make me a bit queasy. It's not that I'm some artsy-fartsy, highfalutin type either. Disney just doesn't agree with me. But despite a lot of Disney trappings, I thought AatTHNGVBD was an energetic and genuinely funny little movie that left me not queasy, but with a bit of a sugar buzz. I don't know that there's a genuine moment in the entire thing, but it plays its tune more skillfully than most Disney fare.
Decent family film
skullhead73912 August 2020
The cast is great. The acting is decent for the goofiness of the film. The plot is pretty average but started to get more and more interesting except the end was a big let down for me. The whole movie had a good rhythm of funny and random exciting things happening and then the end was cheesy and happy which i liked. But felt cut short and anti climatic. The film as a whole is still very much enjoyable and I would give it a 6.5/10.
Overall: A decent family film that has plenty of goofiness and laughs for the whole family.
Overall: A decent family film that has plenty of goofiness and laughs for the whole family.
Meet the Parents for kids
cricketbat23 November 2018
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is a harmless family movie. This movie is basically Meet the Parents for kids. It's over-the-top, but considering the audience they were going for, it works. If my kids wanted to watch it with me again, I wouldn't say no.
Surprisingly Pleasant!
namashi_17 March 2015
For a film that adds so much negativity in its very title, 'Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day' is a pretty decent film, that is surprisingly pleasant & refreshing. At a very crisp 81-minutes, this family-comedy offers fine entertainment.
'Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day' Synopsis: Alexander's day begins with gum stuck in his hair, followed by more calamities. However, he finds little sympathy from his family and begins to wonder if bad things only happen to him, his mom, dad, brother and sister - who all find themselves living through their own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
'Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day' needed a better title. I mean its so long & the pessimism it screams is a bit too much. However, this tale of unfortunate events arrests your attention at most parts & effectively earns your interest. Rob Lieber's Screenplay is nicely comical & also emotional at times. Miguel Arteta's Direction is good. Cinematography & Editing are top-class.
Performance-Wise: Steve Carell is in very good form, enacting his part with wonderful ease. Jennifer Garner, also, is in sportive mode. Ed Oxenbould is natural to the core. Dylan Minnette & Kerris Dorsey leave a mark. Bella Thorne is efficient.
On the whole, 'Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day' isn't half as awful as it proclaims to be. Recommended!
'Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day' Synopsis: Alexander's day begins with gum stuck in his hair, followed by more calamities. However, he finds little sympathy from his family and begins to wonder if bad things only happen to him, his mom, dad, brother and sister - who all find themselves living through their own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.
'Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day' needed a better title. I mean its so long & the pessimism it screams is a bit too much. However, this tale of unfortunate events arrests your attention at most parts & effectively earns your interest. Rob Lieber's Screenplay is nicely comical & also emotional at times. Miguel Arteta's Direction is good. Cinematography & Editing are top-class.
Performance-Wise: Steve Carell is in very good form, enacting his part with wonderful ease. Jennifer Garner, also, is in sportive mode. Ed Oxenbould is natural to the core. Dylan Minnette & Kerris Dorsey leave a mark. Bella Thorne is efficient.
On the whole, 'Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day' isn't half as awful as it proclaims to be. Recommended!
Simple movie for the family on a Sunday!
miguelcorreia9326 January 2015
The reason I give this a 5 out of 10 is that this movie is a good one for the kids. A movie with a simple lesson to accept the bad days and enjoy every good one. To be more positive.
About the movie out of my point of view? Well, not that awesome, but you can't expect a lot of this kind of movies. Steve Carell didn't perform at his best, that is obvious, but that wasn't even necessary.
After all, this whole movie was from the point of view of Alexander. Of course they did choose to make it a little childish. I believe the acting was also based on the viewer to be around 5 - 10 years old. Some simple jokes, not a lot of jokes where to use the brain, but more of the eyes.
About the movie out of my point of view? Well, not that awesome, but you can't expect a lot of this kind of movies. Steve Carell didn't perform at his best, that is obvious, but that wasn't even necessary.
After all, this whole movie was from the point of view of Alexander. Of course they did choose to make it a little childish. I believe the acting was also based on the viewer to be around 5 - 10 years old. Some simple jokes, not a lot of jokes where to use the brain, but more of the eyes.
Good Movie
thomasdonovan12 October 2014
Just saw it. Its a perfect movie for a family. Jokes for the kids and adults. Steve Carell carries the humor with the rest of the supporting family imputing their own characters sense of humor. Very short movie but well worth seeing..This movie is for families..People criticizing this movie either don't have kids or understand the genre of a family movie. Of course you could analyze this movie to its core, but as long as the kids laugh and the adults get their share of humor, I feel then its worth seeing.. ( I just saw it with my two cousins both 23 years old and my sister who is 10..we were all laughing). The whole audience appeared to be kids ranging from 8-15ish..Along with older siblings like myself and parents. We'll seemed to enjoy it.
What are you talking about? This is hilarious
bogdanbalostin18 July 2019
One, I never watch comedies for plot or message. I'm sure all of them have something to say, but please, for the love of God, if you want to produce a comedy, focus on the comedy. I still laugh at dramas and action movies but their label is still not primarily comedy.
This is silly comedy and still better than most comedies that focus exclusively on sex and gross jokes just so they can look mature and smart. There are unfortunately not a lot of comedies like this one. It may be for kids but I did enjoy it a lot on my own, too.
You should relax more before watching a comedy. If you've ever watched a family comedy before, you'll enjoy this too.
This is silly comedy and still better than most comedies that focus exclusively on sex and gross jokes just so they can look mature and smart. There are unfortunately not a lot of comedies like this one. It may be for kids but I did enjoy it a lot on my own, too.
You should relax more before watching a comedy. If you've ever watched a family comedy before, you'll enjoy this too.
Having a bad day
kosmasp12 March 2016
You can always find something positive even in the most negative things. Or days for that matter. This is a light hearted affair and hopefully you can enjoy it for what it is. The acting is spot on, for a comedy like this. I was positively surprised by this, because I thought it would be just by the numbers, but it is more than that.
Some days just seem to be cursed, though you never know by whom or if that is even the case. Always try to do the best of anything is kind of a message of the movie. It's also PG, so don't expect any cursing, but rather a family comedy. Just be open to it or don't watch it. I think a quick look at the trailer will be telling, if this is for you or not.
Some days just seem to be cursed, though you never know by whom or if that is even the case. Always try to do the best of anything is kind of a message of the movie. It's also PG, so don't expect any cursing, but rather a family comedy. Just be open to it or don't watch it. I think a quick look at the trailer will be telling, if this is for you or not.
Alexander and the Nonsensical, Unfunny Outing
matthewssilverhammer17 October 2014
Disney's trips into live-action comedy always have a consistent tone: bright, bubbly, bumbling, and inoffensive, with just the slightest hint of edge. Alexander
is no different. If only its humor would land...and when it did, it wasn't beat to death. Instead of spending any amount of time on a coherent story or a real purpose, it sways towards cheap, dumb humor. Alexander is the kind of nonsensical slapstick "family" comedy that kids will inevitably enjoy and forget, while parents will be forced to endure and forget. Alexander is a preteen that has a bad but NORMAL day (popularity, girls, small chemistry fire); that same day, his family is celebrating some truly great developments (new job, best-selling book, first prom). Alex decides, out of spite or loneliness or something, that his misery deserves company, so he wishes for them to have a horrible day. And they do. And by the end of the movie, they are
a better family?! What's the lesson in that?! If things aren't going your way, then hope the people you love have it even worse? The premise could've been solid: really push the over-the-top notion of this down-on-his-luck kid struggling to survive juxtaposed against a perfect and aloof family. They even hired some great performers that could've really gotten some genuine laughs. Unfortunately, most of these actors are completely wasted, and in the end, Alexander tries to have its cake and eat it too, half its toe in fantasy and the other half in sloppy reality. Maybe I'm asking too much from a kid's film, but Alexander is a pointless and mostly laughless outing.
A light movie
chloebetts3 August 2021
Much cuter than the harsh reviews it's getting
nvrevnwithsteven21 November 2018
If you want Home Alone or Parenthood (1989) this isn't it. It's a cute movie wrapping a day of Murphy's Law into 124 minutes. It's honestly cute and if you like Diary of a Wimpy Kid (the original), you'll appreciate this. It's quick moving, but the acting of Jennifer Garner, Steve Carell make it work, and the young kids make it into a cute movie that will get some laughs.
In 2018 you don't find many non-Oscar, non-Comic book, non-horror, non-R rated comedy movies, so for the few you get that actually aren't trainwrecks (ya know, like Father Figures), enjoy the few examples we have like this that just let you get a few goofy laughs and appreciate it for being just that.
As a guy i remember being a 12 year old boy vividly. I never had siblings, but as someone who has memories of being 12, i appreciate this for what it is, and that's really all you should do and not over-think it
In 2018 you don't find many non-Oscar, non-Comic book, non-horror, non-R rated comedy movies, so for the few you get that actually aren't trainwrecks (ya know, like Father Figures), enjoy the few examples we have like this that just let you get a few goofy laughs and appreciate it for being just that.
As a guy i remember being a 12 year old boy vividly. I never had siblings, but as someone who has memories of being 12, i appreciate this for what it is, and that's really all you should do and not over-think it
Ironically, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day is an enjoyable, fun, good, very likable movie
RforFilm12 October 2014
Life has a distinct balance of creating moments to both cherish and dismiss. I think it's safe to say that everyone has had at least had one bad day they wish it could erase from their mind. Maybe they became stricken with a terrible illness, they didn't get the job that they worked hard on or even simply getting a dish at a restaurant they've wanted to try only for the food to come out cold. Nothing puts people in a crabby mood then to have a day where everything seems to go wrong and that they just a victim of bad circumstance.
What makes us mad about bad days is that we wish that we could put the blame on something, but rarely does that exist. We can't even hold ourselves accountable and we simply accept that this day has simply chosen to not go our way.
The best cure to any bad day for me is to simply consider where I am. I could have walked out of a bad movie and hit traffic for an hour, but I'm grateful that I even have a car and had the money to catch a flick. No matter how bad the day has become, something of yours will always catch your before you fall to your lowest. Never has that been emphasized better then in Disney's Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.
Eleven year old Alexander Cooper could not be having a worse day. He wakes up with gum in his hair, trips over his skateboard, could not get a window seat in the carpool, finds out that no one is coming to his birthday, and nearly burns down the science building while trying to impress a girl. What gripes him the most is that his family doesn't provide much sympathy. It's not that their mean, but they have busy lives of their own. At midnight, he makes himself a birthday sundae and wishes that his family could walk in his shoes.
No one is safe from the curse of a bad day. His father Ben (played by Steve Carell) has to juggle a job interview, watch his toddler child, and plan Alex's birthday party. His mother Kelly (played by Jennifer Garner) has to manage a book reading gone wrong and deal without her car which died in the night. His older brother Anthony has to deal with getting suspended, trying to take his drivers test and take his girlfriend to prom. His older sister Emily catches a cold that could damage her performance as Peter-Pan in a school play.
For something that's based off of a children's book of the same name, you'd expect the gag of having a bad day become old very fast. But I can say that I had a ball watching the mishaps after another. The best way to describe the tone here is something like a John Hughes movie crossed with Modern Family. The film also reminded me of another classic Disney movie, Freaky Friday, which had a similar idea of a super natural wish within a suburban environment.
It may not be the great comedic movie of the year, but parents going into this with their children will be surprised by how much they'll be laughing along with the younger ones. Bad child actors and weak story lines could have made this movie a dumb film, but Alexander managed to find young talent that never becomes annoying and made sure that the stories tied in to the rest of the families' day well. Despite it's title, mom and dad rule the movie as both Carell and Garner lead the family through it's curse as they each learn about why bad days are necessary and making it to their young son's birthday.
I'll give this four Australian travel posters out of five. For something that could have been (and probably should have been) nothing more then a predictable sitcom, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day makes for a enjoyable, fun, good, very likable movie that will make plenty of people laugh.
What makes us mad about bad days is that we wish that we could put the blame on something, but rarely does that exist. We can't even hold ourselves accountable and we simply accept that this day has simply chosen to not go our way.
The best cure to any bad day for me is to simply consider where I am. I could have walked out of a bad movie and hit traffic for an hour, but I'm grateful that I even have a car and had the money to catch a flick. No matter how bad the day has become, something of yours will always catch your before you fall to your lowest. Never has that been emphasized better then in Disney's Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.
Eleven year old Alexander Cooper could not be having a worse day. He wakes up with gum in his hair, trips over his skateboard, could not get a window seat in the carpool, finds out that no one is coming to his birthday, and nearly burns down the science building while trying to impress a girl. What gripes him the most is that his family doesn't provide much sympathy. It's not that their mean, but they have busy lives of their own. At midnight, he makes himself a birthday sundae and wishes that his family could walk in his shoes.
No one is safe from the curse of a bad day. His father Ben (played by Steve Carell) has to juggle a job interview, watch his toddler child, and plan Alex's birthday party. His mother Kelly (played by Jennifer Garner) has to manage a book reading gone wrong and deal without her car which died in the night. His older brother Anthony has to deal with getting suspended, trying to take his drivers test and take his girlfriend to prom. His older sister Emily catches a cold that could damage her performance as Peter-Pan in a school play.
For something that's based off of a children's book of the same name, you'd expect the gag of having a bad day become old very fast. But I can say that I had a ball watching the mishaps after another. The best way to describe the tone here is something like a John Hughes movie crossed with Modern Family. The film also reminded me of another classic Disney movie, Freaky Friday, which had a similar idea of a super natural wish within a suburban environment.
It may not be the great comedic movie of the year, but parents going into this with their children will be surprised by how much they'll be laughing along with the younger ones. Bad child actors and weak story lines could have made this movie a dumb film, but Alexander managed to find young talent that never becomes annoying and made sure that the stories tied in to the rest of the families' day well. Despite it's title, mom and dad rule the movie as both Carell and Garner lead the family through it's curse as they each learn about why bad days are necessary and making it to their young son's birthday.
I'll give this four Australian travel posters out of five. For something that could have been (and probably should have been) nothing more then a predictable sitcom, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day makes for a enjoyable, fun, good, very likable movie that will make plenty of people laugh.
Poor Steve Carrell...
Yarrg17 October 2014
Steve Carrell might be in with an Oscar chance for his performance in Foxcatcher, but he has tarnished his chances by starring in this thoughtless drivel. Surely for families, this may appeal to some children, but from start to finish I was astounded by how poor the acting was. Sure I'm not expecting Shakespearean theatrics, but I like to know I'm watching a story, and not just some over-paid people amusing themselves on cameras more expensive than my car.
I guess to review this I have to say it was very bad, no good, no horrible, no TERRIBLE, NO A MONSTROSITY!!! A GHASTLY ABOMINATION FROM THE BLACK ABYSS!!! But as they often do for me, production values are a saving grace, even if only a minor one 2 out of 10
I guess to review this I have to say it was very bad, no good, no horrible, no TERRIBLE, NO A MONSTROSITY!!! A GHASTLY ABOMINATION FROM THE BLACK ABYSS!!! But as they often do for me, production values are a saving grace, even if only a minor one 2 out of 10
Not a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad movie. The kids will love it!
alienator34510 October 2014
That's a really long name for a movie. It makes typing up a review mildly annoying, but oh well. I'll make it through (It's one of those times I'm grateful for the copy and paste technique). Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is a movie that definitely caused me to raise an eyebrow when it was first announced. I of course was a 5-year-old at one point. I loved that little book. But did it really need to be made into a movie? I remained skeptic for a long while, but slowly the idea grew on me. Casting news and trailers helped ease my skepticism to the point where I actually thought that this could be a fun little family film. And turns out it is. No, it's nothing special. It's very cliché. Surprisingly boring at times with no twists, turns or surprises. Not that emotionally moving like it could've been. But it's not a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad movie. It's decently fun and, most importantly, the kids are going to love it.
I don't need to tell you what this movie is about. You've read the book. Alexander has a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. But then he realizes that it's not so bad. Boom. Movie done. But how does this make it as a full-length movie? Well, after Alexander has his bad day, he wishes his bad day on his family because they seemingly aren't paying him any attention. So in fact we have two days that are terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days. And that actually is the movie. It's only 81 minutes long, so it flies by pretty fast and there comes point where you wonder if they could've made it a touch longer. But it works decently. As expected, it's pretty much 81 minutes of gags. Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad things happening to this family on this terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. And they are supposed to make you laugh through it all. The problem is I really wasn't laughing too hard through the whole movie. There's a few laugh out loud moments. But mostly just constant chuckles throughout. And the big reason for that is because it's one of those really annoying moments where the whole movie was in the trailer. I actually laughed at the trailer when I first saw it. It was great. But I wanted more and the movie didn't give me any more. Turns out that in order to make the trailer, they took all the funniest gags from the movie and threw them together in the trailer. And because I watch a lot of movies and thus see a lot of trailers multiple times, I felt like this was the 20th time I was watching this movie and thus it was actually kinda boring. It didn't help that I knew exactly what was going to happen.
But do you know what, as I was sitting watching the movie, I began to think about the target audience. This is not a movie that is made for adults. Sure, I think that adults can enjoy it, but this is a family- friendly movie that is made for kids. No, the story isn't amazing. But kids don't need an amazing story. Sure, the movie is very predictable. But kids don't need an unpredictable movie full of twists and turns. Yes, it's cliché. But cliché isn't so cliché when you're young. Yes, the whole movie was in the trailer. But how often does your 7-year-old sit down and watch trailers? Exactly. It's all going to be new for them. Sure, there's only going to be a few laugh-out-loud moments if you are an adult. But as long as it makes the kids laugh out loud, isn't that all that matters? And as it turns out, I ended up being one of those creepy old guys sitting there in a kids movie by himself with a theater full of kids. And I can tell you by first hand account that all the little kids in my theater were busting out laughing the whole entire time. "That was such a good movie!" said a little girl behind me as we walked out of the theater. I can't give this movie a harsh grade. It was made for the kids and the kids absolutely loved it, so it was successful in it's purpose.
In the end, did I enjoy Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day? Yes, I did. Was it cliché? Yes. Was it super predictable? Yes. Did they show the whole movie in the trailer? Yes. Did I laugh out loud for the entire movie? No. Was it as touching and movie as it could've been? No. Did we really need a movie adaptation of this book? No. But we got it. No changing that. And as it turns out, it's another Disney movie that the kids should fall in love with. So here's my recommendation. If you are an adult with no kids and this movie didn't look super interesting to you, then I wouldn't say you need to rush out and see it. There are a whole lot of movies coming out and this one could be looked over for now. But if you are a parent with kids who has been waiting for a really good movie that your kids will enjoy because the family audience has been neglected as of late, then I would say this movie is a must see. Disney knows how to make movies that kids enjoy. That was their purpose here and they succeeded. So I'm going to give Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day a 7/10.
For more reviews like this, got to drogemiester.blogspot.com or like my facebook page at facebook.com/drogemiester
I don't need to tell you what this movie is about. You've read the book. Alexander has a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. But then he realizes that it's not so bad. Boom. Movie done. But how does this make it as a full-length movie? Well, after Alexander has his bad day, he wishes his bad day on his family because they seemingly aren't paying him any attention. So in fact we have two days that are terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days. And that actually is the movie. It's only 81 minutes long, so it flies by pretty fast and there comes point where you wonder if they could've made it a touch longer. But it works decently. As expected, it's pretty much 81 minutes of gags. Terrible, horrible, no good, very bad things happening to this family on this terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. And they are supposed to make you laugh through it all. The problem is I really wasn't laughing too hard through the whole movie. There's a few laugh out loud moments. But mostly just constant chuckles throughout. And the big reason for that is because it's one of those really annoying moments where the whole movie was in the trailer. I actually laughed at the trailer when I first saw it. It was great. But I wanted more and the movie didn't give me any more. Turns out that in order to make the trailer, they took all the funniest gags from the movie and threw them together in the trailer. And because I watch a lot of movies and thus see a lot of trailers multiple times, I felt like this was the 20th time I was watching this movie and thus it was actually kinda boring. It didn't help that I knew exactly what was going to happen.
But do you know what, as I was sitting watching the movie, I began to think about the target audience. This is not a movie that is made for adults. Sure, I think that adults can enjoy it, but this is a family- friendly movie that is made for kids. No, the story isn't amazing. But kids don't need an amazing story. Sure, the movie is very predictable. But kids don't need an unpredictable movie full of twists and turns. Yes, it's cliché. But cliché isn't so cliché when you're young. Yes, the whole movie was in the trailer. But how often does your 7-year-old sit down and watch trailers? Exactly. It's all going to be new for them. Sure, there's only going to be a few laugh-out-loud moments if you are an adult. But as long as it makes the kids laugh out loud, isn't that all that matters? And as it turns out, I ended up being one of those creepy old guys sitting there in a kids movie by himself with a theater full of kids. And I can tell you by first hand account that all the little kids in my theater were busting out laughing the whole entire time. "That was such a good movie!" said a little girl behind me as we walked out of the theater. I can't give this movie a harsh grade. It was made for the kids and the kids absolutely loved it, so it was successful in it's purpose.
In the end, did I enjoy Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day? Yes, I did. Was it cliché? Yes. Was it super predictable? Yes. Did they show the whole movie in the trailer? Yes. Did I laugh out loud for the entire movie? No. Was it as touching and movie as it could've been? No. Did we really need a movie adaptation of this book? No. But we got it. No changing that. And as it turns out, it's another Disney movie that the kids should fall in love with. So here's my recommendation. If you are an adult with no kids and this movie didn't look super interesting to you, then I wouldn't say you need to rush out and see it. There are a whole lot of movies coming out and this one could be looked over for now. But if you are a parent with kids who has been waiting for a really good movie that your kids will enjoy because the family audience has been neglected as of late, then I would say this movie is a must see. Disney knows how to make movies that kids enjoy. That was their purpose here and they succeeded. So I'm going to give Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day a 7/10.
For more reviews like this, got to drogemiester.blogspot.com or like my facebook page at facebook.com/drogemiester
Alexander and the lame, boring, not-so-entertaining, very silly movie.
bryllefajardo17 October 2014
1 word. AWFUL.
Should you skip this movie? -Yes.
Why should you skip this movie? -Because it's plain awful.
I can't describe how silly the movie was. I know that this is a kids movie that's made and aimed for kids but I just couldn't help myself from getting so bored and p*ssed off.. I just can't believe wasting money for this movie.
I know this isn't the worst movie but it made me feel uncomfortable watching the movie. It's pure horrible, y'know. I mean, the story is really clichéd and the acting was plain blah. I hope Disney stops turning these short books into major motion pictures because it's not even good. It had no climax or anything, it's just pure boredom. Please, don't watch this and don't let it go blockbuster so that Disney stops doing these things.
Overall Rating: 3/10. BAD. BAD. MOVIE.
Should you skip this movie? -Yes.
Why should you skip this movie? -Because it's plain awful.
I can't describe how silly the movie was. I know that this is a kids movie that's made and aimed for kids but I just couldn't help myself from getting so bored and p*ssed off.. I just can't believe wasting money for this movie.
I know this isn't the worst movie but it made me feel uncomfortable watching the movie. It's pure horrible, y'know. I mean, the story is really clichéd and the acting was plain blah. I hope Disney stops turning these short books into major motion pictures because it's not even good. It had no climax or anything, it's just pure boredom. Please, don't watch this and don't let it go blockbuster so that Disney stops doing these things.
Overall Rating: 3/10. BAD. BAD. MOVIE.
Perfection!
katean-417751 January 2019
A decent family comedy that's amusing but could have been better
ginocox-206-33696823 January 2015
"Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" is a decent screwball wish-fulfillment comedy with a few flaws that distract but enough funny moments to make the film enjoyable. The entire cast is well chosen and tackles their scenes with energy. There are plenty of laughs with a mix of broad physical comedy and subtle humor, such as the angst over the baby's first word. Production values are solid with a refreshing lack of annoying jiggly-cam shots. A few scenes are predictable. Many of the gags could have been pushed much further. It's not a great film, but was enjoyable.
But, the flaws.
This is an adaptation of a children's book by the same title; however, the movie has been expanded beyond the scope of the book, whereas the title suggests it is a film targeting a very young audience. This is a disservice to the film. It is a family comedy with greater appeal for children, but also with plot lines that an adult can appreciate and find amusing.
The flash-forward and voice-over don't work very well and detract from the scenes that contribute to the unusual elements we see on screen in the early shots.
The film has a strong theme that is a bit heavy-handed at times. We really don't need all the major characters standing around in a circle several times telling each other and the audience the theme of the movie.
The wish that is fulfilled is handled with beautiful ambiguity, but later treated as a conscious, deliberate act. More could have been done with the realization.
A couple of scenes could have been pushed further. The baby could have created much more mayhem at the office. The girlfriend could have done more to influence the older boy's decision. The reversal of fortunes could have been broader. The older brother and sister wound up as losers, only gaining the realization of core family values. The theatrical flat that falls could have caused much more damage. Somebody could have vomited while suspended in air, and then again later.
The family seems too affluent not to have more bedrooms and bathrooms, so the gags based on conflicts over space seemed forced.
That said, an early overheard phone call gag worked reasonably well. But there were too many phone calls and the later scene with simultaneous calls seemed forced. I would have rather seen activity and discussion at the other ends of the call.
The movie takes a weird sort of joint point-of-view. Instead of having every shot either frame one character or that character's POV, it broadens this to alternate from one family member to another. One family member is in every scene and every shot either frames a family member or that member's point of view. We're left with a sort of omniscient observer that never leaves the family. So the scenes where two family members are in conflict have a different energy from the scenes where a family member is in conflict with somebody outside the family and it seems a little awkward that the camera doesn't have consistent freedom.
One character feels responsible for the family's troubles, tries to take responsibility and warn the others, but never tries to undo the prior actions. I would have liked to see some frantic efforts to fix the situation which only make matters worse.
There is Yin and Yang to a Disney production. On one hand, the production values are solid and the actors are talented. On the other hand, it seems as if the director is constantly conscious that it is a Disney film and doesn't want to push the envelope too far.
But, the flaws.
This is an adaptation of a children's book by the same title; however, the movie has been expanded beyond the scope of the book, whereas the title suggests it is a film targeting a very young audience. This is a disservice to the film. It is a family comedy with greater appeal for children, but also with plot lines that an adult can appreciate and find amusing.
The flash-forward and voice-over don't work very well and detract from the scenes that contribute to the unusual elements we see on screen in the early shots.
The film has a strong theme that is a bit heavy-handed at times. We really don't need all the major characters standing around in a circle several times telling each other and the audience the theme of the movie.
The wish that is fulfilled is handled with beautiful ambiguity, but later treated as a conscious, deliberate act. More could have been done with the realization.
A couple of scenes could have been pushed further. The baby could have created much more mayhem at the office. The girlfriend could have done more to influence the older boy's decision. The reversal of fortunes could have been broader. The older brother and sister wound up as losers, only gaining the realization of core family values. The theatrical flat that falls could have caused much more damage. Somebody could have vomited while suspended in air, and then again later.
The family seems too affluent not to have more bedrooms and bathrooms, so the gags based on conflicts over space seemed forced.
That said, an early overheard phone call gag worked reasonably well. But there were too many phone calls and the later scene with simultaneous calls seemed forced. I would have rather seen activity and discussion at the other ends of the call.
The movie takes a weird sort of joint point-of-view. Instead of having every shot either frame one character or that character's POV, it broadens this to alternate from one family member to another. One family member is in every scene and every shot either frames a family member or that member's point of view. We're left with a sort of omniscient observer that never leaves the family. So the scenes where two family members are in conflict have a different energy from the scenes where a family member is in conflict with somebody outside the family and it seems a little awkward that the camera doesn't have consistent freedom.
One character feels responsible for the family's troubles, tries to take responsibility and warn the others, but never tries to undo the prior actions. I would have liked to see some frantic efforts to fix the situation which only make matters worse.
There is Yin and Yang to a Disney production. On one hand, the production values are solid and the actors are talented. On the other hand, it seems as if the director is constantly conscious that it is a Disney film and doesn't want to push the envelope too far.
Oh, Steve. Back to the same old crap
Bhw313128 November 2014
For a moment, Steve Carell had a couple movies where he showed a bit of acting talent. Vince Vaughn tortured us similarly. But old habits are hard to break, and Carell refuses to truly let himself out of his self- cast mold. Crap comedies. I feel for the actors who partner with him in these mindless capers.
I'm so tired of seeing him with this or that in his messed up hair with some stupid expression on his face. Yet, he has so much potential...a shame.
But the joke is on us. He's laughing all the way to the bank, expending little or no effort at his trade
I'm so tired of seeing him with this or that in his messed up hair with some stupid expression on his face. Yet, he has so much potential...a shame.
But the joke is on us. He's laughing all the way to the bank, expending little or no effort at his trade
Cute, and Geared Towards Kids and PG Parents
rgkarim11 October 2014
Sorry for the delay, but after a busy weekend of work and mad dashes to the theater I've got a second review. We turn our sights on a movie with a little less bite, and more kid friendly bark. My next write up is on Disney's latest book to movie project entitled Alexander and Terrible, Awful, No Good, Very Bad Day. Quite a mouthful I know, and from the trailers this movie didn't promise much for this reviewer. Yet there was still hope that there was a treasure buried beneath the silliness in the trailers. What is my verdict? You know the drill to find out.
Alexander's adventure has been told in numerous forms, so I was "interested" in what spin Disney could put on the fun little adventure. To my surprise the adventure was fun, as the team decided to pass the bad day courtesy of Alexander unto the family. The troubles they face have been upgraded and modernized to make it more relatable, as proms, driving tests, plays, and jobs are all fair game in this installment. What was great about the tale is seeing the problems streamline, building through the day and bleeding into the other problems. What this lead to? Simple, the characters interact with each other and sort of become a family that one would see in the sitcoms of the 60's-90's. Such dynamics are nice to see every once in a while, despite the statistical chances of everything bad happening at the same time. Oh well, a movie like this is also filled with those heartwarming moments and family values, which may give you some goosebumps, or at least make you feel warm and happy.
Of course the story is not what most people are going to be seeing this movie for, or if it is, then you might just be shocked at Disney's presentation. My guess is that you are going to see this movie in hopes of giving your kids a laugh. Well my friends I can surely say that most of your young ones will enjoy the antics of this film. Alexander's journey is filled with ridiculous comedy that is juvenile, super silly, and age appropriate for your family. A car crashing through parking meters, a woman biking through traffic, and a father boxing a kangaroo are just some of the wacky things that had kids in my showing cracking up. Unfortunately for me, most of the gags have been shown in the trailers, and if you've seen them as much as I have well there isn't much that is fresh for the adults. However, there are still a few jokes here and there that might get a giggle from you older adults. Regardless, make sure to tell the little ones to not repeat some of the actions in this movie, just in case they have that urge.
Despite the PG comedy what else do you have to look forward to in this movie? Acting wise it's fine for this movie, just go in expecting everyone to act incredibly silly and over the top, with the exception of Alexander ironically. Let's start with Alex (Ed Oxenbould) does a nice job with the rendition of the character. Not so much whiney, Oxenbould brings a lot of the messages home, and despite being preachy, does it without so much emotional drama. I guess being a kid allows him to play this part well, and it was nice to see a rendition that wasn't as big a brat as the one in the books. Steve Carell on the other hand surprised me with his character in this film. In what can only be described as his Life With Dan role, meets the office. Carell is both serious and silly in this film, teaching life lessons but acting like a big goof at others. It is funny at points, but it lacked the kick from his other works that I thoroughly enjoyed in the past. Jennifer Garner is still as cute as ever, but I wasn't impressed with her role in this film. She did a good job with the mother role, very protective and guilty of putting career before family. However, I felt she took a major back seat to the rest of the family, and a little cheated in her stories overall. As for the brother (Dylan Minnette), his character is a big jerk, who is a bit of a stupid jock driven by the possibility of being with girls. Minnette did a nice job playing this role, but he was bit, I don't know, too stupid for my liking. If that is how the character was supposed to be, then he nailed the part. If not, then we have some work to do in the future installments. Finally the sister played by Kerris Dorsey was a brat, but again a little overdramatic at times. Dorsey does a nice job sounding sic, and can really bring out that stereotypical, self-centered teenage girl role. I was hoping for a little more diversity, but again this is a Disney kid's movie and complex characters usually don't exist. Overall the family dynamics are good, and the cast works very ell with each other, but again there really is little that is Oscar winning of this acting.
Alexander's film is definitely the kids film of the weekend. It's sweet, cute, and very simplistic that everyone can have some fun wit it. Yet it's a little too biased towards kids for any of the older audience members. If you are really looking for a movie the whole family can watch, which is quite rare these days, then pick this movie. However, I would hold out for Disney's upcoming animated features in the next few weeks. My scores for this movie are:
Comedy/Family: 6.5 Movie Overall: 5.5
Alexander's adventure has been told in numerous forms, so I was "interested" in what spin Disney could put on the fun little adventure. To my surprise the adventure was fun, as the team decided to pass the bad day courtesy of Alexander unto the family. The troubles they face have been upgraded and modernized to make it more relatable, as proms, driving tests, plays, and jobs are all fair game in this installment. What was great about the tale is seeing the problems streamline, building through the day and bleeding into the other problems. What this lead to? Simple, the characters interact with each other and sort of become a family that one would see in the sitcoms of the 60's-90's. Such dynamics are nice to see every once in a while, despite the statistical chances of everything bad happening at the same time. Oh well, a movie like this is also filled with those heartwarming moments and family values, which may give you some goosebumps, or at least make you feel warm and happy.
Of course the story is not what most people are going to be seeing this movie for, or if it is, then you might just be shocked at Disney's presentation. My guess is that you are going to see this movie in hopes of giving your kids a laugh. Well my friends I can surely say that most of your young ones will enjoy the antics of this film. Alexander's journey is filled with ridiculous comedy that is juvenile, super silly, and age appropriate for your family. A car crashing through parking meters, a woman biking through traffic, and a father boxing a kangaroo are just some of the wacky things that had kids in my showing cracking up. Unfortunately for me, most of the gags have been shown in the trailers, and if you've seen them as much as I have well there isn't much that is fresh for the adults. However, there are still a few jokes here and there that might get a giggle from you older adults. Regardless, make sure to tell the little ones to not repeat some of the actions in this movie, just in case they have that urge.
Despite the PG comedy what else do you have to look forward to in this movie? Acting wise it's fine for this movie, just go in expecting everyone to act incredibly silly and over the top, with the exception of Alexander ironically. Let's start with Alex (Ed Oxenbould) does a nice job with the rendition of the character. Not so much whiney, Oxenbould brings a lot of the messages home, and despite being preachy, does it without so much emotional drama. I guess being a kid allows him to play this part well, and it was nice to see a rendition that wasn't as big a brat as the one in the books. Steve Carell on the other hand surprised me with his character in this film. In what can only be described as his Life With Dan role, meets the office. Carell is both serious and silly in this film, teaching life lessons but acting like a big goof at others. It is funny at points, but it lacked the kick from his other works that I thoroughly enjoyed in the past. Jennifer Garner is still as cute as ever, but I wasn't impressed with her role in this film. She did a good job with the mother role, very protective and guilty of putting career before family. However, I felt she took a major back seat to the rest of the family, and a little cheated in her stories overall. As for the brother (Dylan Minnette), his character is a big jerk, who is a bit of a stupid jock driven by the possibility of being with girls. Minnette did a nice job playing this role, but he was bit, I don't know, too stupid for my liking. If that is how the character was supposed to be, then he nailed the part. If not, then we have some work to do in the future installments. Finally the sister played by Kerris Dorsey was a brat, but again a little overdramatic at times. Dorsey does a nice job sounding sic, and can really bring out that stereotypical, self-centered teenage girl role. I was hoping for a little more diversity, but again this is a Disney kid's movie and complex characters usually don't exist. Overall the family dynamics are good, and the cast works very ell with each other, but again there really is little that is Oscar winning of this acting.
Alexander's film is definitely the kids film of the weekend. It's sweet, cute, and very simplistic that everyone can have some fun wit it. Yet it's a little too biased towards kids for any of the older audience members. If you are really looking for a movie the whole family can watch, which is quite rare these days, then pick this movie. However, I would hold out for Disney's upcoming animated features in the next few weeks. My scores for this movie are:
Comedy/Family: 6.5 Movie Overall: 5.5
Honestly Pretty Fun
rprince-832-62948 January 2015
-So Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is a family film that follows 12 year old Alexander, who has like the worst luck ever. Like in a 'I feel so bad for that kid in a relatable but entertaining way' way. On his birthday, he wished his family would know what it is like to have bad days. Thus ensues like the worst day ever. And there we have our film! -This is not exactly an Oscar film, so I can't exactly judge the films 'artistic quality' and stuff. But I did enjoy Alexander And The Bad, Horrible, Whateverthetitle, Day.
-The story is over-the-top, but fun and pretty entertaining. Predictable, but entertaining.
-The pace is pretty good.
-The acting is fine. It's got Steve Carrell in a family friendly role, which was fun and entertaining.
-I liked seeing all these 'Hey, everything is going perfectly!' characters go through a terrible day. That was fun.
-The music is forgettable, but fine I guess.
-The film did not have a ton of laugh-out-loud moments, but was full of just entertaining scenes.
-It is also rated PG, but has one or two references and jokes that are noticeable. Probably because I am an adult.
-So Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is fun and entertaining. A fun family movie, with little to complain about, but nothing to really cheer about. I would get Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day in a $5 bin and give it a 7/10.
-The story is over-the-top, but fun and pretty entertaining. Predictable, but entertaining.
-The pace is pretty good.
-The acting is fine. It's got Steve Carrell in a family friendly role, which was fun and entertaining.
-I liked seeing all these 'Hey, everything is going perfectly!' characters go through a terrible day. That was fun.
-The music is forgettable, but fine I guess.
-The film did not have a ton of laugh-out-loud moments, but was full of just entertaining scenes.
-It is also rated PG, but has one or two references and jokes that are noticeable. Probably because I am an adult.
-So Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is fun and entertaining. A fun family movie, with little to complain about, but nothing to really cheer about. I would get Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day in a $5 bin and give it a 7/10.
Was this originally made for TV?
GoUSN25 October 2014
When I offered to take a carload of kids to this movie, my thought was that it was short. Good so far. I love taking my kids and their friends to the movies, but still . . . movies that end well before bedtime are good things.
But this? Was it the poorly developed script? The characters' lack of depth (with the possible exception of Steve Carrell, and then only barely)? The failed direction - centerpiece of the movie, "the wish", was, what, about 14 seconds long? I couldn't tell whether it was a coincidence that all those calamities followed, or whether something supernatural was supposed to be going on.
And "penis" and "buttcrack" in a movie billed as family fare? Mom using that word repeatedly in dialogue with the whole family in the car? Except for some lowly, coarse folk, no one!
I have to wonder. If this is what survived the editing process, what was removed? Next time, pay your screenwriter at least the minimum wage. This pro bono stuff isn't working.
But this? Was it the poorly developed script? The characters' lack of depth (with the possible exception of Steve Carrell, and then only barely)? The failed direction - centerpiece of the movie, "the wish", was, what, about 14 seconds long? I couldn't tell whether it was a coincidence that all those calamities followed, or whether something supernatural was supposed to be going on.
And "penis" and "buttcrack" in a movie billed as family fare? Mom using that word repeatedly in dialogue with the whole family in the car? Except for some lowly, coarse folk, no one!
I have to wonder. If this is what survived the editing process, what was removed? Next time, pay your screenwriter at least the minimum wage. This pro bono stuff isn't working.
A short, silly family friendly movie
jeffdrollins26 December 2014
If you've seen the trailer for Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day then you, like I, have looked into the eyes of the beast and have seen the end of days. The good news is that the trailer is a false prophet! Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is nowhere near the generically bland family friendly slop that the trailer promises. That's not to say there aren't problems with the film, but much like everything good about Alexander, even they surprised me.
Loosely based off the 1987 children's book of the same name, Alexander has to make a full length film out of 32 pages of source material. While the book is focused on its protagonists titular Very Bad Day, the film shares the wealth of misery with his entire family. After Alexander (Ed Oxenbould) experiences a bad day at school where he learns that a much more popular boy is throwing an over-the-top birthday party on the same day as his, he gets gum in his hair, sets his lab partner's notes on fire and endures a host of unfortunate incidents. Later that day he discovers that his entire family has had an absurdly successful day; his dad (played by the film's MVP, Steve Carell) has an interview for a great job designing videogames, his mom (Jennifer Garner) is up for a promotion at her book publishing firm, his older brother (Dylan Minnette) is taking the hottest girl at school (Bella Thorne) to prom and is set to ace his driver's test the following day and his older sister (Kerris Dorsey) is starring as Peter Pan in her school play tomorrow. Alexander makes a birthday wish at midnight that his family experience a bad day much like the one he just had and from there, the majority of the film deals with the fallout of this magical birthday wish.
As I said, the trailer to Alexander promises a cloying family affair full of lessons learned, working together, and stale after school special type goody-two-shoes lecturing. And while Alexander certainly aims at delivering the message of family sticking together when things get bad, it doesn't do it in the way the trailer suggests. This film is rife with physical humor, toilet humor, slapstick gags and a few clever lines of dialogue generally delivered by Carell. In short, Alexander is surprisingly funny for adults and kids alike. Even Dick Van Dyke gets to spend a little time on screen telling kids that it's a-OK to take a dump in a pool. Please be advised that I didn't say this was high-brow humor. I merely said there are laughs to be had so long as you're not going in to the theater expecting anything as subversive as Toy Story or The Boxtrolls. It also helps that this is such a likable cast, you get the sense that everyone on screen truly enjoyed themselves and that really goes a long way in the overall enjoyment I had as a moviegoer; the fun is infectious and never feels forced.
The only real issue I have with Alexander is a subplot that involves a character drinking an entire bottle of cough syrup and then using the hijinks that ensue as fodder for comedy. I find this incredibly irresponsible simply because this is a movie for children and pre-teens. Given that prescription and over the counter medication abuse is an actual real world issue, I have a hard time forgiving that Disney would allow such subject matter in their film. Of course, having a discussion with your kids about how this is not a good thing to do isn't a bad idea, I just don't feel it's the job of a movie prominently featuring poop jokes to be the catalyst for such a discussion.
All in all, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is a fun movie that will keep kids and parents tuned in for the full 81 minutes. It's short, silly and has a positive overall message without bludgeoning you over the head with saccharine oversentimentality. Take your kids, laugh at the cartoonish nonsense that unfolds on screen, savor its family values message and then have a serious discussion with your children about robotrippin'. Sounds like the makings of a great weekend to me!
Loosely based off the 1987 children's book of the same name, Alexander has to make a full length film out of 32 pages of source material. While the book is focused on its protagonists titular Very Bad Day, the film shares the wealth of misery with his entire family. After Alexander (Ed Oxenbould) experiences a bad day at school where he learns that a much more popular boy is throwing an over-the-top birthday party on the same day as his, he gets gum in his hair, sets his lab partner's notes on fire and endures a host of unfortunate incidents. Later that day he discovers that his entire family has had an absurdly successful day; his dad (played by the film's MVP, Steve Carell) has an interview for a great job designing videogames, his mom (Jennifer Garner) is up for a promotion at her book publishing firm, his older brother (Dylan Minnette) is taking the hottest girl at school (Bella Thorne) to prom and is set to ace his driver's test the following day and his older sister (Kerris Dorsey) is starring as Peter Pan in her school play tomorrow. Alexander makes a birthday wish at midnight that his family experience a bad day much like the one he just had and from there, the majority of the film deals with the fallout of this magical birthday wish.
As I said, the trailer to Alexander promises a cloying family affair full of lessons learned, working together, and stale after school special type goody-two-shoes lecturing. And while Alexander certainly aims at delivering the message of family sticking together when things get bad, it doesn't do it in the way the trailer suggests. This film is rife with physical humor, toilet humor, slapstick gags and a few clever lines of dialogue generally delivered by Carell. In short, Alexander is surprisingly funny for adults and kids alike. Even Dick Van Dyke gets to spend a little time on screen telling kids that it's a-OK to take a dump in a pool. Please be advised that I didn't say this was high-brow humor. I merely said there are laughs to be had so long as you're not going in to the theater expecting anything as subversive as Toy Story or The Boxtrolls. It also helps that this is such a likable cast, you get the sense that everyone on screen truly enjoyed themselves and that really goes a long way in the overall enjoyment I had as a moviegoer; the fun is infectious and never feels forced.
The only real issue I have with Alexander is a subplot that involves a character drinking an entire bottle of cough syrup and then using the hijinks that ensue as fodder for comedy. I find this incredibly irresponsible simply because this is a movie for children and pre-teens. Given that prescription and over the counter medication abuse is an actual real world issue, I have a hard time forgiving that Disney would allow such subject matter in their film. Of course, having a discussion with your kids about how this is not a good thing to do isn't a bad idea, I just don't feel it's the job of a movie prominently featuring poop jokes to be the catalyst for such a discussion.
All in all, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is a fun movie that will keep kids and parents tuned in for the full 81 minutes. It's short, silly and has a positive overall message without bludgeoning you over the head with saccharine oversentimentality. Take your kids, laugh at the cartoonish nonsense that unfolds on screen, savor its family values message and then have a serious discussion with your children about robotrippin'. Sounds like the makings of a great weekend to me!
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