Children’s books often have a simple moral, and the slick-looking Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is no exception. It also has an interesting concept. Unfortunately, the message seems muddled and at times contradictory to the actions of its characters. Youngsters may get a chuckle out of seeing a kangaroo kick its adult star across the screen, but there’s little else to be taken from the effort.
Alexander (Ed Oxenbould) may be turning 12, but he isn’t happy. He gets gum stuck in his hair and accidentally sets his school crush’s notebook on fire. His friends and acquaintances are passing up his birthday party to attend the event of a more popular kid. Upset at the lack of sympathy from his father (Steve Carell), mother (Jennifer Garner) and siblings (Dylan Minnette and Kerris Dorsey), Alex wishes that they could all have the type of rotten day that he experienced and understand his suffering. His plea comes true the following day, leading to all sorts of wacky situations that become more elaborate by the minute.
There’s a lot of talent both behind and in front of the camera, yet there’s something odd about the execution of it all. The moral is that no matter how hard we try, sometimes things just don’t go our way. Yet when things go bad, as long as we are surrounded by caring family members, it’ll still work out for the best. It’s a nice enough point, but here’s the thing… it doesn’t really appear as if the family members are cursed. Instead, they seem inept.
These characters do ridiculous and illogical things to further the plot and get themselves into more and more trouble. This includes overdosing on medication and causing a public scene as well as breaking the law while taking a driving test. In many instances they alone appear to be the cause of their own problems. And as some of Alexander’s family become more frustrated, they begin snapping at each other and random strangers. At times their bizarre behavior borders on being completely unlikable.
It’s also unusual that the protagonist is literally a spectator to the action of the second half of the story. He’s not really involved in what’s occurring, simply offering an unheeded warning every now and again. By the end of the film, Alexander hasn’t really changed. He is still every bit as desperate to win the affection of his schoolmates as before. It also feels like the nasty curse he bestowed on others actually benefits him… and even the well-intentioned actions of his parents end up coming across as a kind of friendship bribe.
Admittedly, the movie is glossily shot and runs at a quick pace (it run under 80 minutes without credits). Thankfully, co-star Steve Carell alleviates a few of the likeability issues. The actor’s reactions to some of the more outrageous situations are amusing and he has a knack for physical comedy, selling as many slapstick gags as he can. Ultimately, his character’s demeanor and desire not to panic under pressure comes across as less abrasive. In general the cast are fine. It’s the screenplay that lets them down.
No one would expect Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day to be a “tween” version of Martin Scorcese’s bad luck opus After Hours, but this movie would have been wiser to at least follow that effort’s tonal and thematic consistency. While this family might strengthen their bonds over the course of a day, viewers are more likely to lose all patience with them.