"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.