MOVIE REVIEWN - Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

The new Disney movie Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is the quintessential modern family movie. And thankfully, it's not animated.

This will be short and sweet.  This book was written in 1974, and now it has been successfully updated and brought to the big screen.  This will be a hit.  In short, this is a story of a very nice family with four kids that have seen their share of troubles, only to run into a really bad day on virtually every front.  We need movies for all kinds of audiences, and this targets family viewing squarely  - and delivers.

This is a movie that will bring a smile to every family member you have no matter the age.  It is completely relevant and although taken to the extreme, this mirrors many families who are trying to stay afloat in today's world.  This is a comedy, and is fun most of the time. And in the end sends a good and positive message that all will be OK no matter what is going on.

This is overly chaotic at times, and is very busy for the most part.  One of the good decisions made is that this is a very tidy 84 minutes short. As much fun as it is, shorter here is certainly better.  This has been updated nicely, and shows us the challenges that kids, and parents face in today's world.  This also does not make the mistake of trying to make some kind of silly social statement, or promote some kind of hidden agenda. It is simply fun, and funny for families.

This stars Steve Carrell, and the newly and completely transformed Jennifer Garner.   I have developed a ton of respect for her.  As her life personal life has grown and matured, so has she as an actor.  She of course is married, and has a few kids. And has completely reinvented herself as an actor.  She has made a series of safe family movies, that are good for virtually everyone.  She looks comfortable in this new role. What she has done is virtually never done in Hollywood.  It would appear that she is choosing projects and roles very carefully, not putting herself in a bad position in relation to her real family.  This also has a well thought out supporting cast, and a fun story.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.  A very good family movie, that isn't animated, and doesn't get in its own way.