Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

Name: Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
Genre: Comedy, Family
Released: October 10, 2014
Duration: 81 min
Rating: 54
Cast: Bella Thorne, Dylan Minnette, Ed Oxenbould, Elise Vargas, Jennifer Garner

2014

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Mixed or average reviews based on 28 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Mixed or average reviews based on 105 Ratings

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5.9

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5.9	User Score Mixed or average reviews based on 105 Ratings

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Alexander And The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

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Movie Details & Credits

Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures | Release Date: October 10, 2014 | PG

Starring: Bella Thorne, Dylan Minnette, Ed Oxenbould, Elise Vargas, Jennifer Garner, Kerris Dorsey, Sidney Fullmer, Steve Carell, Zoey Vargas

Summary: 11-year-old Alexander (Ed Oxenbould) experiences the most terrible and horrible day of his young life — a day that begins with gum stuck in his hair, followed by one calamity after another. But when Alexander tells his upbeat family about the misadventures of his disastrous day, he finds little sympathy and begins to wonder if bad things11-year-old Alexander (Ed Oxenbould) experiences the most terrible and horrible day of his young life — a day that begins with gum stuck in his hair, followed by one calamity after another. But when Alexander tells his upbeat family about the misadventures of his disastrous day, he finds little sympathy and begins to wonder if bad things only happen to him. He soon learns that he’s not alone when his mom (Jennifer Garner), dad (Steve Carell), brother (Dylan Minnette) and sister (Kerris Dorsey) all find themselves living through their own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Anyone who says there is no such thing as a bad day just hasn’t had one. [Walt Disney Pictures]… Expand

Director: Miguel Arteta

Genre(s): Comedy, Family

Rating: PG

Runtime: 81 min

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Critic Reviews

RogerEbert.com Sheila O'Malley

Oct 10, 2014

Humorous and poignant. There are a couple of scenes that fall flat, losing the manic push of the rest of the story, but the mood is so screwball that the film hurtles past its own mistakes. It's good fun. Read full review

Lindsey Bahr

Oct 8, 2014

Alexander is pleasantly devoid of the vulgarity and too-current pop culture references that are the default mode for many contemporary live-action kids' pics, and its earnest celebration of family gives the movie a comforting throwback vibe. Read full review

Geoff Pevere

Oct 9, 2014

Alexander narrates with a rueful, put-upon worldly wisdom that instantly enlists our sympathy, and the young actor Ed Oxenbould may be the most appealing junior loser we’ve seen since Peter Billingsley wished for an air rifle in "A Christmas Story." Read full review

The Guardian Jordan Hoffman

Oct 2, 2014

For family entertainment, you could do a lot worse. Read full review

Alonso Duralde

Oct 9, 2014

For a comedy set around one epic catastrophe of a rotten day, this wisp of a farce feels strangely chaos-deficient. Read full review

Betsy Sharkey

Oct 9, 2014

At the moment, modestly amusing does not stave off that desire for a really great live-action family film after years of watching the terrain land-grabbed by animation. Read full review

Michael Ordona

Oct 9, 2014

But who cares what grumpy old grown-ups think? This reviewer watched with two movie-loving kids, and they did each laugh. Twice. Read full review

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User Reviews

ledaumas

Oct 20, 2014

This movie made us laugh out loud with normal situations turning into humiliating fiascos one must recover from. It's a good fun, family movie, which is rare these days.

6 of 11 users found this helpful65

moviecritic_

Jul 29, 2015

Great movie, I watch this all time. It consists of a very horrible day happening to an 11-12 boy. He and his family have the WORST day ever. The movie is defiently worth watching. This and the 1st diary of a wimpy kid go well together in a movie watching spree. Would recommend to everyone 8+

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Slashstar314

Oct 13, 2014

I think it does accomplish what it's supposed to do, it's a movie meant for the family and not for really anyone else who want to put a magnifying glass under how the movie will fit for your individual tastes, and it doesn't need to go any farther than that, is it a movie that delivers for aI think it does accomplish what it's supposed to do, it's a movie meant for the family and not for really anyone else who want to put a magnifying glass under how the movie will fit for your individual tastes, and it doesn't need to go any farther than that, is it a movie that delivers for a trip with a family? I think so, the humor was interesting and had it's moments to have kids laugh in the theatre, there's a clear message inside of it that delivers for the movie, and the pacing was really good. If you're expecting to go solo and have the expectation that it has to deliver laughs left and right to be a good movie, then don't go. It's a charming adventure for the family, not for the critics who have their checklists ready to try looking for the doubts over the benefits.… Expand

3 of 10 users found this helpful37

TheQuietGamer

May 30, 2015

There are plenty of funnier alternatives that preach less familiar morals, but it's a decent family movie that can make for a nice rental. The crazy scenarios are the highlights. The bigger the better. The smaller misadventures make for amusing bits, but ultimately end up not making as muchThere are plenty of funnier alternatives that preach less familiar morals, but it's a decent family movie that can make for a nice rental. The crazy scenarios are the highlights. The bigger the better. The smaller misadventures make for amusing bits, but ultimately end up not making as much of an impact. The whole things ends up bathed in a familiar series of morals.

The film seems dead set in telling us that no matter how bad the day is everything works out in the end so long as you have family by your side. We've heard this before. Thankfully the cast is entertaining and the jokes solid enough to keep things pretty enjoyable, if not particularly hilarious or impressive. Also just as a warning, just because this is a movie aimed at families doesn't mean it's entirely squeaky clean. There are a few jokes parents might not be entirely cool with. It does stay in the PG range though.

Overall it's a solid movie. Just not a particularly exciting one. It's decent enough to be worth a rental for a family movie night if there's nothing else going on. It succeeds at being a pretty entertaining film, but don't expect greatness.… Expand

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

MonkiReviews

May 28, 2017

It is a funny movie. The story follows people having the worst day, ever. This is of course a comedy, with most jokes being funny. It has actors that are good, but not great. It was very enjoyable.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

horizonbts

Feb 2, 2015

Was a little disappointed as I expect a Steve Carell movie to make me LOL. Have found him witty and crafty in movies like "Crazy Stupid Love". Still an average flick, but wished I had waited for it on DVD instead of paying the movie price!

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

NolanLundgaard

Jul 4, 2018

Meh. I expected more from this movie. It didn't even follow the book. Such a big disappointment.

0 of 1 users found this helpful01

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