ALEXANDER AND THE TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE, NO GOOD, VERY BAD DAY
Life is messy, but this funny family film finds the reward.
Should You Watch It?
This is a fun, enjoyable family comedy with a strong pro-family heart. The parents are loving, caring, and hardworking. The children love them and never want to rebel against them. Instead, the family learns to face an unusually bad day together and accept that some days go well while others go badly.
The movie also has a few issues for parents to weigh. There are light references to magic, though other characters refute them. Scatological humor includes a baby urinating all over the kitchen, and the content includes light profanity, natural baby nudity, and a teenager becoming drunk after drinking too much cough syrup.
If your family can handle those concerns, this is a rewarding choice for older pre-teens and adults. The practical answer: take the trip with older children, using discernment with younger ones.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESAlexander is 12 years old, the middle child in a family of six, and he feels overlooked. His older brother has popularity and a girlfriend, while his older sister is a star performer. Alexander, meanwhile, seems to face one embarrassing moment after another.
On the day before his birthday, a series of comic disasters makes everything worse. Feeling that his family does not understand him, Alexander makes a wish that they could experience a bad day, too. The family soon discovers that life can become messy for everyone.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a highly enjoyable family comedy. Steve Carell is comical and does a great job playing a father. Jennifer Garner is a wonderful mother, and the young actors also do a good job.
The movie is fun and entertaining without losing its positive moral message. Its comedy grows out of the family's difficult day, while its performances keep the family dynamic warm and appealing.
The Worldview
The movie strongly affirms family, caring for others, helping others, and overcoming problems. Parents are presented as loving, caring, and hardworking, while the children genuinely love them. The film does not celebrate rebellion against parents. Instead, the family remains positive toward one another even when life becomes excruciatingly difficult.
The movie also teaches a grounded lesson: some days go well and some days go badly. Alexander's wish against his family is rebuked, and the light references to magic are refuted by other characters. A Buddhist statue appears in the background at one point, but the source review identifies no broader spiritual message beyond these brief elements.
The film's emphasis on perseverance and a positive outlook fits the biblical wisdom that “a joyful heart is good medicine” (Proverbs 17:22).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong moral worldview stressing family, caring for others, helping others, and overcoming problems, with some light pagan content such as main character makes a bad wish (but this is refuted) and a Buddhist statue appears in the background at one point; two light profanities, some scatological scenes when baby urinates all over the kitchen, mother walks in on son in the shower and makes joke she’s seen everyone’s private parts in the family; car runs into things and is very damaged; no sexual content except one mention of a thong; natural nudity of baby; teenage girl drinks too much cough syrup to get better and becomes drunk; no smoking or drug use; and, boy makes a wish against his family because they seem to have more successful lives, but this is rebuked, and he and his siblings really love their parents.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Alexander feels overlooked while his siblings seem successful. How can your family notice and encourage people who feel unseen?
Philippians 2:3–4 · 1 Thessalonians 5:11The family learns that some days go well and some go badly. What helps you remain thankful and hopeful during a difficult day?
1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 · Romans 12:12Alexander wishes difficulty on his family because he feels misunderstood. What should we do with resentment before it turns into an unkind wish or action?
Ephesians 4:31–32 · James 1:19–20The parents work hard and care for their children. What are some practical ways your family can show love through service?
Galatians 5:13 · 1 John 3:18The Final Word
This is a bright, funny family movie with a message worth receiving: life is messy, but family love and a positive outlook matter. Its brief content concerns call for discernment with younger children, but older pre-teens and adults can enjoy the ride. WORTH THE TRIP — OLDER PRE-TEENS AND UP.
