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

A modestly enjoyable family film that doesn't try to be more than it is, "Alexander and The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day" is the kind of movie you take your kids to, and maybe everyone enjoys it, then everyone forgets it very soon after.

The title character in "Alexander" (Ed Oxenbould) is an accident-prone lad, a boy who envies what he perceives as the perfect life of his family. His older siblings are popular and charmed, and his parents are successful. Alexander, however, lives a life of humiliation, accident and folly.

When his birthday doesn't go as planned, Alexander makes a birthday wish that his family could understand what it is like to be him. The next day, his family's day falls apart, while he finds a surprisingly smooth day.

Better than the typical kid-centric family fare, "Alexander" handles family politics well, using the typical, sometimes painfully precious setups that pay off almost immediately. Still, the film often draws laughs from a surprisingly strong cast that includes the almost head-scratchingly bizarre choices of Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner playing Alexander's suddenly put-upon parents. Either their careers have fallen off in a hurry (and that seems unlikely given roles they have lined up in the near future), or they're Making One for the Kids. They are both fine here, even if they feel like they are slumming.

I wasn't overly impressed with "Alexander," but I will admit it is better acted than most movies of its ilk, such as the sometimes-irritating "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" films. There is a certain charm to these kinds of films, especially when they are as well done as this one is, by comparison.

My own children attended the screening of this film with me, laughed heartily and said they enjoyed the film, though they haven't even mentioned the movie to me since, despite having seen TV spots for it almost daily. That's damning praise, an indication of a forgettable picture. "Alexander" is a pleasant movie, one that your children will enjoy, and you may too. But that's ultimately the strongest recommendation I can give the movie.