Discription
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (2014)
Summary:
Ten-year-old Alexander Cooper, perpetually feeling overlooked and unlucky, wishes his family could experience just one terrible day like his. His wish comes true on his eleventh birthday eve, as his seemingly perfect parents and siblings endure a cascading series of hilarious disasters and frustrations. The family's chaotic day forces them to confront their challenges together, ultimately teaching them the value of unity and empathy.
Detailed Plot (Movie Story):
The film introduces Alexander Cooper (Ed Oxenbould), a sensitive and generally optimistic ten-year-old boy who believes he is perpetually cursed with bad luck. He feels constantly overshadowed by his seemingly perfect and successful family: his older brother, Anthony (Dylan Minnette), a popular high school senior with a beautiful girlfriend; his older sister, Emily (Kerris Dorsey), a budding actress preparing for a lead role in her school's Peter Pan play; his perpetually cheerful and organized mother, Kelly (Jennifer Garner), a busy publishing executive; and his eternally optimistic and slightly quirky father, Ben (Steve Carell), an unemployed aerospace engineer trying to balance job hunting with being a stay-at-home dad.
Alexander's day leading up to his eleventh birthday is a microcosm of his perceived misfortunes. He gets gum stuck in his hair, is embarrassed by his classmates, and discovers he's not invited to a popular kid's birthday party, even though everyone else in his class is. Feeling utterly miserable and overlooked, he confides in his family, expressing his desire that they could experience just one truly terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, just like his. His family, caught up in their own seemingly flawless lives, dismisses his frustrations, urging him to simply "be positive."
The following morning, on Alexander's eleventh birthday, his seemingly innocent wish magically comes true, though he initially keeps it a secret. The film then meticulously chronicles the escalating series of comical disasters that befall each member of the Cooper family, turning what should have been a celebratory day into a chaotic nightmare.
Ben's Day: Ben wakes up late, narrowly avoids a traffic accident, and arrives for a crucial job interview at a reputable aerospace company. However, things quickly go downhill: he accidentally sets his shirt on fire, stains his resume, and gets covered in baby formula. During the interview, his cell phone rings repeatedly with family emergencies, and he inadvertently insults his interviewer. To make matters worse, his attempt to give Emily a driving lesson later in the day leads to a calamitous incident where she accidentally backs his car into a pole, severely damaging it.
Kelly's Day: Kelly wakes up to a power outage that disrupts her morning routine. She's already stressed about a major book launch for her demanding celebrity author, Celia Rodriguez (Megan Mullally). Her plans for the day are thwarted at every turn. She faces technical glitches with her presentation, her demanding author throws a tantrum, and she mistakenly sends a deeply insulting email intended for her boss to her boss. She has to race across town trying to fix these errors, all while dealing with her malfunctioning car and the growing chaos at home.
Anthony's Day: Anthony's perfect image crumbles rapidly. He wakes up with a giant pimple on his forehead. During his driver's license test, the examiner is a stern, humorless woman, and his car breaks down mid-test. Later, during the senior prom, his carefully chosen tuxedo is ruined by a runaway car. His perfect girlfriend, Celia, also ends up causing a scene at the prom, leading to a public breakup.
Emily's Day: Emily, typically composed, experiences a meltdown. Her performance in the school play of Peter Pan is jeopardized when she wakes up with a nasty cold and a sore throat. Her costume is accidentally ripped, and her attempt to drive Ben's car to practice ends in the aforementioned collision. She also has to endure the embarrassment of the school play being cancelled due to a series of mishaps and her own worsening condition.
Alexander's Day: While his family's day spirals into disarray, Alexander still experiences his own misfortunes. His carefully planned birthday party is threatened, and he worries that no one will show up due to the escalating family calamities. He feels a mix of guilt and a strange sense of validation as his wish comes true.
As the day progresses, the family's individual misfortunes converge into a collective disaster. They are forced to deal with a broken car, ruined clothes, professional embarrassments, and personal heartbreaks. The mounting frustrations lead to comical arguments and bickering. However, as the evening approaches, they realize that despite the chaos, they are still together.
The climax of the day occurs during Alexander's belated birthday party, which is held at a less-than-ideal venue. The family, despite their individual disasters, pulls together to make the best of it. Ben, using his engineering skills, improvises a way to inflate balloons. Kelly manages to salvage a birthday cake. Anthony and Emily, putting aside their teen angst, help with the party.
During the party, Ben delivers a heartfelt speech, acknowledging that while life is full of bad days, it's how they face them together that truly matters. He expresses love and appreciation for each member of the family, including Alexander, finally recognizing his son's often-unseen struggles. The speech resonates deeply with everyone, emphasizing the strength of their family bond.
The film concludes with the Cooper family realizing that even on the most terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, having each other makes all the difference. They learn to appreciate the "good" in their "bad" day, recognizing that life isn't always perfect, but family unity and resilience can overcome any challenge. The final scene shows them embracing their imperfections and finding joy in their shared experiences, including the messy ones. Alexander, finally feeling seen and understood, realizes that his family is indeed the best, even on the worst of days.
Cast:
- Ed Oxenbould as Alexander Cooper
- Steve Carell as Ben Cooper (Alexander's father)
- Jennifer Garner as Kelly Cooper (Alexander's mother)
- Dylan Minnette as Anthony Cooper (Alexander's older brother)
- Kerris Dorsey as Emily Cooper (Alexander's older sister)2
- Megan Mullally as Celia Rodriguez
- Jennifer Coolidge as Ms. Suggs (driving instructor)
- Dick Van Dyke as Himself (cameo)
- Bella Thorne as Celia (Anthony's girlfriend)
- Sidney Fullmer as Rebecca (Alexander's classmate)
- Mary Mouser as Audrey (Anthony's prom date)
Crew:
- Director: Miguel Arteta
- Writers: Rob Lieber (screenplay); based on the book Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
- Producers: Shawn Levy, Lisa James Robinson
- Music by: Christophe Beck
- Cinematography: Terry Stacey
- Editor: Pam Callow
- Production Company: Walt Disney Pictures, 21 Laps Entertainment, The Jim Henson Company
- Distributed by: Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures
