Can you relate to Alexander when his bad luck spreads to the whole family? Take home Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day on Blu-ray and DVD.
By: Lynn Barker
Ever feel like you had the worst luck in the world and that it can even spread to your whole family? Not great when it happens to you but pretty funny to watch on the big screen. On February 10th, should you take “Alexander” and his horrible day home?
Alexander and dad wonder if the day can get worseCourtesy of Disney
Story Goes
Tween Alexander Cooper (Ed Oxenbould) is having one of those days when everything goes wrong. His family members are all too busy with their own lives to pay much attention to his plight so he wishes they could all have a bad day just like he does. Be careful what you wish for.
The family by their wrecked car doorCourtesy of Disney
Alex’s teen bro Anthony (Dylan Minnette) has a hot prom date with girlfriend Celia (Bella Thorne) and he hopes to get his driver’s license so the family won’t have to drive them! Sister Emily (Kerris Dorsey) is playing Peter Pan in the school musical but feels a cold coming on, dad (Steve Carrell) has a job interview but has to take Alex’s baby brother along and a horrible misprint in a newly-published book at mom’s (Jennifer Garner) publishing house might make her lose her job!
Big bro fails his driving testCourtesy of Disney
Anthony royally flunks his driver’s test, almost totals the family car and has a giant forehead zit..on prom day! Emily gets blasted on too much cold medicine and “flies” as Peter Pan into the set walls, Alex accidentally sets crush Becky’s lab notes on fire, dad’s job interview appears to go badly, the baby eats a green magic marker and mom lets famous Disney star Dick Van Dyke read the “bad” word in the misprinted book to a gathering of children before she can warn him. Can a heavy dose of family bonding and just plain love save the day?
Alexander sets lab notes on fire!Courtesy of Disney
Special Features
Alexander in Real Life – Author of the novel on which the film is based, Judith Viorst and her real, now adult, son Alexander talk about their experiences. Seems Alex did have horrible luck and wasn’t sure he wanted a book about it to come out. Now, as an adult, he reads it to his own kids. A nice extra on the true origins of the story.
Snappy Crocs and Punchy Roos: The Australian Outback Yard Party – Filmmakers and actors all talk about the awesome Aussie Outback yard party. Lead actor Ed Oxenbould admits that he is an Aussie but never got to see let alone pet any of these animals. Animal wranglers introduce us to many of the great animal actors and the varying degrees of difficulty training them. The crocodiles? You just don’t bother. An adorable 8-month-old wallaby is beyond cute. Very cuddly and fun featurette.
Walkabout: A Video Diary – features Ed Oxenbould behind the scenes shooting video, visiting sets, giving a tour of his personal trailer, his school on set, the wardrobe and make-up departments and getting fellow actors to say how great he is. Cute.
Celia starts to wonder if prom will come off okayCourtesy of Disney
The Delightful, Magnificent, Very Good Bloopers – Nothing risqué here. This is a family movie but some funny bits with the actors forgetting lines and everyone laughing. The best is Jennifer Garner dancing and singing on set with Dick Van Dyke and Steve Carell talking in a spooky voice to a very weird-looking doll version of the baby in the film.
Music Video “Hurricane” by The Vamps – Weird how these band members look like doubles for the “One Direction” guys but the video, intercutting between the band playing in the Coopers’ front yard and clips from the film, is upbeat and fun.
Wrapping Up
What happens to the Cooper clan makes for a funny, entertaining and relatable film well worth adding to the family collection. There is love at the core and that’s what counts. The extras on this Blu-ray are interesting or entertaining (fave is the breakdown of the Aussie yard party with all the animals). The Blu-ray and DVD look and sound great.
The family finds a crocodile in their house!Courtesy of Disney
More on-set videos and a director’s commentary would have been nice but this film is well worth adding to your home collection. We gave the film 4 stars and we’ll do the same with this home entertainment version.
Ed Oxenbould with his directorCourtesy of Disney
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day Blu-ray Rating:
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day Blu-rayCourtesy of Disney
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day is available on Blu-ray & DVD February 10th!
Have Your Say
Have you seen Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day? What is the worst thing to happen to you in one day?
