The Cooper family's misadventures -- and their eventual resolution -- are classic Disney fare. Photo / Supplied
It is hard to imagine what a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day looks like.
Can't be too nice.
But Alexander Cooper's family found out exactly what those words meant when his birthday wish came true.
Eleven-year-old Alexander (Ed Oxenbould) had lots of bad days while the rest of his family always seemed to get things right.
Just once, he would like them all to experience what he went through on a daily basis.
When Alexander woke on his birthday, things went surprisingly well for him.
The birthday party he had been planning was suddenly the place to be.
The most popular kid in class had been hit by illness so his party had been cancelled.
And life has suddenly got tougher for his parents - Ben (Steve Carell) and Kelly (Jennifer Garner) - and siblings Anthony (Dylan Minnette) and Emily (Kerris Dorsey).
And so the fun began. What could go wrong did go wrong and in the worst possible way.
Kelly nearly lost her job over a book misprint, her car battery died, Ben's job interview was nearly sabotaged by baby Trevor, Anthony failed his driving test in spectacular fashion and Emily's big stage performance was thrown into jeopardy.
Alexander cannot believe what is going on before his eyes.
He begins to feel very guilty while at the same time enjoying the fact things are going okay for him.
But what keeps everyone going is the strength and support they get from the other family members.
They figure that at the end of the day, disasters are going to happen -- but if they stick together it will all work out in the end.
Alexander's story is classic Disney fare and a rare offering that is clean and fun yet still very entertaining.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
(PG), 95 minutes
Rating: 3/5 stars
It's ingenious directing, outstanding acting - filmmaking at its best, Jen Shieff says.