Disney provided me with an expense paid trip to Los Angeles for the #VeryBadDayEvent and #DisneyInHomeEvent in exchange for my review of the events of the trip. No other compensation is given. All opinions & experiences are my own. Photos courtesy of Disney.
Who’s seeing Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day this weekend, it opens in theaters today!
I saw an early screening of it last month and loved it. It’s a family friendly movie with lots of funny and heart warming moments. The general idea is that after Alexander has his own terrible day (similar to the book plot), he wishes his perfect family would understand what it’s like to have a bad day. He gets his wish when the following day everyone in his family from his parents down to his baby brother have their own misadventures. It’s a movie the whole family can laugh their way through.
That being said, I wouldn’t take Elliot to see it in the theater because at 4 years old he really only likes animated films. It is rated PG with parental guidance recommended. Personally I have no problem with Elliot watching it (and most PG movies), I just don’t think he would sit still through it. I do think Quinn (at 7 years old) will LOVE it though. There are lots of crazy, funny antics that he will think are super silly. I can already picture him giggling his way through the movie.
After talking with a friend with a little one that loves the book and really wants to see it (he’s also 4 years old), I realized there might be a few scenes that could bother some sensitive kids. All of the details I have listed below are included in various Alexander previews, so they really aren’t spoilers but if you haven’t seen the previews it might spoil a few scenes for you.
- In one scene, an alligator greets the family when they open their front door. Everyone screams but basically what you see in the trailer is as scary as it gets.
- Ben (the father) chases down a kangaroo who turns on him and knocks him down. It’s a little suspenseful but no one truly gets hurt.
- Ben’s shirt catches on fire during one scene and he panics for a minute. He doesn’t get hurt but it could frighten a child who is scared of fire.
- Along the same lines, Alexander also has a fire scene where he accidentally sets part of his classroom on fire. No one gets hurt.
- There is a crazy car scene where the older brother gets in a few accidents. The car is damaged but no one gets hurt.
I don’t think my 4 year old would be scared by any of those things. However I know all kids are different and have different sensitivities and fears. This preview shows most of the details I outlined above, I suggest watching it and perhaps showing it to your kiddo if you are concerned about their fears.
There is also some rude words used like “idiot” that might cause concern with parents as well. My kids have heard words like that before and know they’re not polite and shouldn’t be said. Personally, I’d use the opportunity to reinforce that idea if they brought up the rude language after the movie.
The movie really drives home the point that everyone can have bad days but that just makes you appreciate the good ones even more. I hope your family enjoys seeing it this weekend!
If you have older kids check out the tween/teen focused movie review at My Crazy Good Life! Don’t forget my interviews with Jennifer Garner and Steve Carell and the kids of Alexander are full funny and sweet antics from the set of Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.
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