Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip review – snarking all the way
Per the film's title, it doesn't go all that well. Have they been cursed by an ancient idol? All will be exhaustingly revealed, over the course of a blessedly short runtime. It's a frequent complaint that a film is boring because nothing happens, but here is an example where the problem is things are just constantly happening, creating a kind of antics-fatigue. Still, perhaps kids will like it?
Parents are naturally concerned if a film contains unsuitable violence or unduly terrifying sequencesbut we should be equally interested in whether a film features the kind of readily imitatable sarcasm and weak banter that impressionable children can easily mistake for being witty. So be warned: around 50% of the dialogue here is of the 'so I guess that happened' type – wave after endless wave of it. Nobody really longs for a wholesale return to earnest children's stories about Topsy and Tim returning a misplaced badge to a jolly policeman at the seaside. But this kind of snarky kids-who-are-wise-beyond-their-years schtick is equally tiresome; this is probably a road trip to avoid.
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip is on Disney+ from 28 March.
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