At a measly 1 hour and 21 minutes, Alexander and the Terrible, No Good, Very Bad Day mimics a made-for-TV movie on the Disney Channel. And while the film certainly contains some cheesy aspects of these movies, it actually had me crying with laughter from unexpected, hilarious comedic delight.

Bordering on PG-13 at some points, the film follows an optimistic family of six. The only family member who seems to not share the positivity trait is Alexander, played by Ed Oxenbould, with plenty of bad days under his belt. When Alexander tells his upbeat family about his disastrous day, he finds little sympathy. His parents, played by Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner, constantly tell him bad days do not exist. What amazing foreshadowing, for Alexander’s birthday wish involves his perfect family experiencing a terrible day. A “No Good, Very Bad Day” indeed.

The film takes place on Alexander’s birthday, conveniently falling on the same day as his mother’s book release, his father’s job interview, his sister’s opening night, and his brother’s prom night. Alexander’s wish, or “curse” as he puts it later in the film, comes true on possibly the most important day in his family’s lives. Comedy ensues: car troubles, disastrous typos, marker disasters, and cough syrup overdoses all take place over a short span of 24 hours.

While Steve Carell’s involvement initially perplexed me, he perfectly fits his nice dad role. So does Jennifer Garner, who fits the “mom look” perfectly. Each child actor plays his or her role beautifully as well. The movie is nothing like the ridiculous family dynamic of Disney Channel’s Good Luck Charlie, a TV show with the unbelievable notion that somehow having a family of five means insanity, to the point of shoes ending up on roofs, as it says in the theme song. From my large family experience, life does not get that interesting— and our footwear stays rightfully on our feet. Refreshingly, the movie actually understands typical family life without the unnecessary drama shows and movies often concoct for entertainment value.

The movie performs like a typical Disney Channel movie, making the film all the more relatable, but also forgettable. While hilarious, understandably audiences would laugh a little and forget about it by dinnertime.

Some parents may find the movie inappropriate for some younger kids; but if that’s the case I would urge those parents to check the Disney shows they blindly trust. The film only slightly strays from the channel’s typical family movie vibe. Parents should look past the slightly inappropriate themes and instead smile at the message of love and perseverance. The family’s dynamics are relatable, funny, and totally understandable. As a member of a family of six, they portray a big family completely believably, without ridiculous stereotypical family roles.

The Chant’s grade: A-