Hollywood's ongoing war against great children's books scores a late victory in Miguel Arteta's version of Judith Viorst's slim '70s classic. The technique for expanding a picture book to feature length film (granted, it's only 81 minutes) isn't great: after having the day in question, Alexander (Ed Oxenbould) wishes that his relentlessly positive family could know what it's like to have undeniably bad days of their own. (Yeah, take that, positive thinkers!) But what follows is pleasantly diverting: a neat and unforced interweaving of mostly minor familial disasters experienced by: Dad with a job interview (Steve Carrell, unable to resist the spotlight in the end), Mom with a presentation (Jennifer Garner), big brother with a prom date and a driver's test (Dylan Minnette), and big sister with a lead in the school play (Kerris Dorsey). Oh, and there's a baby. It almost works — until the dream factory intervenes. (2014) — Matthew Lickona
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