We’ve got a short Parental Guidance this week due to the lack of family friendly wide releases in theaters. Read through for this week’s DVD release, and make sure to check our Parental Guidance archive for additional options.
Rating: PG, for rude humor including some reckless behavior and language.
The popular Judith Viorst children’s book provides the inspiration for this family-friendly Disney comedy. The misadventures begin when Alexander (Ed Oxenbould) suffers through an atrocious day. While blowing out a birthday candle, he wishes that his happy, thriving parents and siblings could understand his misery — and accidentally places a curse on them in the process. Madcap hilarity ensues: a wrecked minivan, a Peter Pan performance that goes haywire after Alexander’s sister drinks too much cough syrup and a baby who eats an entire green marker. There’s nothing that’s the slightest bit offensive here. Even when the male-stripper group the Thunder From Down Under shows up — it’s a long story — they do a sanitized version of their sexy routine. This is a solid choice for the whole family — even parents, who may find it surprisingly enjoyable thanks partly to the likable presence of Steve Carell and Jennifer Garner as Alexander’s parents.
