Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day, Disney’s latest movie based on the children’s picture storybook of the same name written in 1972 by Judith Viorst, follows the unlucky events in 11-year-old Alexander ‘s life. Alexander tries to tell his family about all the misadventures of his disastrous day, but receives no sympathy and begins to wonder if bad things only happen to him. On the day before his 12th birthday party, he learns that another boy is having a party of his own and everyone is going to it. And to makes matters worse another kid embarrasses him online.

So, at midnight on the evening before his birthday, Alexander wishes that his whole family can have a bad day so they know how he feels all the time. Miraculously, his wish is granted and things go bad for his whole family. Soon his mom (Garner), dad (Carell), brother (Minnette) and sister (Kerris Dorsey) all find themselves living through their own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day.

This movie is fun comedic viewing for all the family with a lot of the slapstick comedy that Disney is known for. The character Alexander (played by Australian Oxenbould) even has an Australian flavour built into his role with his strong interest in Australia and even a funny scene with the appearance of a kangaroo.

A modern twist on the Brothers Grimm, this could almost be described as Love Actually with fairy tales. Adapted from the Sondheim Broadway musical, this humorous and heartfelt story follows familiar, but twisted, tales of Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood, Jack and the Beanstalk and Rapunzel as they intertwine with the story of a baker and his wife who wish for a child but must first deal with a witch’s curse.

Film adaptations of Broadway musicals can be hit and miss – sometimes you get Chicago; sometimes it is Joel Schumacher’s Phantom of the Opera. Fortunately, this is one of the better ones. If you’re not big on musicals, you’ll still enjoy seeing so many famous faces giving it their all (and in some cases chewing some serious scenery) as familiar fairy tale characters and revealing some surprisingly strong pipes. The songs are catchy and the story is engaging and inventive, with some stellar performances including Anna Kendrick as Cinderella and Meryl Streep who is obviously having a ball as the questionably wicked witch.

Don’t miss this fun and funny musical but be aware – this is aimed squarely at adults. It definitely isn’t the Disney version of the stories, and happy endings are most certainly not guaranteed! BYO beanstalk and don’t forget your glass slippers.