A good title is very important for a film becauuse it can encompass all of the emotional feelings towards a film, whether good or bad.

“Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day,” (PG; 81 min) like its title, is long and purposeless.

It is a family film directed by Miguel Arteta and stars Steve Carell, Jennifer Garner, Ed Oxenbould and Dylan Minnette.

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Alexander Cooper, played by Oxenbould, is about to turn 12 years old. For most, a birthday is a joyous occasion. But for Alexander, it seems like just another bad day. After his family acts uncaring towards his trouble, he decides to wish they would have a day as bad as his. The family soon learns to always take the good with the bad.

Anyone who says this movie has no redeeming qualities is being a little harsh. Without lowering the scale too much for a family film, you do have approach it differently.

This film is by no means good, but when looking at the cast for the film, it will entertain.

The cast is beyond convincing, and the actors help their characters become interesting and compelling. Carell and Garner lead as the head of the family.

Their chemistry is fantastic and sets a standard for how the family dynamic works in this film. It is a functioning family unit, which many fictional families cannot claim.

The plot is too simple, even for a kid’s movie.

Even when interesting character moments occur they are quickly resolved, and with a nice marginalized ending that will not hurt anyone’s feelings.

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Both Carrell and Garner run into problems, which make their characters unique.

Carrell plays a stay-at-home dad. He has been laid off for quite some time and finds himself getting used to his new role. He struggles with trying to keep his family optimistic and craves the feeling his old work gave him.

Garner plays the workaholic mother. When her job begins to consume her, she wonders if she is missing out on important family memories.

Everything is tidy and wrapped up with a bow, and everyone seems to get everything they want without any compromise. For many characters in this film, their resolution comes minutes after the problems first arise.

No one is asking this film to go from a sweet, innocent children’s movie to a bleak character drama. But just because this film has to play towards a younger audience, does not mean bad things cannot happen.

While mildly inappropriate at times, it has its genuinely funny and heartwarming moments. But nothing in “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” can make up for its faults. Only see this film if your kids are on their hands and knees begging you to see it.

Jacob Pierce can be reached at [email protected], on Twitter @JacobPierce1_DE or at 536-3311 ext. 273