Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip: Culture meets Chaos in Disney’s latest family adventure

Every family trip is chaotic. But what you learn along the way matters most.

Directed by Marvin Bryan Lemus, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip follows Alexander Garcia (Thom Nemer), a young man who believes that he’s the unluckiest kid in the world. Afraid of the world (and, probably, rightly so), Alexander lives his life in the safest ways possible. However, when his mom, Val (Eva Longoria) plans an extensive road trip to Mexico City, he’s convinced that things will not end well for them. Then, when the family discovers an ancient idol, his fears become justified as their trip is upended in chaos, forcing them to work together to return it and break the curse.

Admittedly, it almost feels odd to call Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip a sequel to 2014’s Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day. After all, this is a film with an entirely different vision. With a new cast and a different spin on the material, Bad Road Trip charts its own course, rather than relying on the IP.

Even so, Very Bad Day proves to be an adorable family trip that fits well into the classic Disney style. Leaning into physical humour, this is the sort of film that feels like an old school comedy from the days of The Wonderful World of Disney. This is the sort of piece that destroys buses, cursed idols and face-offs with skunks. It’s silly, sweet and very sentimental. 

And it’s that charm that makes it endearing.

Although the script can be a bumpy ride in spots, Very Bad Day is the sort of piece that works perfectly for Disney+. It’s meant to be watched with the family on a Saturday night with pizza for dinner and popcorn in hand. With some good work by Longoria, Jesse Garcia and Cheech Marin, the film has some enjoyable comedic energy. Even so, the focus is on the kids and, more specifically, Alexander. As the titular character, Nemer does a good job of leading the pack. Despite Alexander’s trouble with fear, one can tell that Nemer is enthusiastic about the character, often stealing some scenes from his veteran co-stars.

Most importantly though, Very Bad Road Trip finds joy in its cultural heritage. In the midst of its household hijinks, this Trip really becomes about discovering your roots. As second-generation Americans, Alexander and his siter Mia (Paulina Chavez) have lost sight of their family history. When it’s suggested that Mia missed out on her quinceanera, she argues that it’s an ‘outdated, patriarchal tradition’. At the same time, when his grandfather tries to speak about their culture, Alexander barely listens. 

And neither of them are interested in learning Spanish.

For both of these youth, they remain entirely focused on their lives today. However, for their parents and abuela, the opportunity to hit the road means a chance to reconnect with their roots. In this way, there’s an excitement in this film about passing the family story on to the next generation. To the Garcia family, history isn’t only about the past. 

It’s about knowing where you came from and who you are now.

In the end, it’s this mindset that gives Very Bad Road Trip a very good heart. With its celebration of culture, the ride is funny, endearing and very sweet. While it’s not an instant classic, one can’t deny that it fits the Disney vibe. As such, the film is charming enough for your family to decide to join Alexander and his crew on this trip, especially if you’re sitting at home.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Road Trip is on Disney+ now.