Generally these family comedies have not grabbed my attention all that much, but “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” was quite amusing. It is an adaptation based off of the classic book also called “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.” Long story short, I loved the book as a kid and read it consistently, so I just had to see this movie.

The movie stars two well-known celebrities that hold your attention throughout its entire ninety minutes. As always, Steve Carell never disappoints. He always has something to offer that will make the film hysterical at any given moment. Finally, Jennifer Garner fits the role of being the mother in this quirky, family film. The casting in this film all works perfectly, and the movie is somewhat ridiculous, but a a family film with a few laughs is what is fun for family fun at the movies.

As said earlier, the movie is an adaptation based off the children’s novel written by Judith Viorst. Alexander (Ed Oxenbould) is having the worst day of his life followed by a bunch of other disappointments and it is all taking place on the day before his birthday. Issues relating to friends, school, popularity, and his family agitating him all the time. All of this makes Alexander have one wish. That wish is for his family to see what it is like to have a terrible day. That wish comes true and when it does the anarchy begins with many disasters with everyone that is Alexander’s annoyance besides himself.

Even though the film is a bit over done to be funny, I personally had a good time with it. I felt like I can relate to the film because I remember a variety of days where I just felt like my day sucked. Regardless of how bad your day is, for Alexander’s family, their day cannot get anymore disastrous. You can’t help but become dazzled by how over the top the disasters are.

I enjoyed the family-first memo in this movie. Without any spoilers, there is the moment where you just know that the ending is going to be a good ending since this is a family film. You will wonder if Alexander is going to admit its his fault for his family’s day being such catastrophe. If he does or does not, no matter what you will still be laughing until it hurts.

Overall, “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” is somewhat dumb, but has many touching moments. If you are looking for a film to have a laugh with your kids this is definitely the right one for that scenario. I will say at least three stars for this movie.

I thought that “Tusk” was going to be as twisted as “The Human Centipede.” “Tusk” is a horror film that is beyond bizarre and not even scary. If you thought “The Human Centipede” was disturbing, do not panic. “Tusk” does not even add up to the disturbance of its concept of a horror film.

I will elaborate on its setup. The film may seem obvious after I explain how it goes. I will not mind because (1) it involves a podcaster with a ridiculous podcast named “The Not-See” party, and (2) why would a scientist be obsessed with turning an innocent man into a walrus? This is a film that I felt ninety-minutes of my time was wasted. Just the whole premise does not make sense.

Wallace Bryton (Justin Long) is a podcaster that takes a trip down to the backwoods of Manitoba to interview a delusional seafarer named Howard Howe (Michael Parks). He drugs Wallace and does surgically twisted operations on him determined to turn him into a walrus.

Wallace is able to make his partner and girlfriend Teddy Craft and Ally Leon (Haley Joel Osment and Genesis Rodriguez) aware that he is in danger.

Teddy and Ali plan to go and save Wallace with the help of an ex-cop named Guy Lapointe (Johnny Depp). Lapointe has a feeling for violence to happen because he is aware of how demented the seafarer is. You will not want to know how crazy the seafarer is, but you do not want to know how he can turn someone into a walrus.

The director Kevin Smith is a well-known director, but “Tusk” is one of his films doing dreadfully; I wonder why I did not just watch one of his good films like “Clerks” or “Jersey Girl.” They may be out dated, but they sound much more entertaining than a film about a man being turned into a walrus.

I will say, this movie made me laugh, but I am not giving it a high star rating. Is this quirky? Is this scary? What’s the point? It is an example of how horror films lack. One star.

The perfectly planned lies of the psychopath Amy Hull suggests a sense of insecurities for a wife that has a decent life, but she does not realize it. Most wives in films immediately start conflict. There are many characters from David Fincher films that are similar to Amy Hull. In this movie, it is Rosamund Pike as the psychopath wife. Creative demented, with over-exaggerated feelings, she is dangerous and no doubt wants her husband Nick Hull (Ben Affleck) to suffer.

The adaptations of Fincher have been what captivated me by his mystery flicks. I know that he had the author Gillian Flynn adapted her novel into a screenplay for Fincher. However, Flynn made a small change with the ending of the screenplay compared to the novel. The screenplay has a different ending in order for the readers of the novel to keep interested in the film adaptation. Also, it is a way to prevent spoilers.

The plot: it is the fifth wedding anniversary for Nick and Amy. All of a sudden, Amy has gone missing. The authorities and the rise of the media can cause Nick’s reputation to be negative. Nick has lies, deceits, and unexplained behavior with everyone assuming that Nick killed his wife.

The plot had my full attention. Before “Gone Girl” opened I watched his two previous films before “Gone Girl.” They were “The Social Network” and “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.” Fincher has great cinematography with both of these movies as he does with “Gone Girl.” His cinematography creates a sense of darkness, yet it is extremely inviting.

The puzzle to Amy’s disappearance is contorted. The evidence of Amy vanishing does not add up to if Nick is a killer or not. Apparently, there is no body for proof that Nick killed her.

Authorities find many clues realizing that Nick and Amy have had relationship problems. Most of it comes down to their insufficient funds, Amy’s diary (which contains information that is monstrous and bizarre), and just the fact that Nick is oblivious to what Amy does when she has down time.

The missing comes down to two more people involved in regards to Nick and Amy. Tyler Perry and Neil Patrick Harris. Perry is Tanner Bolt (a lawyer for Nick), and Harris is Desi Collings (someone that was in a relationship with Amy at one point). With Bolt’s help of Nick’s situation, Colling’s is a shady man who is on Amy’s side and will not reveal much to Nick the past where he once dated Amy. These two characters (Bolt and Collings) can lead to truths that are ugly.

Overall, “Gone Girl” was tremendous. It was spellbinding, inviting, I did not want the movie to end. The premise is chilling and you will be desperate to find out the truth of Amy’s disappearance. Four stars.