WHAT’S IT ABOUT
Young Alexander Garcia thinks he has the worst luck in the world. When his multigenerational Mexican-American family sets off on a road trip to California, he’s pretty sure disaster lurks around every corner.
MOVIESinMO REVIEW
Young Alexander Garcia believes he’s cursed with terrible luck. When his mom, Val, a travel writer, plans a family trip to Mexico City in a luxury RV, Alexander expects disaster. His fears seem justified when everything starts going wrong for the family. The Garcia family isn’t in great shape when they begin their journey. Dad Frank just lost his restaurant, teenage sister Mia keeps checking her phone for a “promposal” that never arrives, and Alexander is convinced he brings bad luck to everyone around him. This belief gains credibility when he discovers a cursed idol that his ancestor allegedly stole from powerful witches in Soledad, the small town where their family originated. According to Alexander’s grandfather Gilbert (played by Cheech Marin), this idol has caused pain and suffering for generations. Director Fernando Lemus creatively depicts this backstory through stylish black-and-white flashbacks and vibrant nightmare sequences with expressive green lighting and dynamic visual effects. The movie fully embraces its disaster premise. When things go wrong, they go spectacularly wrong and then get even worse. The high-tech RV becomes the perfect setup for chaos – it’s filled with technology that seems designed to malfunction in the most catastrophic ways possible. When Alexander inevitably causes problems, the film takes every opportunity to escalate the situation to absurd levels. Some comedic sequences work brilliantly, like when Alexander and Mia try to stop an ice cream truck from plunging off a cliff. The recurring jokes about the cursed idol effectively tie the story together, with the film’s final punchline delivering a perfectly timed payoff. However, other setpieces overstay their welcome, like an extended sequence involving a skunk that drags on well past its humor expiration date. Despite the over-the-top disasters, Lemus knows when to pause the zaniness for character development. These quieter moments allow the audience to breathe while showing the family growing closer together. A particularly touching scene involves Gilbert and Grandmother Lidia (Rose Portillo), revealing a vulnerable side of Marin rarely seen on screen. Though brief, this moment gives the film a surprising emotional center that extends to Alexander’s relationship with his parents as they face life’s challenges together. What sets this film apart is its authentic portrayal of Mexican and Colombian traditions. The celebrations, food, music, and family interactions reflect genuine cultural elements rather than superficial diversity. This authenticity brings life to the movie at a time when many family films have become formulaic and visually uninspired. Lemus employs simple but effective techniques like changing aspect ratios and camera angles to engage younger viewers before launching into the wild adventure. Eva Longoria and Jesse Garcia deliver charming performances as Alexander’s parents. Longoria especially shines with her excellent comedic timing and ability to balance parental frustration with genuine warmth. Young Thom Nemer does well as Alexander but doesn’t get as many opportunities to stand out as the adult cast members, who receive most of the funny material. Like many family comedies, the film relies on familiar physical humor and absurd situations – falls, embarrassing mix-ups, uncontrolled animals, and seemingly hopeless situations saved by emotional twists. While these elements are predictable, the movie’s heart and cultural authenticity elevate it above merely average fare. The film explores themes of family unity and cultural heritage, with particularly meaningful moments involving Alexander’s grandfather and intergenerational connections. However, these themes could have been developed more deeply. The dialogue remains simple, and convenient solutions often eliminate genuine tension, but that’s expected in this type of family entertainment. At its core, the movie poses an important question: when life doesn’t go according to plan, do we give in to self-pity and blame bad luck, or do we adapt and pursue our dreams despite life’s inevitable curveballs? This simple but valuable lesson gives the film unexpected depth beneath its comedy. While “Alexander And The Terrible Horrible No Good Very Bad Road Trip” doesn’t reinvent the family comedy genre, it delivers an entertaining experience with cultural authenticity and genuine heart. The film runs a brisk 94 minutes and provides enough laughs and warmth to please its target audience. It’s the kind of family entertainment that combines fun with meaningful messages – something increasingly rare in today’s streaming landscape. For viewers who enjoy lighthearted family adventures with cultural flavor, this road trip is worth taking. Just be prepared for plenty of disasters along the way.
OUR RATING – A VERY WOKE 6