Steve Carell, a Patient Dad About to Lose His Cool in ‘Alexander’

The incomparable Steve Carell (“Despicable Me” films) stars as Ben Cooper, a stay-at-home dad hoping to rejoin the ranks of the employed, in Walt Disney Pictures’ hilarious family comedy “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day.”

The film follows the exploits of 11-year-old Alexander as he experiences the most terrible and horrible day of his young life—a day that begins with gum stuck in his hair, followed by one calamity after another. But when Alexander tells his upbeat family about the misadventures of his disastrous day, he finds little sympathy and begins to wonder if bad things only happen to him. He soon learns that he’s not alone when his mom, dad, brother and sister all find themselves living through their own terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Anyone who says there is no such thing as a bad day just hasn’t had one.

“I am the patriarch, the father, the leader,” says Carell. “My character’s been out of work for a while so he has assumed the duties of the fommy—the father/mommy. He’s the guy who’s in charge of the littlest Cooper and getting the other kids ready for school while his wife is pursuing her career.”

But when he lands a huge job interview, he’s unable to line up a babysitter in time and is forced to bring baby Trevor with him—which isn’t exactly the first impression he’d hoped to make. “He’s been unemployed for seven months,” says screenwriter Rob Lieber, “so he has a lot riding on this opportunity.”

“Ben Cooper figures he has to soldier through when it comes to obstacles,” adds Carell. “He’s a guy who tries to keep everything positive. I identified with the character, because as a dad, you feel like you need to be this steady hand—the rock. And at a certain point when that well runs dry, where do you go?”

Says director Miguel Arteta, “He’s the ultimate optimist, but this terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day tries his patience to the point that he finally freaks out. It’s a lot of fun to see a sunny character like that finally lose it.”

Steve Carell has established himself as a multi-talented force in Hollywood. Gaining recognition for his contributions as a correspondent on Comedy Central’s Emmy® Award-winning “The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,” Carell has successfully segued from the small screen to above-the-title status on the big screen.

In early 2013, Carell starred opposite Jim Carrey and Steve Buscemi in Warner Bros.’ “The Incredible Burt Wonderstone.” In July, Carell returned as the voice of Gru in “Despicable Me 2,” which has grossed more than $918 million worldwide and is Universal Pictures’ most profitable film, ever. The same month, Carell co-starred alongside Toni Collette, Allison Janney, Maya Rudolph and Amanda Peet in Fox Searchlight Pictures’ “The Way, Way Back,” which was written and directed by Academy Award® winners Nat Faxon and Jim Rash.

In 2012, Carell starred in “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World” opposite Keira Knightly. Later that year Carell was seen in the hit comedic drama “Hope Springs,” opposite Meryl Streep and Tommy Lee Jones.

In the summer of 2011, Carell starred in “Crazy, Stupid, Love” opposite Julianne Moore, Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. Produced by Carell’s production company, Carousel Productions, the critically acclaimed film went on to earn $142 million worldwide.

Opening across the Philippines on Oct. 15, 2014, “Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day” is distributed by Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures International through Columbia Pictures.