Real Review - Little Miss Sunshine

It’s a lot of fun discovering good independent films that defy the odds and deliver an entertaining experience. Little Miss Sunshine is one of those movies. Featuring an excellent script by Michael Arndt, which won the Academy Award for Original Screenplay, and a superb ensemble cast, the direction by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris brings all the parts into a satisfying whole. Little Miss Sunshine is one tasty little film that will keep you coming back for more.

Little Miss Sunshine goes something like this: Olivia, played by Abigail Breslin, is set to participate at the last moment in the finals of a pre-teen beauty pageant. The entire family hurriedly boards a VW bus and sets out on the 800-mile journey to California. Along the way, a series of misfortunes beset our band of heroes. Finally arriving late for the competition, Olivia learns that she is not cut-out for the pageant scene, and, in the final, hilarious dance sequence, she realizes what truly matters: she is well-loved by her family.

Though the plot seems a bit so-so, actually it is the character actors and the humorous situations that makes Little Miss Sunshine a winning film. Not only is the script funny and interesting, but the acting troupe turns in a first-rate performance. Greg Kinnear plays the “determined-to-get-ahead” father and he pairs well against the “losing-faith-in-her-husband” wife, played by Toni Collette. But it is the Grandpa, played brilliantly by Alan Arkin, that wins the spotlight. With his gruff, no BS attitude, Grandpa is actually endearing especially to little Olivia. It is Grandpa that actually unconditionally encourages and helps train Olivia for the competition. It is not surprising that Arkin won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role in this film.

In a surprising performance, Steve Carell plays a mostly dramatic role here as the brother who attempted suicide after his gay lover thwarted him. Paul Dano completes the ensemble as the tight-lipped teenage son who “hates everyone.” Put all these characters together in a small car on a long journey and there is opportunity for magic. In Little Miss Sunshine, the magic is in the interplay between the characters. I was never bored for a second when watching this Academy Award for Best Picture nominated film.

Rating: 8.5

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