a dysfunctional family road trip

Rating: 7/10 (23 July 2007)

This is not a slap stick comedy, but it is entertaining and amusing. It was one of the better movies of the year. Olive has a chance to enter the Little Miss Sunshine pageant. It is a very long drive from her house to the pageant. Her dad, mom, brother, granddad, and uncle all make the trip in VW that they have to push in order to start it. The granddad like to cuss and is a heroin addict. The Uncle was just released from a psych ward after attempting suicide. The brother has taken a vow of silence until he gets into the air force. The dad is motivational speaker who is trying for a book deal. The mom just tries to keep the family together.
Of course, this road trip has many obstacles to overcome. Grandpa dies and they steel his body out of the hospital. The dad finds out he didn't get the book deal. The uncle runs into the guy that made him attempt suicide. The brother finds out he is color blind, which may be the best scene of the film.
And once at the pageant, it is quite apparent that Olive is not a beauty queen. And disaster strikes when it's her turn for the talent show.
FINAL VERDICT: Good, not the best film out there. But entertaining with interesting characters.