Pretty good intelligent comedy

Rating: 8/10 (26 August 2006)

But it will remind you of a few movies you've already seen and perhaps have liked more. The overall story is new. It's about a messed up family who has to go together by van to see the young daughter compete in a "Little Miss Sunshine" pageant. That's new. But if you've seen enough movies there are some events that happen along the way that you will be able to predict with incredible accuracy. You'll be reminded of 9 to 5, About a Boy (big time), National Lampoon's Vacation, or if not that, then Deconstructing Harry. At one point, I thought we were going to get a reference to Sparkle Motion. Maybe they were meant to be homages. I couldn't be sure.
But even if every scene wasn't completely original it was very entertaining and funny and in some moments inspirational. I mean you've got an incredible cast here, most of all Alan Arkin, who should have had more screen time. Everyone else was great especially Abigail Breslin, who you probably remember from Signs. There are lots of laughs in it if that's what you're in the mood for but it's not a slapstick comedy. It's got some serious stuff too. It's definitely worth the money.