Talented Cast- Weak Script

Rating: 5/10 (20 January 2007)

The cast is very talented in this film. Every cast member makes a lot of good things happen to carry this one on screen. It is interesting that a talented cast performing very well has made this into an over-rated film.
As for script, it could be better. While it makes sense with the ending beauty pageant, a lot of loose ends from the beginning of the movie don't quite fit.There is a major continuity problem with the VW Bus which has to be pushed to be start after the first part of the movie. At one point later when the bus does start & leaves our little girl(Abigail Breslin) at the gas station, the van inexplicably starts & takes off without needing a push. Did the van starter suddenly work because she is being forgotten at the gas station?
Alan Arkin steals this film as Grandpa while he is alive. He is a center of the storyline too. He deserved the Award for this film, no doubt. Fine work from the veteran actor.
The cast makes the film go. The script actually borrows some material from the original "National Lampoon's Vacation" & uses it to get laughs & an Oscar for best "original" screenplay. In fact, a lot of the material in this script has been done before. This script has very little originality. Guess stealing a plot from a 1980's comedy & changing the action to a little girl's beauty pageant is now Oscar winning material? If you really think so, Finding Forester which plagiarizes script from other films out to interest you.
The DVD has 3 alternate endings, none of which seems very exciting or an improvement over the original ending. This is one of those hot nominated films that got Oscar recognition, but years later when you watch it again, you will wonder why? It was the most over rated film of 2006.