Overrated and frankly more than a little disturbing

Rating: 3/10 (4 January 2008)

Once again I find myself watching a highly rated movie and thinking to myself "is that it?" when the credits roll.
Little Miss Sunshine has been widely heralded as a "heartwarming comedy" and other apparently appealing phrases.
However the truth is that there are almost no real laughs, and your heart will be swiftly chilled by the final scene.
I won't put in a spoiler but the beauty pageant makes for very uncomfortable viewing indeed. As an attempt at satire and subversion it is well wide of the mark.
Until then the film slowly builds into a low-key yet fairly touching story of a family who grow closer on a road trip as the pillars of their lives slowly collapse. The humour is wry rather than laugh out loud. However this is nothing that you would not find in any well made TV drama.
What does stand out though are the performances. Young Abigail Breslin is excellent as Olive and Alan Arkin's supporting role as the grandfather steals the show.