On the road to the sun

Rating: 7/10 (11 March 2014)

When American films want to examine itself, it tends to do better as Independent films. This is a film about a dysfunctional family with an all star cast but Abigail Breslin as Olive is the centre holding this film together.
Sheryl Hoover (Toni Collette) is an overworked mother of two kids in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Her brother Frank (Steve Carell) is a scholar who is depressive over a failed loved affair with a male student and has tried to commit suicide. He is temporarily living with the family.
Sheryl's husband Richard (Greg Kinnear) wants to be a motivational speaker although he seems to have had no business success on his own accord to be such a speaker.
Her 17 year old son Dwayne (Paul Dano) has been on a vow of silence for some months and will remain so until he becomes an air force pilot.
Richard's father, Edwin (Alan Arkin) is a foul mouthed drug user who is also staying with them after being kicked out of a retirement home. He is close with Olive his 7 year old granddaughter.
The film is essentially a slapstick comedy road drama as they head for California so Olive can enter the Little Miss Sunshine beauty contest.
Along the way they encounter mishaps, tragedy but also bond as a family especially when the camper van breaks down and needs to be pushed started each time.
The screenplay won an Oscar and after nominations stretching back several decades, Alan Arkin won the best supporting actor Oscar.
The ensemble cast really bring the characters to life and bounce off each other. Although they are dysfunctional and there may be occasional conflicts, they are there for each other and work together to pull through.
This is highlighted in the beauty contest when Olive's performance turns out to be a little too daring and the others join in.
These themes about families have been touched on other films but Little Miss Sunshine is more successful.