Little is right

Rating: 7/10 (7 March 2007)

Film about a family heading west to have their little girl participate in a beauty contest is entertaining but hardly the great film many have made it out to be and lacks originality. The plot seems to be a reworking of "National Lampoon's Vacation," including the routine about the dead grandparent in the car, except that the humor is darker and it's not as funny as the Chevy Chase movie. The cast is good, particularly Arkin in his Oscar-winning role of the foul-mouthed patriarch. Breslin is cute without being cloying. The plot is far-fetched and predictable and the characters are basically caricatures. It's amusing enough but how could it possibly get nominated for Best Picture Oscar?