The comedy movie you wanted to see for years

Rating: 9/10 (23 December 2009)

Let me put it straight. At the very first instant when we are shown the close-up of Olive(Abigail Breslin)watching a beauty pageant, we come to know that this story is based on dreams and your determination to fulfill it.
The storyline is simple and cleverly written and tells us how a little girl has an ambition to become a beauty queen one day and shows us all the trails and tribulations she along with her family has to go through. It is a story all of us can relate to very easily. It is more of a drama yet you feel it has comedy written all over it. That's the beauty of the movie and its execution.
The cast starring Kinnear and Colette in the leads and very well supported by Abigail, Carrell, Dano and Arkin all manage to bring out sincere performances individually. But the real star of the movie has to be Alan 'Grandpa' Arkin who definitely deserved the Oscar for his eccentric performance he manages to put up for us. He brought out loads of madness and stupidity on screen thorough his role.
There are some extremely funny lines in the movie and the dance sequence by the whole family is extremely hilarious. Special mention to Carrell's performance. I don't know how to describe it but the way he runs throughout the movie cannot stop to make you laugh.
All in all, a very brave effort by first time directors Jonathan and Valerie. Definitely the audience would love to see more movies coming from this duo in the future. If you guys out there enjoy light-hearted comedies, then this one surely tops the list.