Ridiculously laughable characters on a flimsy plot

Rating: 5/10 (22 January 2007)

With so much buzz surrounding this film at the moment, I thought that I might be worthwhile to write my review which I had initially put off my review because my first impressions of the film were not favourable. However in light of the escalating buzz and recent PGA win, I thought it may prove valuable in hindsight before the Oscars next month.
The independent American film has grown prodigiously in the last 10 years and more so gaining popularity at the box office and critical acclaim. Most recently, we saw Sideways and Lost in Translation both being nominated for Picture in 2004 and at last year's surprising outcome, the films nominated for the major awards were mainly independent films.
This heavily character driven (and thin and flimsy plotted) film follows one quirky estranged family, cross the country in a mini-bus to get their idealistic young daughter (the antithesis of a Barbie doll) to a beauty pageant. The 5 principals in this story each have great character flaws: one is an egotistical self-help coach blind-sighted by his idea of the perfect family; the troubled outcast teen who hates his parents, the cranky and bitter war veteran, the aforementioned innocent ambitious daughter who dares to dream; and the wife who is the bread and butter (failing) to keep it all together.
The film is set-up primarily as a comedy with these quirky characters finding themselves in ridiculous situations all stuck together in one eclectic yellow mini-van, but there are (apparently) moments of comedy including the nauseating screaming vulgar grandfather, the whines of the depressing misunderstood teenager and several encounters with implausible policemen, service-stations and motorway drivers.
The story fails for me because (for any film) we should at least identify with he characters and given what develops in the story, we should feel enough to care for them by the film's climax. I found each of the characters one-dimensional, clichéd and a such a parody of themselves that I just didn't care.
Plus the fact that they spend most of the film moping about themselves, screaming and acting only aggressive towards one another. By the film's end, nothing really changed for them; sure it might have a have had a happy note but I wondering what was the point? Did they learn anything? They will probably wake up the next day crawling around the house lamenting their existence.
The script and direction by this husband and wife team was nothing particularly special, it tells the story adequately but brings nothing unique to the genre which has been told many times. Insert quirky kooky music and you have a film that attempts to tell a touching story on the unpredictability life and it's lighter side yet fails because the glaring implausibilities and plot-holes ultimately sink the ship.
This film is trying to be funny and important but only ends up being an embarrassing joke about the absurd and laughably inane characters. Despite the puzzling buzz, I dearly and audaciously hope this will not make an appearance at the forthcoming Oscars  with stupid story lines and pitiful characters, it's clearly out of it's depth among the more thoughtful refined films of this season.
EDIT: After considering the Oscar noms I'm not surprised at the acclaim it's received. However it will be difficult to make it without a director nom. The film sticks out in a crowd of distinguished films like a bright boisterous yellow mini-van. Despite my rant, I glad I caught the film that many months ago to see what the fuss is all about. I hope I won't be disappointed again come Feb.