The best blend of comedy and drama I've seen in a long time.

Rating: 10/10 (19 July 2006)

I recently had a chance to see this movie at an advance promotional screening, and I was absolutely blown away. My friend who joined me said it was the funniest independent film she had ever seen, and I completely agree with her. By focusing on real situations, and finding the idiosyncrasies within real life and it's strangeness, the movie creates a hilarious atmosphere that often put everyone in the theater into hysterics. What is most appealing about the movie is the extremely diverse and utterly hilarious family. To break them down into their stereotypical roles (the potty-mouthed grandfather, the suicidal professor uncle, etc) does not do the writers justice. Some of the comedy based on mere conversations between these differing characters offers more laughs than any of the recent slew of bad comedy.
But where the movie pulled itself apart from the pack is the dramatic scenes. While the comedy offers major laughs, some of the moments in the movie caused audible gasps, and definitely some tears -- such as the guy next to me bawling his eyes out. Each of the characters are hilarious, but also well fleshed out, and amazingly acted, so when they're serious, it resonates, rather than any part of it sounding cheesy. They're the realest fake family I've ever seen, which just makes the beauty pageant all the more hilarious.
An amazing movie, I applaud all involved. 10/10