Modern day Griswold family

Rating: 8/10 (30 July 2009)

"There are two kinds of people in this world, winners and losers."
A must-see comedy with a bit of a darker side and great characters make this film a winner. The Hoovers are a modern day, even more dysfunctional version of the Griswold's in National Lampoon's Vacation (1983). Richard (Greg Kinnear) is a motivational speaker who cannot sell one book, while his wife, Sheryle (Toni Collette), is the optimistic breadwinner. Together, they attempt to have a normal family with little Olive (Abigail Breslin) dreaming of being in a beauty pageant, the non-speaking Dwayne (Paul Dano), while Frank (Steve Carrell) has a mess of a life, and brutally honest Grandpa Hoover (Alan Arkin) provide great laughter.
Little Miss Sunshine shows that even the most dysfunctional of families can come together and count on each other through the struggles of life. This is represented by the rickety, old Volkswagen van that manages to make it through the whole road trip, taking the Hoovers to the beauty pageant. This journey would not be the same without Richard's awkwardness or Grandpa's humorously insulting comments.
Sprinkled within the humor is a darker side that touches on things like death and not being the winner. There is "sunshine" for Olive as she competes in a beauty pageant and living her dream, but they all realize that winning is not everything.
This film is great to watch because it is a simple, true-to-life portrayal of a typical, middle-class family. Each character has their own quirk and defining personalities that exemplify the imperfectness of their family. Yet, the Hoovers give proof that even through the struggles of life; families can come together and be a supportive group.