An instant classic for me

Rating: 9/10 (25 June 2007)

I bought the DVD of Little Miss Sunshine- and alas, I wasn't disappointed. it was fantastically funny and the performances by Arkin, Carell, Collette, young Abigail Breslin, Dano and Kinnear were just top notch stuff. The Hoovers like any other family have their own problems: father Richard is a unsuccessful motivational speaker trying to instill confidence and to be able to fully motivate his family, mother Sheryl is a chain smoking wife and mother to Olive, who at times is at loggerheads with her husband in the film, grandpa J Edgar Hoover is a foul mouthed, heroin snorting junkie, uncle Frank is gay and on the verge of committing suicide after his partner left him for another guy, whilst Dwayne is a Frederich Nietzsche addict, who takes up a vow of silence, in his attempts to one day become a fighter pilot. As for Olive, she seems to be one without the problems and unaware of the problems plaguing her dysfunctional family. The family all set off in a mini yellow Volkswagen on a road trip to Redondo beach, California and to the Little miss sunshine beauty pageant that olive is taking part in. However, during their journey numerous events unravel within the plot: grandpa dies in his sleep, the family sneak his dead body from the hospital bed and attempt to load it in the van, Frank comes into contact with his former lover at a local gas station, Dwayne breaks his vow of silence after Frank tells him he is colour blind and towards the end,there is a small encore scene where the Hoovers get on stage and lark about to Rick James' 'Superfreak', which is one of the main highlights of this film.
It is amusing, tragic and light-hearted all rolled into one, Little Miss Sunshine is a fab film which often tugs at the heart strings but also highlights that the beauty myth, can be so flawed due to the existence of beauty pageant shows that seek to sexualise that myth, as well as to disseminate and rob the innocence of young girls. Both Kinnear and Collette are great character actors, who seem to perform well, either as supporting characters to the main leads in a good established mainstream film, or as leads in a well written independent flick, such as Little Miss Sunshine.
Overall, it is a fantastic movie that rightly deserved its plaudits