Screen Syndrome .com Review

Rating: 9/10 (24 December 2012)

A deeply human, and emotional comedy about a dysfunctional family determined to get seven-year-old daughter, Olive (Abigail Breslin, the sweetest girl I have ever seen) across the interstate to make sure she get's a shot at realizing her dreams of being a beauty pageant queen.
Right from the start you realize that Olive is not the typical beauty queen, she's quirky, a little bit pudgy and has one of the best personalities I have ever seen. Surprisingly so considering her father Richard (Greg Kinnear), is a shallow, motivational speaker and wanna-be best selling offer who truly despises his own existence. Grandpa is a badass, drug user who was thrown out of retirement home for bad behavior. Olive's brother Dwayne (Paul Dano), has temporarily chosen to be a "mute" because of teen angst. Olive's Uncle Frank (Steve Carell), is a brilliant scholar who recently tried to commit suicide and is stuck with his family because of it. Last, but certainly not least is the only close to sane person in this movie: the mom Sheryl Hoover (Toni Collette).
The movie has a deliciously funny, and real plot that takes you on a ridiculous journey which will have you laughing you butt of one second, and trying really hard not to cry the next. It touched me in so many ways, to see this family react and change every step of the way. So many hurdles came their waybut they refused not to let Olive down no matter what life threw at them. No matter what the consequences.
The highlight of the movie for me would have had to been the end beauty pageant scene, when Olive dances. It's oh so wrong because her grandfather taught her these raunchy moves, but it is oh so right because it is a subtle insult to beauty pageants everywhere. Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris's directing debut is a touching film that speaks to what it really means to be part of a family, good and band.
This inspirational, daring film will having you questioning everyone's sanity, but wishing you had the balls to be like them.
http://www.screensyndrome.com/review-little-miss-sunshine/