Highlight of an enjoyable evening

Rating: 7/10 (11 October 2006)

I enjoyed this movie very much last night. Today I came to IMDb to read what others thought. A wide range of comments! I think it boils down to this: The movie leaves you feeling good. All of the acting performances are really good. I cared about what was happening. I laughed hard several times, smiled most of the time, felt sad a few times. It is worth the price of admission. I'm glad I saw it.
The little girl actor (Abigail Beslin, I think) surprised me. She is perfect. Without spoiling anything, she embodies the theme: sunshine, dreams, and hope. It is echoed, in moments, through all of the characters.
In a way, this is a movie through a child's eyes. An example, when Olive puts her arm around Dwayne and, without saying a word, changes his mind. She never doubts the outcome in this scene (and probably doesn't even understand it). It just happens and it makes sense, even while the adults are doubting.
I've read several cynical reviews of this movie, mainly mentioning clichés, particularly of the movie National Lampoon's Vacation. I think the intent is there in this movie and it is pretty obvious the writers of "Sunshine" are in on this joke, perhaps the way writers for the Simpsons, Hedwig, and Family Guy are in on their jokes. They expect you to "get it", not criticize it in the name of realism.
7 out of 10