"Grandpa, Am I Pretty?" --- Olive (Abigail Breslin)

Rating: 10/10 (10 March 2007)

"Little Miss Sunshine" (2006)
Directed By: Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris
Starring: Abigail Breslin, Greg Kinnear, Paul Dano, Alan Arkin, Toni Collette, & Steve Carell
MPAA Rating: "R" (for language, some sex and drug content)
If you have never read a little story called "The Little Engine That Could", then I don't think you can truly appreciate "Little Miss Sunshine". For those of you have not read the book, I will give you a brief overview. It tells the story of a little steam engine that can't pull a particularly large load up a hillbut, through positive thinking and self-confidence, the little engine that could succeeds. For most children, this story is their first encounter with the notion of "positive thinking and devotion can lead to success". "Little Miss Sunshine" is that timeless children's story adapted for adult and is just as timeless and effective. It is a movie that truly understands people, families, and how they all relate to each other. Sporting some of the best performances of the year (particularly from the young little Abigail Breslin), "Little Miss Sunshine" is the year's best comedy and one of the best comedies of the past few years.
Olive (Breslin) is a young girl who only wants to be pretty and to win a beauty contest. When she gets the chance to compete in the "Little Miss Sunshine" pageant, her diverse family all pile into a VW van to take a cross-country trip to get her to the pageant in time. Her family contains some of the most awkward yet lovable characters ever formulated, including her caring mother, Sheryl (Collette), her controlling motivational speaker of a father, Richard (Kinnear), her brother, Dwayne (Dano), who has taken a vow of silence, her drug-abusing foul-mouthed grandfather (Arkin), and her homosexual, suicidal uncle, Frank (Carell). With a plot like this, "Little Miss Sunshine" could have easily been just another Chevy Chase "Vacation" rip-off and yet it certainly is not. It is a touching, poignant film that is soaked in originality, creativity, and colorfulness. Its plot, though simplistic in nature, becomes a complex, multi-layered story as each different character is introduced.
"Little Miss Sunshine" features some of the best performances of the year. It has a truly amazing cast that all display some of the most electric and realistic chemistry ever put on the screen. Abigail Breslin, despite being so young, proves that a skill for acting is most definitely in her blood. She owns the movie, completely winning over the audience with her character's realistic childlike wander and understanding. Greg Kinnear managed to capture a very complex character. His character has so many detestable qualities and yet he is truly a good person. Kinnear nails it. Toni Collette took a simple part and made it real. Her character is really the only family member without a significant plot point and yet she never feels overshadowed. She holds her own and gives her likable character more substance than the script originally did. Paul Dano speaks only a few times in the movie and yet manages to be a sympathetic, relatable character that we grow to love just as much as any of the other family members. Dano achieves this through facial expressions and slight mannerisms. Steve Carell plays a gay man and yet he does not flaunt it. He underplays it, not giving a clichéd, stereotypical performance. I definitely respected the realism he injected into the part.
When comparing "Little Miss Sunshine" to "The Little Engine That Could", one cannot simply discuss the message they both share. "Little Miss Sunshine", itself, is surprisingly comparable to that little engine. Here was an independent comedy that, like many films of the same ilk, could have been praised by critics and ignored by audiences. However, it became a surprise hit, winning over critics, audiences, and Oscar voters, as well. It became one of the most successful independent films ever, grossing nearly $60 million on an $8 million budget. Much of this can be attributed to the amazing press it received from its premiere and, fortunately (as so many bad movies are becoming shockingly successful lately), "Little Miss Sunshine" deserved all of its praise and financial success. If you have not yet seen "Little Miss Sunshine", then you owe it to yourself to do so immediately. It is one of the most effective comedies made in the last twenty years, giving amazing performances and a solid, truthful heart that is as touching as it is realistic.
Final Thought: Heartfelt and real, "Little Miss Sunshine" is a wonderful comedy.
Overall Rating: 10/10 (A+)