Hysterical look at a loving family - worth every minute

Rating: 8/10 (4 November 2006)

This film tumbles all over you like a truck load of bricks. The opening scenes thrust you into the middle of a family of odd characters having multiple crises. The only character who is even close to normal is 8 year old Olive (played by Abigail Breslin, who also puts in a fine performance in The Ultimate Gift), who wants desperately to be in the Little Miss Sunshine pageant in far off California. The dialog is sharp, witty, hysterical, full of pathos and poignant all at the same time. These characters are real. You probably have neighbors, or perhaps relatives, who are just like them. You'll laugh and then you'll cry, and then laugh again. This may be a dysfunctional family but it is a family that cares and pulls together no matter what the odds. In the end, Olive gets her wish, but it doesn't turn out anything like you might expect. All in all, this movie is great fun and worth every minute.