how to review... hrmmm.

Rating: 9/10 (26 September 2006)

Chick Flick alert.
This is an interesting and humoresque film. Co-directed between first-time big screen directors Jonathan Dayton and Valery Faris, the truth about dysfunctional families comes into full boom as a family pursue the ambitious dream of their youngest family member to a totally surprising end to the movie. Both incredibly annoying and entertaining, Little Miss Sunshine takes you to realms that some women will find hilarious, but for their male escorts, may be ready to chew on their leather belts for their desire to shoot everyone in the cast within the first 30 minutes of the film.
The one line description of the plot goes as such: A young girl slides by chance into a competition that takes her family into an emotional romp that is both disparaging and sympathetic at the same time. The characters take you into realms that we all know are purely fictional, yet at the same time reminding you of people in your past (if you are old enough yet to have that line of memory) that just make you want to slap due to lack or reality to begin with. I have to admit, I was ready to plug myself into my MP3 phone and totally diss the movie because of all the associations I have had with people just like these portrayed in this movie... YET! You persevere and see what happens next. I really didn't want to go some places.
The story opens with a tragedy. The brother of the wife in this instance has done something that the state frowns on and end up in a hospital. Unfortunately, insurance isn't going to cover everything, so this bud has to go. So, lets move him in with a boy that has Nietzke emblazoned on his wall and has taken an oath of silence until his dream comes true. The father is a lost soul trying to put together a "Steps" program from motivation but is having a hard time promoting it. It is embarrassingly obvious from the start why it's not flying. And all this time there is a grandpa that is helping a hopeful youngster fulfill her dreams of becoming a beauty queen by developing a special talent.
All and everything get thrown into a yellow mid-60's VW Micro-bus that is just as dysfunctional as it's passengers, and they make the trip from New Mexico to Los Angeles to attend and compete in the title pageant.
What could POSSIBLY GO WRONG!! That is for you to find out. All I can say is you will be in for a totally psychologically emotional ride that just make you laugh and spit at the same time. The totally incompetent father, the teenage son living in total denial and anger; the addiction of the grandfather, the angst of the wife's brother in his personal relationships make you feel at times there is no hope for the male element for any purpose on earth. That is contrasted deeply by the optimism of the little sunshine queen, which seems to end up making the most outrageous contribution to the pageant... enough to get her ejected from the passion all together if it wasn't for the shining knights in white armor that charge in and rescue her in her hour of need. The only person that seems to be centered and in the center is the mother, and she just seems to be dragged behind everywhere the family horse ends up going.
There are lots of twists and turns, surprises that are and aren't welcome at times. There is a lot packed into this film.. but then again, it's a comedy, a situational comedy that you just have to expect that things will be rushed and compacted. However, it's funny, witty and nostalgic in a contemporary sense.
In light of this, I have to give it a thumbs up, but I don't think I could take this movie a second time!!! I'm a guy! SPARE ME!!!