Fresh, hilarious, honest and even touching

Rating: 10/10 (17 March 2007)

A family hits the road to make it in time for a beauty contest that Olive, the youngest child and daughter really wants to enter. Along the way they face all sorts of quirky problems and self revelations.
From the opening scene to uproariously funny finale this movie is anyone could want from a comedy, a drama, and a road movie. A terrific and fresh script paves the way for fine performances and, best of all, a plain old good story. Each character is fleshed out in full and Alan Arkin more than deserved his Oscar as Granpa who tells the wisdom of ages like never before. Eddie Murphy, young in comparison, still has plenty of time to flex his acting chops. Steve Carrell takes a welcome dramatic turn as uncle Frank, formerly suicidally depressed from work and life stresses. Then there is, of course, young newcomer Abigail Breslin as Olive in what can only be a career starting role.
Fresh, hilarious, honest and even touching - all the reasons people go to the movies. --- 10/10
Rated R for profanity. A pretty absurd R, sure there are F words, but its all comic and hardly vulgar or excessive.