Super Freak

Rating: 8/10 (13 August 2006)

Greetings again from the darkness. For some reason I have anticipated this one since the first trailer. Funny, charming and heartfelt, it is written by Michael Arndt with amazing depth. As bizarre as the characters are, we never once doubt that they are a family and belong together.
Greg Kinnear and Toni Collette are excellent as Olive's parents and Alan Arkin is electric as the grandpa who teaches Olive "the moves" for her big dance. Steve Carell ("The Office" and "The Forty Year Old Virgin") is perfectly creepy as the uncle/brother who is thrust into this community after his failed suicide attempt. His explanation of that at the dinner table is sharply written and brilliantly delivered. Paul Dano ("Taking Lives" and "The Emperor's Club") would steal most movies with his performance. He perfectly captures the tortured soul of most teenage boys. The reason he doesn't walk away with the film is Abigail Breslin who plays Olive. Most remember her aluminum foil headgear in "Signs", and here she is simply magnificent as the ever-optimistic girl who is so looking forward to the pageant.
There is a line in the film about life being a series of never ending beauty pageants. Sadly there is a great deal of truth in that. Watching this family travel together and grow together is painful and rewarding; however, trust me when I say it will not motivate you to buy a VW van and travel cross-country with your family! One of the better films of the year so far, "Little Miss Sunshine" is what happens on film when a wonderful script and talented cast come together. It's not about the special effects, it's about real people and real life.