March 29, 2007

Little Miss Sunshine

I watched Little Miss Sunshine tonight, and it was by far one of the best films I've seen all year.
I love this family!

Olive is a little girl with a dream: winning the Little Miss Sunshine contest. Her family wants her dream to come true, but they are so burdened with their own quirks, neuroses, and problems that they can barely make it through a day without some disaster befalling them. Olive's father Richard is a flop as a motivational speaker, and is barely on speaking terms with her mother. Olive's uncle Frank, a renowned Proust scholar, has attempted suicide following an unsuccessful romance with a male graduate student. Her brother Dwayne, a fanatical follower of Nietzsche, has taken a vow of silence, which allows him to escape somewhat from the family whose very presence torments him. And Olive's grandfather is a ne'er-do-well with a drug habit, but at least he enthusiastically coaches Olive in her contest talent routine. Circumstances conspire to put the entire family on the road together with the goal of getting Olive to the Little Miss Sunshine contest in far off California.

I absolutely loved this movie and every one of it's characters.
The dad, played by Greg Kinnear, annoyed me for most of the movie.
His idea of who a loser is, pissed me off. His comments to his own family on why they are losers, made me want to reach through the screen and kick him in the nuts.
Or better yet, I was hoping the mom played by Toni Collette, would.
Abigail Breslin, who played Olive, was outstanding. I loved her spirit and determination. Her courage. Fantastic performance.
Alan Arkin, who played Grandpa, was a trip with his heroin and sex addictions.*

There was only one part of the movie that had me near tears.
Olive's big brother Dwayne, played by Paul Dano, had taken this vow of silence until he reached his goal of being a pilot, had a moment of saddening realization. After months of not speaking, he broke with such fury and rage, and the ugly truth of what might be.

The ending, Olive's talent in the pageant, had me in laughter and worry. I felt for this little girl, but loved the way her family came through for her.
Awesome.

This is such a great movie, it really is. Add it to your Netflix, pick it up at your fave rental store, or just go ahead and buy it.

One more character note.
I'm probably one of three people on the entire planet, (ok, those who know who he is anyway) who hates Steve Carell. I don't find any of his humor funny, I watch the office for the supporting cast.
His performance in Little Miss Sunshine didn't convert me, but I thoroughly enjoyed what he did with the role.

Little miss sunshine