Little Miss Sunshine

Solid Super HUGE

I admit not being a huge fan of comedy. Especially the dysfunctional family subgenre. Hearing from various people how good Little Miss Sunshine was, I decided to put my personal feelings aside and check it out on dvd (never got a chance to see it at the theater). Afterwards, it was nominated by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences for Best picture. So, even if I had waited, I would’ve seen it simply on the basis of it’s nomination.

Dysfunction seems to be a universal middle name for all but one of the Hoover clan at first site. There’s Richard (Greg Kinnear), the ostensible patriarch whose made critical sacrifices to continue his “How to be a winner in nine steps” seminars that few people attend. Toni Collete plays wifey Sheryl, frantically trying to hold the family together withlittle help. Son Dwayne (Paul Dano) has taken a vow of silence until he goes to Navy light school. Sheryl’s gay brother Richard (Steve Carrell) has just tried to commit suicide over a lost lover causing her to pick him up from the hospital. And Grandpa Alan Arkin is a sex maniac who also shoots heroin.

It doesn’t take long for you to realize that daughter Olive (10 year old Abigail Breslin), appears to be the only prudent member of this upside down household. Comparing her to everyone else, the thought of her being adopted would not be too far fetched. Her cute round face serves for a momentary relief opener as she is watching a taped beauty pageant. The twinkle in her eyes reveals some apparent aspirations.

Verbal sparring ensues over Richard’s condition at the dinner table until he mentions a phone message about the Liitle Miss Sunshine Pageant. Olive literally screams with excitement, leaping up from her chair to go play back the message.Seems a first place winner in their local pageant was caught taking diet pills. Olive, being the second placer winner is now eligible to compete for the Sunshine award. More verbal sparring amongst the grown ups trying to decide whether to go or not. Finally,they all agree (surprisingly) that this is a golden opportunity for Olive and since they can’t afford to fly, they take their old yellow VW bus to Redondo California where the pageant is taking place.

There was certainly enough side-splitting humor and serious drama that kept me from being anything but bored. I won’t go into the details, but there is one really hilarious scene involving Alan Arkin that will probably have you laughing for the rest of the movie. Also, this being a dysfunctional family film, personality clashes are inevitable and Michael Arndt proves that his script was well deserving of the academy award for best original screenplay of 2006.

Abigail Breslin, who shined as Mel Gibson’s daughter in Signs, just sparkles as Olive. Her innocence is compensated by a curious, plucky attitude that would make most parents a bit nervous. She loves her whole family unconditionally. Even when they make a fatal error that Dwayne reminds them of while still traveling to Redondo.

Alan Arkin had me in stitches as Grandpa Hoover. He’s the comic relief/oddball to everyone else being relatively straight. Despite his heron addiction he still manages to offer sage advice on matters on girls and sex.

Greg Kinnear and Toni Collete, like some of their peers, are unjustifiably underrated actors. Both have incredible range as performers whether they’re playing funny or serious. As Richard and Sheryl Hoover, they definitely get the chance to showcase some comedic talents evoking a few good laughs here and there. Kinnear is especially ripe when facing off with Steve Carrell’s Frank over his problems.

Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, our tag team directors apparently made Lit-tle Miss Sunshine good enough to garner an Oscar nomination for Best Picture and several other noms. Not bad for their first film feature. I’ve always found it so interesting that duos like this and individuals who have done extensive work in commercials and music videos, find little to no difficulty making the transition to big screen productions. I’m sure Miss Sunshine will not be the last we’ll see of Dayton and Faris.