Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

X An excellent must-see
O Good rental choice
O Mediocre
O Rent something else

Review by Jason Pyles / April 9, 2007

There is a supremely climactic sequence in “Little Miss Sunshine” that cannot be described as anything less than “cinematic euphoria.” We feel happiness, sadness, surprise, fear, wonder, delight and pity — all at the same time.

Of all the movies I’ve seen, few scenes have ever affected me quite that way. Indeed, “Little Miss Sunshine” is poignant, comedic gold, and it’s a masterpiece.

Just as we do, Olive (Abigail Breslin) belongs to a bizarre assortment of people whom she calls family. Her mother is mostly normal. Her dad (Greg Kinnear) is a motivational speaker who’s obsessed with winning. Her brother and grandfather are eccentric, to say the least. Her uncle Frank (Steve Carell) is recovering from a suicide attempt, and is somehow, one of the most stable characters.

Imagine a premise that crams all of these people into an old, Volkswagen bus for a long road trip so Olive can compete in the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant in Redondo Beach, Calif.

The film is an unforgiving commentary on the pursuit of one’s dreams and the twisted nature of beauty pageants, among other things. This edited version is quite clean and delightful.

I recommend “Little Miss Sunshine,” simply a must-see.

Directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
Abigail Breslin / Steve Carell / Greg Kinnear
101 min. Comedy / Drama
(Original MPAA rating: R)
Edited version age recommendation: 10 and up

DVD release date: December 19, 2006
Copyright 2007.
JP0070 : 199