Director: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
The film debut of husband and wife team Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris was a hit at the Sundance Festival and eventually won two Academy Awards in 2006. It went on to be a big success after a limited release initially.
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| The family |
The film follows a dysfunctional family all with their own problems end up on a road trip to Redondo Beach in California so Olive (Abigail Breslin) can compete in the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant. Frank (Steve Carell) is recovering after a suicide attempt, Dwayne (Paul Dano) has taken a vow of silence until he gets into the US Air Force Academy, the Granddad Edwin (Alan Arkin) has been kicked out of his retirement home for using and dealing heroin.
*spoiler alerts*
Taking a swipe at the culture of pre-teen beauty pageants where children are caked in makeup and fake tan to win these competitions. Unfortunately it's hard to take the criticisms too seriously due to the farcical dancing scene at the end which made the film as shallow as the subject matter it was lampooning. Many of the characters were difficult to like especially the Dad, Richard (Greg Kinnear), but also Olive which is another important failing. I'm also sure the scene involving the stealing of the dead body was also supposed to be funny but I really didn't feel that it was.
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| Olive Hoover (Abigail Breslin) |
Steve Carell is excellent playing the depressed Frank and proves that he's better when not playing an over the top character which he seems to regularly take on at the moment. Alan Arkin as the heroin taking Granddad is also a good character but I wouldn't say he was worthy of the Academy Award he got for Best Supporting Actor. Many people will feel I'm cold hearted for my dislike of certain characters and storylines but believe me I tried to care!
1/4 A confused film that struggles make you laugh or even care
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