Review by Louise Keller: A bitter-sweet black comedy that leaves nothing but a great taste, Little Miss Sunshine is a passport to a good time. From first time directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, the story tells of a dysfunctional family thrown together on a road trip filled with mishaps. It is genuinely funny, often at the most surprising moments, when we recognise the absurdness of the situations and circumstances. After all, humour is ripest when counter-balanced with tragedy. Laugh a lot, cry a little and be uplifted by the journey.
Winning is everything, according to Greg Kinnear's obsessively optimistic motivational speaker Richard, who believes winners never give up, while sarcasm is the refuge of losers. As plans to take the beat-up yellow and white family bus to California are formulated over an oversize tub of take away chicken, it is clear there will be no shortage of challenges on the way.
The casting works beautifully with Steve Carrell cast effectively against type as the gay, suicidal scholar, Toni Collette as Sheryl, the pro-honesty mother, wife and sister, and Abigail Breslin (Signs) delightful as the little girl who may not fit into the mould, but has set her on winning the Little Miss Sunshine Pageant. After all, it is Alan Arkin's adoring, but out-of-control grandfather who has shown her 'all the moves'. Arkin dishes up the works and every screen moment is a treat: 'When you're young, you're crazy to do heroin; when you're old you're crazy not to...' he mutters, and offers unwanted advice to his 15 year old grandson Dwayne (Paul Dano) about sex and things it is not cool for an outspoken grandpa to vocalise. Dwayne's whole world is seething with problems, and he accentuates his vow of silence by scribbling 'I hate everyone' notes.
According to Murphy's Law, everything must go wrong, and it does. There is a mechanical problem with the bus, a mishap with a corpse and more. At our destination, we are surrounded by miniature beauty queens with ringlets and plastic smiles, but the climactic Little Miss Sunshine Pageant itself is a big surprise. It's a scene to anticipate and one that perfectly captures the essence of the film. No wonder audiences everywhere have basked in the sunshine.
There's a commentary on the DVD with director Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris and writer Michael Arndt, plus an alternate ending with optional commentary. It's sunshine on your DVD shelf.
Review by Louise Keller: