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Movie Review: Little Miss Sunshine

The dysfunctional Hoover family sets out in their Volkswagen Bus, on a cross-country road trip to enter Olive Hoover in the Little Miss Sunshine Pageant in California.

Review by Jody Haverhals

Monday, March 31, 2008

Name of film: Little Miss Sunshine

Directors: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris

Lead Actors: Steve Carell, Greg Kinnear, Toni Collette, Paul Dano, Abigail Breslin, and Alan Arkin

Awards: Alan Arkin won the Oscar for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role. Michael Arndt won the Oscar for Best Original Screenplay. The movie and its actors received multiple award wins and nominations.

The Story: The dysfunctional Hoover family sets out in their Volkswagon Bus, on a cross-country road trip to enter Olive Hoover in the Little Miss Sunshine Pageant in California.

Review: Adolescent Dwayne (Paul Dano), summed it up when he welcomed suicidal Uncle Frank (Steve Carell) into their home by scribbling down on paper "Welcome to Hell."

Father Richard, is set on teaching his children that winning is the goal, all while he struggles at making it with his self-help seminars and upcoming book deal. Grandpa Hoover, little Olive's pageant coach, joins the family with his foul mouth and drug-laden fanny pack. Brother Dwayne, who has taken a vow of silence, dreams of flying jet planes. Uncle Frank, a scholar gone suicidal, moves in with the family because he can't be left alone. Little Olive has big dreams—and an even bigger heart—of walking the runway in a Miss America crown. Last but not least, it is Mother Sheryl who holds the misfit family together.

The family sets out to California to enter Olive in the Little Miss Sunshine Pageant. Due to various reasons, it is necessary that all the family members come along on this crazy trip. Along the way they must overcome obstacles of all sizes—obstacles that no one is prepared for.

Upon barely making it to the pageant, the family is pulled together as they realize what—or who—7-year-old Olive is up against in her competition for the crown. The family pulls together to support little Olive and is brought closer in doing so.

Reason you should see this movie: This is a feel-good comedy that makes any family look "normal." You'll find yourself laughing and at the edge of your seat, anticipating what could possibly happen next to this quirky family.

Rating:

– Reviewed by Jody Haverhals of Hawarden, IA. View Jody's eldr profile »

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