OK – here it is, the first “Best Movie of 2006”. This one is simply GREAT and should not get missed in the flood of summer garbage – uh, movies – that is out there now…
Little Ms. Sunshine is the story of a typical New Mexico family – and by “typical” I mean “dysfunctional” b/c really, who’s family isn’t? – who take a road trip to LA so the youngest one, Olive, can compete in the Little Ms. Sunshine pageant. Olive, played by Abigail Breslin who could not possibly be more perfect in this role, is not the beauty-queen type with her Coke-bottle glasses and pudgy little stomach, and no one knows what her “talent” is except her loving but crass grandfather, who coaches her in seclusion each day (when you finally get to see her perform – seriously, its all worth the wait!). But Olive in encouraged by her Tony-Robbins-Wanna-Be dad who is determined his daughter never be a “loser”, and her do-what-it-takes-to-keep-this-family-together mother (both roles played to perfection by Greg Kinnear and the fabulous Toni Colette). Rounding out the family is Dwayne, Olive’s brooding older brother who has taken a vow of silence inspired by Nietzsche, and her Uncle Frank, fresh from a failed suicide attempt and played perfectly with both darkness and heart by Steve Carrell. After learning of Olive’s last minute acceptance into the pageant, the family loads up into their dilapidated yellow VW mini van and heads west to cheer her on, and it’s definitely a treat to be along for the ride.
Despite the stellar cast it’s the kids in the movie that really steal the show. Paul Dano is excellent as the silent Dwayne, who is much funnier than most despite the fact that he communicates with a notepad. Abigail Breslin is a stand-out as Olive, with a very simple scenes in particular that made me fall in love with her (for those who see the film: its the scene where she explains why she wants to win so badly to her grandfather. Had me in tears and wanting to adopt this kid!). One part heartbreaking and two parts hysterical, this is one family road trip not to scheme your way out of!
Highly recommended!!
