LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

After becoming their county's entrant in the Little Miss Sunshine pageant, seven year-old Olive's (Breslin) dream of becoming a beauty queen could be about to come true. Training for months with her Grandpa (Arkin) on her routine, the only thing that is holding her back is getting to California to compete. Money is a little short in the Hoover family however so her parents Richard (Kinnear) and Sheryl (Collette) plan to drive there in their VW camper van all the way and they reluctantly drag her frustrated brother Dwayne (Dano) and her suicidal Uncle Frank (Carell) again for the ride.

Once in a while a film comes along that instantly becomes a classic of the genre and a firm favourite of everyone who sees it. 'Little Miss Sunshine' is one of those movies.

Combining a road movie and a dysfunctional family comedian drama, this film is filled so full of charm that you cannot help falling in love with it. The Hoover family are as mess up as they come. Richard is a failing motivational speaker. Sheryl is a chain-smoking housewife who doesn't have enough time in the day to get everything done. Their son Dwayne is rebelling against everything and has decided no to talk to anyone until he joins the air force. Grandpa Edwin is enjoying everything he missed out on during his younger years. Uncle Frank is recovering from a suicide attempt after a failed relationship with one of his students. The only thing holding them together is Olive, the sweet seven year-old little girl who just dreams of being a beauty queen. When she gets the chance to compete in the Little Miss Sunshine pageant, they have to pull together to get her to California on time.

The themes of the road movie have always been a way of finding yourself and for the Hoover family this is no different. Each family member has a lesson to learn on the way to California but if you are expecting the usual, uplifting Hollywood family story then you are in for a delightful disappointment. This is as far removed from usual as you can get. Honest, realistic and genuinely funny, following the Hoover family's journey to California is one that you will want to accompany them on.

With a script and characters to draw you in to the Hoover's lives, you needed an ensemble cast to bring them to life. No stranger to lower budget, ensemble pieces both Greg Kinnear and Toni Collette are excellent as Richard and Sheryl. They are not your typical Hollywood parents, with each of them having their problems that make for conflict, arguments and self-doubt. Both Kinnear and Collette make these characters very believeable and easy to connect with. Steve Carell is successfully mixing a big Hollywood movie career with one of on the small screen but this role as Frank, the homosexual, suicidal uncle, is one that shows the diversity of his talent. This is a very restrained comedic performance from the usual manic Carell that reveal again that he is an exceptional character actor. Alan Arkin steals every scene he graces as the drug taking Grandpa, who is enjoying his final years to the full. This is a role that he reveals in and provides most of the genuine laughs throughout the road trip section of the film. Paul Dano continues to make a splash and his role as the Dwayne. Even though he doesn't speak for most of the film, he does make a major impact. Abigail Breslin is adorable as the extremely sweet Olive, the only sane member of the family and the one who they all want to pull together for.

'Little Miss Sunshine' is a gem of a movie and one of the best family comedy dramas to come along in a very long time. There is so much to enjoy here, from the quality of script to the brilliance of the performances, that this movie is bound to become a firm favourite for everyone.