Film Review: "Little Miss Sunshine" (2006)

This film follows a family of misfits as they go from Alberquerque, New Mexico, to Redondo Beach, California, to enter their daughter in the "Little Miss Sunshine" beauty pageant. Issues of sexuality, suicide, addiction, self-acceptance, and societal pressures, among others, are dealt with in hilarious fashion as the family hurtles towards their destination amid much chaos. However, this isn't your average PG-14 film, as the two mothers and their two 8-year old daughters sitting in front of us soon found out. I have to admit that the whole experience was made even more enjoyable by the presence of the theatre-goers in front of us. I was both cringing and doubled over with laughter at the same time as Grandpa, played by Alan Arkin, barked out commands to the other characters like "Fuck as many women as you can - not just one, but many" and "Get me some porn, and none of this airbrushed shit". (In case you're wondering, mothers and daughters ended up leaving about 80% of the way through.) Anyways, this movie is a more than a little far-fetched in some places, but you'll howl, especially if you're a fan of irreverent comedic character sketches found in flicks like "Sideways" and "About Schmidt".

(Also, as if the scene in which he appears isn't enough of a mess, keep an eye out for the cameo by Ron Popeil of "Set It and Forget It!" fame. Big points there.)

Recommended.

Overall rating: 7.75/10