Review of Little Miss Sunshine (2006) by Shahmeer H — 19 Jun 2013

Little Miss Sunshine is about a screwed up, messed up, and overall challenged family who go on the road and discover a trip that lets them realize their true dreams rather than what they really want. It's a nice, sweet sort of film, but not without its flaws. It shows how the family life can go from dysfunctional, to maybe happy, but in the end truly a cliche just hidden under great characters and well done direction. Little Miss Sunshine boasts an excellent cast, Paul Dano, Alan Arkin, and Steve Carell being standouts in my opinion. It's an honest, down to earth film, but it lacks the reality of how everyday family problems are like, throwing in situations that aren't very relatable, such as going mute or cutting yourself because your gay lover left you. Dark comedies are usually like this though, but only a few scenes in this film are actually dark, and the rest is more problematic, something that feels like it spurred from a lighter, more simple version of Raising Arizona. It has a perfect length, but movies like this seem built for the festival circuit, even though they are good, and not as much for the theatrical big screen.

Little Miss Sunshine is written by Michael Arndt, and directed by the Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Farris couple team. It follows a family with a lot of issues, ones that can't and ones that can be solved, as they get on the road to take their youngest member all the way to California to get her in the Little Miss Sunshine pageant. First thing is first, I felt the dialogue in the film was well-done, but rather the plot was weak. The dark comedic situations they got into were funny, but they were few and far between, and I felt I had either read or heard this kind of plot before. I'm pretty sure I have indeed seen or watched something where a family must go and spend time somewhere and learn how they can become better to themselves and to each other. It was a generic plot, one I didn't very much enjoy, but found myself slightly intrigued in to. The dialogue, though, was funny at times, and it was heartwarming and moving and inspirational, as well. Michael Arndt writes a screenplay that is enjoyable, but with a plot that's not as much, and one that seems very cliche. Not Oscar worthy screenplay, one that is appreciative, but not Oscar worthy.

The direction, though, in this film was indeed Oscar-worthy, but the Academy didn't think so, as it snubbed Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Ferris for their solid work and well-done, simple take to the script on the big screen. Almost any other director would've given this film a goofy, serious tone I think, but it all depends on the true directors who make an amazing film. I wish they had made other films as successful, but the problem with Hollywood is that the industry doesn't condone comedy directors as much as the comedy writers. A film such as this should've received directing accolades, for the moment the first shot came on screen, I believed the direction was excellent. Comedy is as much about tone and timing as it is the acting and script, and today, comedy directors barely get the recognition they deserve. The writer for Monty Python should've got an Oscar nomination, but so should've the director, for without him the way the film feels and is as important as the material within. Little Miss Sunshine has one the most notable direction I've seen in a while, and everything about it should point to Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Ferris's great direction.

The acting was also very well done, with Steve Carrel and Paul Dano taking the cake for the best performances. Alan Arkin also gave a humorous performance, although I do not believe he should've won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. Paul Dano plays a "mute", and a very convincing portrayal of a teen and his desire for success and his pain. Steve Carell was very funny, although he didn't bring as much comedy as he did awkwardness, which is as good for me. Abigail Breslin gives a good performance as an innocent girl and her want for success, while her father plays a douchebag who spreads the word of winning and not losing. The whole cast is stand out, with Greg Kinnear standing out as the best for me. His performance was mean and stand out as well as funny. He's utterly satisfying to see on screen, and his portrayal of a salesman who struggles is also excellent. The only problem with the characters is that they try to add an emotional touch and feel to the film, where overall it fails for me. I didn't feel to attached to anyone in the movie, and if one of them dies, I didn't actually care. Still, it was a good cast, one of the best I've seen in a dark comedy.

In the end, Little Miss Sunshine was intriguing, but flawed in a generic script and plot. The ending was all of a sudden, as if it just happened, and not pleasing to me. I thought the cast was great, and they brought great humor to the entire project, but that was really only the great part of the film. It was heartwarming as well, but it could've been better if the script wasn't so generic. The direction was also excellent and very, very good. All in all, Little Miss Sunshine is simple, memorable, but generic and cliche, with a mixed message to send, but a great cast that attempts to send it. 6/10.