“Little Miss Sunshine” Hits the Mark
Though I sulked and chaffed at the idea of replacing a DVD date-night with an actual trip to the movie theatre, I consented to Bookie’s demands for another "real night-out". On tap, a film called "Little Miss Sunshine" written by Michael Arndt, and directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris.
I was exhausted from work, so on the outset, I was less-than thrilled about our trip to the theatre. Adding to my dread, the TV promos for this film left me cold and uninterested. I thought it would be just another sappy, corny, touchy-feely, weepy, heartstring-pulling, cotton-candy fluff-factory from the "Steel Magnolias" , "Terms of Endearment" and "Stepmom" genre. Don’t get me wrong. Those were good films, but I wasn’t in the mood for one of those Hallmark-cards-on-film that require extra Kleenex. From the TV ads, I deduced that at some point in the film, "Little Miss Sunshine" would involve scenes of women in pajamas and curlers, singing "Ain’t no mountain high enough" into their hairbrushes, or there would be some gritty matriarch or patriarch squeaking-out raspy one-liners from their deathbed as their embattled offspring smile while bravely blinking back tears.
Though there are feel-good and heart-wrenching moments, there is absolutely nothing conventional, predictable or forced about this dark-comedy. The story revolves around the efforts of a dysfunctional family’s efforts to transport seven-year-old Olive (Abigail Breslin) from New Mexico to California in a Volkswagen mini-bus. Along the way, all are forced to confront their own individual struggles while also dealing with each-other‘s odd idiosyncrasies. Uncle Frank (Steve Carell) failed in his suicide attempt, and basically, has to tag along because his sister Sheryl (Toni Collette) is managing his suicide-watch. Ironically, as the movie unfolds, Uncle Frank is revealed to be the most grounded, stable element inside the van. Olive’s dad, Richard (Greg Kinnear) is one of those pompous, arrogant windbag, motivational-speaker-types whose hard-charging philosophy is drying-up most of his family’s financial resources as he tries to get his self-help book published. This situation, combined with his smug, superior attitude often put him at odds with his wife, Sheryl. Olive’s brother, Dwayne (Paul Dano) loathes his current situation and has taken a vow of silence until he fulfills his dream of becoming an Air Force pilot. As for Grandpa (Alan Arkin), well he takes the cake, and I won’t spoil his contribution to this motley crew’s journey.
I can’t possibly stress this enough; I loved this movie. Everything about this film hit the mark with me, from the story to the acting. Greg Kinnear is truly an underrated comedic actor. At certain times, the way he played Richard really made me want to jump through the screen and punch him in the face. I was that engrossed with the plot. The chemistry between the main actors was vibrant and dynamic. Even during a poignant hospital scene, when it seemed that the film was about to take that feared turn down Steel Magnolia Lane, it veered back towards hilarity with one of the most unexpected and amusing sequences in the movie. And as for that climatic, feel-good, dancing moment, it’s at the end of the film, but it’s not exactly your garden-variety, cinematic high-five.
I identify with the overall theme of the movie, which lampoons the old saying, "Winners never quit," and "You only fail when you stop trying." It asks tough questions, like, “So what are we to do when it’s apparent that our dreams won’t come to fruition, or things don’t quite work-out in accordance with our best-laid plans?” It’s a bitter-pill, and the last thing anyone who has endured this form of loss wants to hear is some antiquated cliché about trying being its own reward. "Little Miss Sunshine" is a hilarious, and in its own way, a touching film about falling down, getting up, and finding footing in a new direction. It’s a feel-good movie without the fluff. If you like dark comedies, I highly recommend this movie. No, I demand that you see this film. Go see it. Do it now. Why are you still reading this?
1)Story: A+
2)Acting: A
3)Visuals: A
4)Originality/Innovation: A+
5)Enjoyability Grade: A
6)Date Material: A+
7)Contemporary Element (Will it be watchable two decades from now?): B
8)Overall Grade: A
***
Blind Eye Turning: Poems, Prose, and other Scribbles, by Barry Dawson
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