 
Back
Shelf Beauties
by Willie Waffle
Click Here to Buy
Movie Posters!
|
Little
Miss Sunshine
Olive
(Abigail Breslin) is
the sweetest little girl you can imagine, but she lives in a family
full of
angry, depressed losers. Dad,
Richard (Greg
Kinnear), is a struggling motivational speaker trying to get a book
deal, so he
can take care of his family, while also holding on to this dying dream. Mom, Sheryl (Toni
Collette), is struggling to
make ends meet for the financially strapped family, and starting to
question her
love for Richard. Brother Dwayne (Paul Dano), wants to be a
fighter pilot,
so he spends every waking moment trying to prepare himself for that
physical
and mental challenge. Grandpa (Alan Arkin) is a drug addict
who got
kicked out of nursing home. Finally,
Uncle Frank (Steve Carell) just tried to commit suicide when the object
of his
affection decided to start a relationship with his main rival in the
academic
world. When Olive becomes a regional finalist in the Little
Miss Sunshine
pageant, the entire brood has to pull together and travel from New Mexico to California,
all while their dreams and desires hang in the balance.
Will they make it without killing each other? Will any of
them achieve their
goals?
Little
Miss
Sunshine is one of those rare movies that brilliantly
mixes laughter and
heartache to engross you in every obstacle the characters face on this
arduous
journey down the road and through life.
Writer Michael Arndt writes brilliant arguments
between the characters
that keep the story moving forward, reveal information about them that
the
audience needs to know and throws in a surprise ending that makes
sense, even
if you never saw it coming. While
it is
one of the better scripts of the year, the actors make Little
Miss
Sunshine
worth going to see.
Kinnear and Carell
make this movie amazing as we watch the two guide their
characters through a brewing battle of ideals and beliefs. Kinnear fills Richard with
that Midwestern
wholesomeness his face and physical being so naturally give off, while
Carell
is fantastic with every raised eyebrow and disapproving look Frank
throws Richard’s
way each time the dad seems to be pushing one of his children or his
wife in
the wrong direction. Both of them say more with their faces
than words
could ever express, and engage in an actor's dance we can all
appreciate.
Carell is great as he slowly, throughout the movie, brings Frank back
to life
after his attempt at death. Frank
is emotionally
dead at the beginning of the film, but he gains strength and reason for
living
each day, and Carell shows it as he makes Frank’s personality
emerge from its
shell and his confidence grows. We hear it in the sarcastic
statements,
loving discussions with his niece and nephew and the support he shows
for Sheryl
(his sister). It's the kind of all encompassing performance
some might
not expect from the comedian, but Carell shows he might be the next Tom
Hanks
if he keeps challenging himself and gets the right role to amaze
us.
Little
Miss
Sunshine could be
the indie film hit of the summer, and the biggest surprise of
the year.
4 Waffles (Out Of 4)
Copyright
2006 - WaffleMovies.com
| You
can support this site by shopping at AllPosters.com |
 |
|
