Little Miss Sunshine Review

This frightfully brave little independent flick may not focus on the most cheerful of subjects - mental illness, death and family dysfunction - but writer Michael Arndt's lithe and witty script, coupled with some enthralling performances, elevates "Little Miss Sunshine" above standard Hollywood fare. The action follows the Hoover family - deluded motivational speaker Richard (Greg Kinnear), his harried wife Sheryl (Toni Collette), their silent son Dwayne (Paul Dano), his wannabe beauty queen sister Olive (Abigail Breslin), their foul-mouthed granddad (Alan Arkin) and Sheryl's suicidal scholar brother (Steve Carell) - as they drive across America to try and get Olive to the finals of the "Little Miss Sunshine" pageant. Now that in it self may not sound like a barrel of laughs but Arndt's subtle screenplay finds humour and pathos in the most unlikely of places.

Given that "Little Miss Sunshine" is the movie debut of veteran music video directors Jonathan Dayton and Valarie Faris, it's refreshing to see that they've opted to stay away from the flashy, over-the-top visuals favoured by their peers and instead focused on getting the most out of their characters. Some of the situations the Hoovers find themselves in may stretch credibility a bit but on the whole they're believable, touching and funny as these six virtual strangers learn more about each other in three days on the road than in all the years they've previously spent with each other. Meanwhile the film's finale - which takes place at the pageant they're fought to get Olive too - is a stinging swipe at the culture of seven year-old beauty queens and their oft all too overbearing mothers.

A near perfect blend of comedy, drama and tragedy, "Little Miss Sunshine will give you plenty to think about but also fix a firm smile across your face.