Join the Hoover family on a hilarious and outrageous family road-trip. They are traveling from their home in Albuquerque, New Mexico to Redondo Beach, California for the “Little Miss Sunshine” pageant being held at the Embassy Suites. The trip is to support young Olive Hoover, an aspiring pageant contestant.
Little Miss Sunshine (2006) breaks away from the typical comedic slapstick style seen in road trip movies like Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987) and National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983). Instead, it offers a deep and introspective portrayal of family dysfunction.
The opening scenes of the film introduce us to the Hoover Family. Olive’s father Richard (Greg Kinnear) is a motivational speaker who is obsessed with winning and the publication of his “9 steps” to success, despite never having experienced either. Sheryl (Toni Collette) is Olive’s mother, a devoted mom who values family above all else and is under immense stress as the glue holding the family together. Uncle Frank (Steve Carrell) is a Proust scholar who has recently been released from the hospital after a failed suicide attempt and is now under the care of his sister Sheryl. Dwayne (Paul Dano), Olive’s silent older brother, is determined to escape his family through the Air Force and his dream of flying jets. Lastly, we meet Richard’s father, Olive’s beloved Grandpa (Alan Arkin), who has a fondness for illegal drugs and pornography and also serves as Olive’s pageant coach and dance routine choreographer.
During a dinner of takeout chicken, the dysfunction within this family is prominently showcased. This meal offers the audience a brief insight into the family dynamics and the individual personalities of each member of the Hoover household.
During a lull in the dysfunctional family dinner, Sheryl returns a call to her sister who left on the answering machine informing her that Olive had been invited to the Little Miss Sunshine pageant in California. It is after this phone call that we begin to see the Hoovers start to come together for one of their own, albeit with some compromises and a whole lot of self-centeredness. Despite their individual desires and reservations being set aside, everyone agrees to go on a road-trip in order to help Olive fulfill her immediate wish of competing in the Little Miss Sunshine pageant.
During the road trip that follows, there is a lot of mischief and disorder that occurs. This includes instances of elderly people ranting about sex and drug use, sarcastic conversations among family members, and even the theft of a deceased body. We must also mention the state trooper who has a fondness for pornography. Despite all this craziness, there are moments of warmth and affection shown by each family member throughout the film. The love that the Hoover family has for Olive ultimately leads to a demonstration of support and unity. This display of coming together as a family is something that any grandfather who loves heroin would be proud of.
The main reason this film works well is its ensemble cast. Renowned film critic Roger Ebert shares his thoughts on the talented cast members in an online review.
“Little Miss Sunshine” is an incredibly well-acted and well-cast movie. The actors, along with directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris, understand the comedic value of nonverbal reactions and how pain can create the most enjoyable comedy.
All the actors deliver genuine and sincere portrayals of emotions. Dano’s dead black eyes, hidden behind heavy bangs, are framed by a pale face that appears to be collapsing under the weight of teenage alienation and revulsion. With just a subtle tilt of his head, he effortlessly captures the attention and admiration of the audience. Kinnear, who is skilled in comedic acting, seizes the opportunity to convey entire scenes without uttering a single word, using his expressive face to engage in inner dialogues while driving or contemplating how to respond aptly during the talent section of the Little Miss Sunshine competition.
Steve Carell is a remarkable actor, portrayed as a character whose pain envelops him like a rigid plastic bubble, exuding humor effortlessly. His delivery of the name “Nietzsche” with crisp pronunciation, “Neet-chah,” inexplicably evokes laughter. Furthermore, Carell’s depiction of Uncle Frank’s running style is worth mentioning – an intellectual run executed as if the act of running had been meticulously studied, deconstructed into its fundamental parts, and then meticulously reassembled. It is a display devoid of grace yet hauntingly human, resulting in priceless amusement. Uncle Frank’s running is not merely a sped-up silly walk, but an authentic representation of his character.” (Ebbert, Roger)
Ruthe Stein, a writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, expresses admiration for the incredible performances of the cast in their respective roles. Arkin’s natural spontaneity creates the illusion that he is improvising his lines. Kinnear convincingly embodies the frenetic energy of a gambler who is convinced his next card will secure a victory against the house. Both Kinnear and Collette skillfully use their body language to convey the frustrations experienced by a couple striving to maintain stability for their children. Their interactions are marked by minimal physical contact, making a scene where they verbally confront each other all the more impressively performed.
Even among such impressive individuals, Carell, who proved his talent in “The 40 Year Old Virgin” and showed he was more than just a TV actor, almost steals the show with his performance. His finely honed comedic timing is evident as Frank attentively follows the family’s scattered conversations, almost like he’s watching a tennis match.” (Stein, Ruthe)
During the awards season in 2007, Little Miss Sunshine received numerous awards and nominations. Alan Arkin, known for his role in Edward Scissorhands (1990), won the Academy Award for “Best performance by an actor in a supporting role” as Grandpa. Abigail Bresslin, famous for her role in Zombieland (2009), was nominated for an Oscar for “Best performance by an actress in a supporting role” as Olive. Additionally, Michael Ardnt, a first-time writer who also contributed to Toy Story 3, won an Oscar Award for “Best Original Screenplay”. The entire ensemble cast of Little Miss Sunshine was recognized by the Screen Actors Guild and awarded the SAG award for “Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture”. Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris directed the screenplay; they had previously collaborated as a husband and wife team within the music video industry. Little Miss Sunshine (2006) marked their debut as feature film directors. They recently directed the comedy film Ruby Sparks (2012). Dayton and Faris skillfully utilized their acting abilities to captivate viewers without relying on extravagant antics or special effects, demonstrating a subtle yet highly effective technique.
This film goes beyond a simple journey from point “A” to point “B” with obstacles. It delves into the disillusionment experienced by individuals and its effect on others. Additionally, it portrays the dynamics and relationships found in numerous American families. Little Miss Sunshine is not your typical family road trip movie, thus I suggest not bringing young children.
Works Cited
Ebert, Roger. “Little Miss Sunshine.” Rev. of Little Miss Sunshine, dir(s). Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris. RogerEbert.Com. Roger Ebert. 3rd August 2006. Web. 23rd October 2013. Stein, Ruthe. “Everybody in the van — and don’t forget to bring your emotional baggage.” Rev. of Little Miss Sunshine, dir(s). Jonathan Dayton, Valerie Faris. SFGate.com. San Francisco Chronicle. 4th August 2006. Web. 23rd October 2013.
