Little Miss Sunshine

You must go watch this movie!

That's pretty much all there is to it.

I think this little movie should get massive word-of-mouth buzz and become a classic in the vein of American Beauty. The premise is not very important but way each character goes through a personal journey to arrive at a new (higher?) plain is the crux of the story. On the surface the movie is about a dis-joint family who goes on a road trip to take their daughter to the "Little Miss Sunshine" Pageant on California. The little girl (the same one who was Mel Gibson's daughter in "Signs") is no little beauty queen but the family wants to take her anyway since it's the only positive thing going on in their life. Grandpa is a junkie, the uncle (Steve Carrell from "The 40-year-old virgin") is suicidal, the son is a goth who's taken a vow of silence, the dad is a loser who gives self-help/motivational seminars. The mother is pretty much the only "normal" one here, which is not that different from every family. The mother is generally the anchor on which the family is moored and in this family it's not that different. The mother is flawed in that she has lost her family among the daily rut of suburban life.

The journey that this wacky, and unlikely, group takes is funny, dramatic, heart-warming, and insightful. Everyone will find someone in this movie to relate to. Who hasn't felt lost in their job? Who hasn't had their heart broken so badly that they wanted to disappear? And who hasn't felt that they could win no matter what the odds?

I suppose everyone will have their own interpretation of what this movie represents, but to me it is a journey of self discovery. The final pay-off, to me at least, is to be comfortable in your own skin. Everyone goes through a lot in their life but you have your friends and family to love and support you along the way. Be happy with who you are.

Oh, and the climax of this movie is the FUNNIEST segment of celluloid ever! Do not drink any water or eat any food before the climax or it will come shooting out of your nose or mouth!
AJ