Please see this film if you have a chance. This is an absolutely hilarious comedy that has a nice message (although it should not be confused with a "message movie" in any way).

The film examines a rather messed-up family. Mom (Toni Collette, in a rather undeveloped role) and Dad (Greg Kinnear) bicker constantly, mostly around Dad's decision to stake the family's fortune on his inspirational speaking career, of which he continually demonstrates by spewing cliches at the family about not being a loser. Son (Paul Dano) is a rather dark sort who has taken a vow of silence until he joins the Air Force. Daughter (Abigail Breslin, who is sensational) is a perky tot who competes in junior beauty pageants. Grandpa (Alan Arkin, who makes the most of all of his scenes) is a profane, vulgar, heroin-snorting, loveable guy. Enter Uncle Frank (Steve Carell, in a nice piece of casting--it's a "straight" role, but Frank is a witty man, so Carell can be funny as opposed to neutered), a gay Proust scholar who recently tried to kill himself. The whole family hops onto a broken-down VW Bus to transport daughter to the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant. Things go hilariously wrong.

The tone of the film is quickly given by the first real scene--the family dinner. They're eating takeout chicken. Grandpa walks in and immediately blows up about eating the "f'ing chicken again!" It's horrifying, offensive, and very, very funny.

The film is not to be confused with an "art" movie. While it has a dark edge and some black humor, it is full of humor that anyone can appreciate, such as the necessity of driving a car without a clutch and an embarassing encounter with a highway patrol officer.

The ending scene at Little Miss Sunshine is frightening in its satire (if anything, I'm sure the movie understates the point to which people take the pageant seriously), but contains a marvelous piece of physical comedy that serves as a sensational climax for the film. Our audience (try to see the film with an audience--the laughter is addictive) gave it a huge, well-deserved ovation.

The only real problem I have with the film is that it doesn't quite keep the hard-edged tone it features in the opening scenes. One has clearly seen a family like that before; one, sadly, may not see said family go through a redemptive moment as this cinematic family does. It's sort of a Cinderella moment, but with a movie so good and so funny, I'll give it a pass any day.

A very odd film.

Note:

The "Redondo Suites" was actually the Crowne Plaza Ventura. All the exteriors for the Redondo Beach scenes were actually shot in Ventura. The pier that Frank and Dwayne are on at the end is the Ventura pier. The gate that they crash through is the guard shack for San Buenaventura State Beach.

I must admit, I loved the scene with the CHP officer.

I've heard Bill Murray was the first choice to play Frank. The major problem with this is the entire role is just too similar of latter-day Bill Murray roles; I'm sure he would play it well, but Carell provides a different spin to things.