Little Miss Sunshine Reviews

It had been quite a while since I had watched a movie and had fallen in love with everything about it.  Even films I thought were worthy of 5 stars weren't quite perfect.  In fact,  before I viewed Little Miss Sunshine last summer, I'd say the last movie to truly grab me was 2000's Almost Famous, and if you've seen Almost Famous and know me at all, that's for obvious reasons. — The film follows the Hoover family as they trek from New Mexico to California so that the youngest of the clan, Olive (Abigail Breslin), can compete in the Little Miss Sunshine pageant.  But… read full review »

I must say that ... after seeing numerous coming-attraction trailers and hearing much ecstatic praise about this film, I was prepared not to like it.  I figured it was another cute-kid vehicle.  In other words, I was a "hard sell."  — To make a long story short, I have now revisited this movie at least five times and every time I have seen some other thing to appreciate.  This is a wonderful movie and everybody did a fantastic job.  It was one of those films where all the supporting characters (even the incidental ones who played people the family met along the… read full review »

Intro — I had missed seeing Little Miss Sunshine when it was out in the theaters, but once it was out on video, I was going to rent it on pay per view to watch it with the kids, but I couldn't figure out why it was rated R. I thought my 11-year-old daughter would really enjoy seeing this movie that was supposed to be about a young girl entering a beauty pageant. I decided to trust the rating and wait until I could watch it alone. Now that I've rented it from Blockbuster and watched it alone, I'm glad I didn't let my daughter watch it. Most of it would have probably gone over her head… read full review »

I liked the way this film was made.  Each of the characters had personal flaws that doomed them, but collectively they pulled each other up.  I liked how Greg Kinnear's character had a plan and a strategy, but no vision.  Every tme I see an ad for a motivational speaker, I wonder how many others are out the that couldn't afford the marketing. —  I liked how Grandpa was given the task of helping Olive prepare her 'talent', yet no one bothered to check it or see it ahead of time. — The moment with Miss California gave Olive the touch of reality that she… read full review »

I think this is one of the cutest movies I've watched in a long time.  At first the movie seemed depressing and a little over the top.  But I stuck through it and I'm glad I did!!  This movie made me laugh and cry! — The story is really cute, and in a way sort of an eye-opener.  Not at all what I expected the movie to be. — I recommend this movie to anyone who needs a good laugh, or a good cry! —… read full review »

Well this is one of those films you just can't describe to friends and make them go "Wow gotta see that one." It's a quiet little movie and it grabs your heart from the beginning and never lets go of it. I smiled and I laughed every time little Abigail Bresilin was on the screen. This little lady has such a future. This movie was really loved by my macho husband and my 2 cynical teens. Who said "That was sweet." What wonderful, imperfect and quirky characters inhabit this flick. I loved the fact that I found myself laughing and crying sometimes in the same scene. Just a really divine… read full review »

This film joins a family just as everyone is reaching breaking point and meltdown seems inevitable. — Dad is the worlds worst motivational speaker desperately trying to secure a deal, mum is trying to keep things together, her brother has just failed a suicide attempt, grandpa is a coke sniffing porn addict, the son is a Nietzche reading goth who refuses to speak until the airfoce academy takes him and the little daughter is being taught by grandpa to be a beauty queen. — When the daughter gets the offer to appear in a beauty pagaent,(the little miss sunshine contest of the… read full review »

From the opening scene, this movie pulls the viewer in. Incredibly quirky characters feature: Dad, a professional failure who aspires to be a motivational speaker (and is a *failed* motivational speaker), older teen brother, who has taken a vow of silence per the philosopher Nitche, gay uncle, who comes to live with the family after a failed suicide attempt, grandpa, who comes to live with the family after he is thrown out of his nursing home for heroin abuse, mom, who's somewhat at her end and trying to keep them all together - and Olive, the heroine, a homely little girl who's desire is to… read full review »

I had my doubts before watching this movie.  I figure it would be one of those, "b" rated movies.  However, my attitude changed after the first 30 minutes of the movie.  I hate to give a movie away so I won't talk about it because I don't think I could explain this movies wihout giving big parts away.  But if your like me and you're not into the "stupid funny" movies then this is the movie for you.  It turned out to be one of the strangest but funniest movies I have seen in a while.  The cast was excellent and play each roll perfectly.  You won't be… read full review »

This was not an easy movie to watch.  Characters were written so well that their flaws and eccentricities were laid bare on the screen.  Olive, the central figure was a 'not so beautiful' little girl who wanted to be Little Miss Sunshine and this was the story about how her family got her there.  The grandfather, Alan Alda played such an outrageously funny role, totally supportive of Olive, but so outrageous in nature.  The brother who came out of himself to try to keep his sister safe from the heckling she would undoubtedly get from these 'beauty queens". —… read full review »

Featuring an incredible cast, "Little Miss Sunshine" does -- in fact -- shine as the best comedy of 2006. Abigail Breslin stars in an Oscar-nominated role as Olive, a pint-sized beauty pageant contestant and Alan Arkin won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor as her muse -- a heroin-addicted grandfather. Greg Kinnear and Toni Collette turn in worthy performances as Olive's beleagured parents and Steve Carrell ("The Office") amazes us as Olive's gay, suicidal uncle. Rounding out this wonderful cast is Paul Dano as Olive's reticent yet supportive brother. Michael Arndt's script also… read full review »

I'd heard "of" Little Miss Sunshine but not actually heard what it was about - at all, nothing!  I was pleasantly surprised when I watched this movie and fell in love with all of the characters.  It has officially replaced my previous #1 favorite movie, moving that one to second place.  Although the language tended to be a little rough from time to time, it was appropriate for these characters, this setting, etc.  I have recommended this movie to anybody willing to listen to me!  I also put it on my Christmas wish list for the DVD.  It's a movie that even my… read full review »

Little Miss Sunshine was a great story. It sure felt like a typical California family to me with so many complicated issues going on all at the same time. Each character had a unique sense of self  and life issues that spoke to the audience at a Universal level. The vulnerability of each character living through their own personal challenges of life made it easy to relate even without having experienced their personal issues. In the end this movie is about accepting people for who they are rather than trying to make them what you want them to be. Its also a… read full review »