LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE is a black comedy about the dysfunctional Hoover family, a suicidal Uncle, a bankrupt father and a heroin taking grandfather to name a few. The film follows their journey to get the young child of the family, Olive, to a beauty pageant in California. Getting into the Little Miss Sunshine is a big dream of hers, so the family travels from New Mexico to California. The format of the film is similar to many classic ‘road’ movies (Easy Rider, Thelma and Louise etc.). The trip is quite eventful, with the family confronting issues and finding out things about each other along the way. I think that a journey is a very good way of telling the plot, and needs to be resurrected as a common thing. The sound is generally excellent, with a fitting soundtrack. Overall this is indeed a must see film. 4/5
Review by Matthew Fraser (Sep ’06)