credit: www.amazon.com
20th Century Fox present Little Miss Sunshine. Written by Michael Arndt. Running Time: 101 minutes. Rated R for language, some sex and drug content. Release Date: Dec. 19, 2006
Director:
Jonathan Dayton &
Valerie Faris
Cast:
Abigail Breslin..”¦”¦..Olive Hoover
Greg Kinnear..”¦”¦..Richard Hoover
Paul Dano..”¦”¦..Dwayne
Alan Arkin..”¦”¦..Grandpa Edwin Hoover
Toni Collette..”¦”¦..Sheryl Hoover
Steve Carell..”¦”¦..Frank
The Movie:
A lot of movies get a lot of hype about them. Nine times out of ten, that hype is completely unwarranted and when you finally see this super hyped film you wonder what the hell everybody was blabbing about. Let me tell you this right now: Little Miss Sunshine completely warrants all the hype.
The story is quite simple: A young girl wins the opportunity to participate in a beauty pageant so her whole family loads up in their old yellow VW bus and trek half way across the country to get her there. What makes this movie unique is the cadre of characters that make up this dysfunctional family. Abigail Breslin plays the young Olive Hoover, Breslin showed her shinning star in Signs but really proves what she’s made of in this film. For a young actress her range is amazing. Next we have Greg Kinnear as Olive’s overbearing father, Richard. He is trying to get his self help program off the ground and continually tries to apply his seven steps to his family. Toni Collette plays Olive’s mother, Sheryl, probably the most sane person in the family who only wants the best for her daughter. Now things get really interesting: Paul Dano plays Dwayne, the brother who has taken a vow of silence until he gets into the air force academy, Alan Arkin is the fowl mouthed grandfather, Edwin, who is addicted to heroin and Steve Carell is her suicidal uncle, Frank.
As they travel many mishaps befall the Hoovers ranging from humorous to down right heartbreaking. Right from the start when the clutch goes out on their van and they have to push it to get it started, it seems that the gods themselves are trying to stop the Hoovers from reaching their destination. And while that might sound clichéd, these very real characters make it all believable. There are two things that make these characters believable, the fantastic acting on everyone’s part and the beautifully written script by Michael Arndt, which is amazing in it’s own right, as this is Arndt’s first film.
Not all families are as dysfunctional as the Hoovers, but everyone can relate to the trials and tribulations that they go through. From financial hardships to broken dreams we’ve all been there and as much as they may yell and argue with one another, when the chips are down they’ve got each othe’s back. One of the better relationships that develops throughout the film happens between Dwayne and Frank. Both see the inherent flaws throughout the family and although Dwayne only communicates through a note pad, the two seem to have an instant connection that grows deeper throughout. Without giving too much away plot wise, the moment Dwayne speaks for the first time is one of the most tragic and fantastically acted scenes I’ve seen in a movie in a long time
When it comes down to it this movie is about family. While that might seem like a redundant thing to say this is idea is so wonderfully presented in this film that it’s worth repeating. It’s easy to get instantly swept up in this family, their highs become your highs, their lows your lows and isn’t that exactly what filmmaking is all about?
STORY: 9
ACTING: 9
LOOK/FEEL: 9
ORIGINALITY: 8
ENTERTAINMENT VALUE: 10
FINAL SCORE: 9
Meet the Hoovers.
The DVD:
The Video:
The film is presented widescreen 2.35:1. This film is fantastically shot and looks great. It’s a very bright and colorful movie.
The Audio:
The film is presented in Dolby Digital 5.1 surround. The sound is good. There’s nothing extravagant or over the top, it’s nice and simple.
Extras:
Commentary directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris: In there own words, this is a reluctant commentary. These two talk in very bland monotone voices about the making of the film. They do have interesting things to say but they make it all sound so boring. Do yourself a favor and just watch the movie again.
Commentary directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris and writer Michael Arndt: As if one commentary isn’t enough, this movie has two. It’s the directors again, with the screenwriter, Arndt thrown in. Nothing is really added to this one. If you really want to watch a commentary than pick one and watch it, there’s no need to watch both.
4 Alternate Endings with optional commentary by directors Jonathan Dayton & Valerie Faris: All these endings show is that the right one was chosen for the film. Although, it’s interesting to see the creative process at work.
The Inside Pulse
This is easily one of the yea’s best films, sadly, this DVD doesn’t offer much in the way of extras. With Steve Carell on the set there’s got to be some great outtakes hiding somewhere. Does this mean that a special edition is lurking somewhere around the corner? Only time will tell.
