Eternal Sunshine

This post is a difficult one to write, as the film i am attempting to review is so indescribable. Little Miss Sunshine tells the story of a struggling Albuquerque family, who go on a road trip so that their daughter can attend a pageant. Toddlers and Tiaras being my guilty pleasure, i have a morbid fascination with pageants! The film is a serio-comedy, which generally makes one laugh and cry, mostly at the same time, however i will try to avoid this post becoming like a commercial. The success of the film is clear, the film despite not being hugely long, succeeds in capturing ones attention, and manages to squeeze in much character development; despite not having a long introduction, nor any real denouement. The film is held together by the compelling performance of Abigail Breslin as olive, whose performance manages to ground the film, and on whose shoulders the weight of the whole family rests.

Other much maligned performances in the film include Toni Collette and Steve Carell, both of whom deserved nominations at the Academy Awards, and whose performances stand out much more prominently than eventual Oscar winner Alan Arkin's. Carell in particular is a stunner as Olive's gay uncle, a little bit of a cliché but oh well. I will try to avoid this becoming too philosophical, the film also has an amazing message, in my mind the film is about being a winner, in the film Olives father, allegedly based on Arnold Schwarzenegger, tells her how he dislikes losers, yet he states that being a winner is about never giving up, and in the film, the family never gives up on their goal of reaching the pageant. The pageant becomes a metaphor for their goals and dreams, and even though Olive doesn't win the pageant, she is none the less a winner.

Sorry if that was too far. Overall the film is emotional, yet makes one smile, and is held up by superb performances by its leads, in particular that of Abigail Breslin.