Little Miss Sunshine

Aroview: The little film that could, this endearing, whole-hearted indie underdog shunts a screwball family on an eventful roadtrip across America, lead spiritedly by a podgy, diminutive 7-year-old (Breslin) who has her heart set on winning a grotesque beauty pageant for young girls.

Also along for the ride: the motivational-speaking father (Kinnear), his dissatisfied wife (Collette), her gay suicidal Proust-scholar for a brother (Carell), their sulky emo-son who’s taken a vow-of-silence (Dano), and the foul-mouthed junkie grandfather (Oscar winner Arkin). Surprisingly scathing as a commentary on America’s all-out obsession with beauty, winning and success, the film is otherwise delightfully poignant, handling its after-school sentiment of ‘being yourself’ without shame, never afraid to bathe in the afterglow of feel-good resolve. Though at the more ‘functional’ end of dysfunctional comedies, this is as silly as it's meant to be, yet rich enough to warm even the coldest soul.

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