Little Miss Sunshine Reviews

Fantastic feel-good film

What an amazing film! The story centres around an unconventional family and their young daughter Olive's entry into the final of a national beauty pageant. The film tracks their 700 mile journey to the pageant in a clapped out camper van.

Each member of the family has their own quirks that make them special and it is the development of the characters along the way that makes this film truly memorable. From the teenage anst ridden older brother inspired to observe a vow of silence by Nietzsche, to the hapless dad who believes that everyone in life can be a 'winner' if only they choose to purchase and follow his hilariously desperate 'nine step' programme - this family is unique, dysfunctional but exude a warmth that is all-enveloping and familiar.

As well as being laugh-out-loud funny from start to finish, 'Little Miss Sunshine' is touching, and even uncomfortable to watch at times, especially when the precocious young beauty queens strut their stuff for the judges in their desperate attempts to emulate the success of seasoned professionals such as 'Miss California'.

It's quite easy to see why this film has reaped such high critical acclaim. If you want to be moved to tears, one minute from laughing and the next from crying, then this is the film for you.

Don't Bother

A long build up to nothing. One or two laughs and that's it. I sat through it expecting something, no anything to make the film worth while. But you know what; in the end, nothing.

Not so bright, it hurts my eyes

A failing family come together for the youngest member so that she can enter the Little Miss Sunshine contest. I have heard great things about this movie and a few bad ones, but for me personally I didn't see anything special about it. It was basic story-telling and a sad reflection of that. Yes it was not a run of the mill Hollywood movie, no action, no animation, no special effects, but it also has no real story either. The acting from the Grandad was the best bit in the film, other than that it wasn't amazing, or brilliant. It actually reminded me of a ITV drama. Only watch if you have nothing better to do.

A flawless ray of sunshine!

Now this is what I call an impeccable film!WHY DON'T THEY MAKE MORE FILMS LIKE THIS?!!!Superb cast,but what really makes the film flawless are the characters and how they affect the story. This is a family who eat take out chicken every night out of paper plates!The dad (the brilliant Greg Kinnear)is trying to crack into the Self Help market with his 9 step plan. He is hillarious because he takes his business a bit too seriously (always quoting what winners do compared to losers), the mum (Toni Collete)and seeming breadwinner of the family has just inherited her suicidal, gay brother on top of already having her sex mad, coke snorting father-in-law to contend with. Her teenage son has decided to take a vow of silence till he becomes a test pilot and her youngest-,geeky Olive who is really the ray of sunshine in the film. It is Olive that takes us on an adventure of her family and her understanding of what life is all about. The film is funny and deeply human because is makes us realise the complexity and frailty of being a human being. What a lovely, majestic, warm, funny feel good film.I can understand why it has been received so well by the public, as it taps into so many issues that are quite universal. But I think what made many smile is that for an hour and a half we remember what it like to be an innocent child, in a state of awe living life unhampered by limits , and I guess that is a place that as adults we all miss and long for. For once I've gone to see a movie and it has left me with something....and I haven't quite figured out what, all I know is that when the movie finished I had a big smile on my face and I felt quite amazing for having watched it ....

[Highly rated reviewer]

Not very funny

I honestly cannot see why anyone would give this 5 stars...its beyond me. LOL my bum, i found a couple of mildy entertaining laughable moments, but otherwise it dragged and to be honest i wouldn't have cared if i fell asleep and missed it...in fact i nearly switched off after the first 10 mins and wish i had. Sorry, but really shouldn't 5 stars be reserved for true classics not this mildly (generous) entertaining drivel! Come on people

Wonderful

Went to see this at the cinema after reading a review in the Empire mag. The movie had only been released a few days before but the place was packed. Good news clearly travels very quickly ... because it is a wonderful film. Superb characters developed by perfectly cast actors. Hilarious, touching and inspiring. You must see this film!

Clever, heartwarming, immensely watchable

The seemingly dysfunctional Hoover family are reluctantly drawn into a trip to California so that 7 year old Olive can enter the Little Miss Sunshine competition. They're an adorable bunch; when bad things happen they just get on with what they have to, which is fight to get Olive to the final on time. Like most of us they're self-obsessed, except for Olive's mother (played by Toni Collette) who is charmingly accepting of her family's flaws, and the outcome is that no-one thinks to ask what Olive's plans are for the final ...

This isn't just a road movie and it isn't cloyingly sweet. It's very funny and the screenplay is witty and moves along at a fine pace. The film doesn't ram its message home, doesn't offer any answers, and even when it tips slightly into the burlesque towards the end you forgive it. It's really, really lovely.

[Highly rated reviewer]

Utterly unbeliavable

Jesus Christ! What a watch, Steve Carrol blew me away, didn't realise he could act, and superbly.

Every actor in this gives his or her best performance of their career.

The scene where the teenager first talks is a tribute to siblingship, a scene that will stay with me forever.

Each character has obviosly been carefuly thought out and made to confront or show affection to or otherwise connect with each other and the ending is outstanding.

Swallowed me up and wouldn't let me go for the whole duration.

A must watch.

You'd be doing a dis-service to cinema if you didn't.

If you like this then watch the squid and the whale.

Little Miss FANTASTIC!

I LOVED this film, 1 of the best films I have seen this year. I heard such good ratings from all different types of media and was intrigued to see what the fuss was about.

There are bits in the film which will touch your heart and make you cry, but there are also parts when you will be crying with laughter! The cast are superb and play each of the roles marvellously. It's got to be one of the best feel-good movies, I came out the cinema couldn't help but smile.

Highly recommend this film!

Laugh out loud funny

This film achieved the impossible. I lean toward arthouse films and my partner leans toward big hollywood films with explosions. It is the first film in 8 years that we BOTH loved. It is touching, warm, hysterically funny and we both walked away with smiles on our faces. This film is made the way they should be made- genius script, great acting- no need to rely on explosions or big marquee names. It is a work of art.