Little Miss Sunshine depicts the story of a damaged (note: not broken) family forced to spend time together inside of a breaking (note: not broken) VW Bus. The movie proves to be both entertaining and enjoyable.

When young daughter Olive (Abigail Breslin) becomes the default winner of a pre-teen beauty pageant, her family sets out on a road trip that strengthens their relationships towards one another. The crew, each equipped with their own dysfunctionality, allows nothing to stand in the way of reaching their destination.

The summary is as follows: father Richard (Greg Kinnear) is a failing motivational speaker who is on the brink of losing the family nest egg to shattered dreams; mother Sheryl (Toni Collette) barely holds the family together while trying to quit smoking; uncle Frank (Steve Carell) is a homosexual post-suicidal Proust Scholar who ironically exhibits the most sane views on situations throughout the movie; grandpa Edwin (Alan Arkin) battles a coke/porn habit while investing the most into Olive’s future pageant career; and brother Dwayne (Paul Dano) plays out a vow of silence until making the Flight Academy and worshipping Friedrich Nietzche.

Throughout their ride, several events lead to the strengthening of ties between these individuals, resulting in a unit more apt to be called a family. The transmission drops from the old VW Bus, requiring the family to push to third-gear speed; the horn malfunctions, prompting a police officer to pull the van over; Grandpa passes away, further tightening the bond. But through all this, the family pushes on their journey, never looking back or giving up.

But the true focus, or purpose, of the movie is revealed when the family reaches the Little Miss Sunshine competition and Olive competes in the pageant. Actions speak louder than words as a visual commentary on pre-teen pageants plays out on the screen. Olive is just a normal kid and is kicked out of the competition for her provocative strip-tease dance to Rick James’ "Superfreak" (a routine taught in the beginning of the movie by her dear ol’ grandpa).

But the family supports their daughter/sister, joining her gyrations on the stage, and laughing all the while. The movie ends on a high note, and the family has begun its reconciliation with themselves and their inner demons.

Little Miss Sunshine is a fun movie, with a slow beginning and quicker ending. Suffer through the arguing in the beginning, and you will be taken on as wild a viewing ride as the family experiences on screen.

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