Wow crazy story Mav. Glad you liked the movie.

I bet makeshift will <3 it.

I bet makeshift will be absolutely disappointed.

Just got back from the showing, and it was not as good as I expected. Still very good, but I was thinking of A+ good going into the movie. I thought the last 20 minutes were great, and the grandpa just made the movie hilarious. I thought the acting was done very well, and Carrell was not really his usual character, but still did great. All in all, this is a great movie. A-

We do not need you and your negativity stinking up this thread.

Go watch Beerfest.

And that... on top of that... the mother (who seemed decently caring) would drive a couple hundred miles to make her daughter's dreams come true but never once sat through one of her routines?

I read an article about the making of this movie. Apparently what happened is it was a flat out comedy script written by someone else that the husband/wife team decided to buy the rights to and make and they altered some plot and scenes in order to make it more low key and dramatic and less of a straight ahead comedy. Perhaps in the process it might have led to some illogical things they didn't find before they shot it.

I'm not making excuses for it though, if it doesn't make sense in some spots that sucks.

I dunno Archie, it's not that it's not illogical... it's just that it's a bit... empty?

I thought you loved it?

I don't understand why we're nitpicking all these minute details from this movie.

Hmmm...

I did like it quite a bit, but I do see where andaroo is coming from. It did feel very "empty" to me.

That, and I did have some issues with the fact the film goes soooo far past the realm of reality on one too many occassions (the whole Grandpa's dead body thing, his drug habit (and the parents letting him spend alone time with their daughter knowing about this), the color blindness thing, the fact that a completely by the book "emo kid" would want to join the Air Force, the fact the parents had apparently never seen Olive's routine, etc) that it just becomes ridiculous. This wouldn't have been such an issue if the film was grounded in surrealism from the get go, but it's a very reality based story, and it's filmed that way.

With that said, it's extremely well directed and acted (it's nearly flawless in both of these categories), and the score is brilliant. The editing was fantastic, too, and it's rare when I notice how well edited a film is.

Honestly, virtually every aspect of the film is top notch -- except the screenplay. I know I've spent the majority of this post talking about the bad things, but it really is a great film. I guess I just feel the good aspects have been repeated ad nauseam that it would be pointless for me to do so again.

***1/2

They're nitpicks that prove the movie isnt as smart as it thinks it is.

I think it's really, really good... but I have some nagging feelings that have developed over the last week.

Those little nitpicky details are (to me) what is missing from this movie that would elevate the characters up above a straight comedy and make me feel a little... something for them.

I really can't stress enough how utterly fantastic the score is. I got it as soon as I got home, and I can't get enough. Great stuff.

Looking back at my "review", I feel like I need to reiterate that I really did enjoy the film a lot. I just felt that some of the film's "kookiness" was incredibly forced and felt out of place.

Do they really have people in this world who are referred to as "bereavement liaisons"? (she was about a bitch, huh?)

The funniest part, I think, was when the grandpa was talking about how he fucked so much he had 2nd degree burns on his Johnson.

Now Libs, let's not laspe into stereotypes here. How would you feel if people told you to see your chick flick.

I was kidding Scott.

Thumbs up... teetering between an A- and B+. I thought it successfully managed to be touching, hilarious, and most places in between. And the acting rocked.

Wouldn't the police have been called if a yellow, vintage VW bus plowed through a pier? I mean, heh.... somethings like that annoyed me. The rest of the flaws have been discussed by everyone else... I don't have much to add other than this is a charming winner.

So was I....maybe.

I liked it a lot too...wouldn't go so far as best movie of the year but it's up there. Performances were spot-on, everyone was hilarious, had a complete National Lampoon's Vacation vibe (in a good way), never dull or too over-the-top or dipping into the drama for too long, it all worked. I knew something was going to happen with the dance number but I never quite expected that, damn was that funny. I do sorta agree about the movie feeling hollow, can't quite pinpoint why but when I left the theater I knew I had really enjoyed it, more than most films this year, but it didn't quite pack the emotional punch that movies I lurv do. And thus I go with the A-.

I don't know if it's the best "small" film this year but it ranks right up there with Brick and Thank you for smoking imo. It certainly is pretty predictable and the dad was kind of driving me nuts with all the swearing in the car but he actually grew on me as the film went along. I really like how I seemed to get more interested in the characters as the film progressed. Carrell btw was excellent too.

A

Loved it! This was really, for me, the perfect movie going experience. What made this movie so special was that not only was it superbly well made in it's technicals, but it was also just a fantasticly funny and enjoyable movie to watch. Best of both worlds, something that is not seen often these days in film.

The acting was amazing, everyone in the cast was top notch. Abigail Breselin was probably the highlight as Olive, and if she does somehow eek out Oscar buzz for this, it will be deserving. Kinnear impressed me a lot as well, just the reactions on his face, when he gets that phone call or when he's in the audience at the end, are priceless. Carrell, proving his worth, Arkin, showing up, Collette, playing a wonderful mom figure, all the performances were just so flawless.

I felt that while it had an indie storyline perhaps, the way the movie unfolded, it never fell to any of those cliches unlike say The Squid and The Whale. It's about a dysfunctional family on a road trip, but with the direction, score, cinematography, etc. being all so brilliant, this far proceeded the standard indie tricks. This film most definitley climbs outside those boundries, it is not afraid to be audience appealing.

But like I said, what makes this movie just so brilliant for me, is that not only is it just filmmaking at it's best, but it's also funny as hell and just such a great time at the movies. I got to see this movie with my mom and dad which is a rare event nowadays, and it was the most fun that I've had in a long time. I just loved watching this film, who would've thought that Little Miss Sunshine would be more entertaining than almost every other blockbuster this summer? Not I.

Best movie of the year, and my favorite.

WOW WOW WOW!

What an Amazing film. Paul Dano and Steve Carell were so fantastic. It goes to show you that Steve Carell can do anything. Easily the best movie this year. And One of my All time favorites.

A++++

A+

This is one of the best movies i've seen in a very long time. It was hilarious and amazing. This was one of a few movies that actually had me laughing 20 minutes after the movie was done. The last dance sequence made me cry. I had tears.

The cast was just so good. And the story was amazing. I was not expecting this movie to be as funny as it was.

And it continues.

B+

B+

I have some serious issues with the scripting and plotting, but this was a delightful, funny, thoughtful comedy. Carell, Arkin and the little Breslin girl are all marvelous. The "Superfreak" finale was genuinely rousing.