Thursday, September 14, 2006
Little Miss Sunshine
Mrs. Mentok has already done a review of this movie and she loved it. I really liked it, but not quite as much as her.I've heard some critics calling this "the most original movie of the year". I don't agree at all. In fact, it was quite formulaic. The cast of misfits, the dysfunctional family who struggle through adversity, grow closer and come to learn the value of family. I think there's like a zillion sitcoms with that premise.
On top of that, this is a road movie that follows the same formula of every road movie from Homer's Odyssey to Planes, Trains and Automobiles: the journey as an allegory for life, constant obstacles that grow more outrageous the closer the characters get to their goal, yada yada.
But what a road movie! Here's a movie stacked with the true giants, the real geniuses of modern comedy. No Jim Carrey, no Wayans brothers, none of these other so-called "comedians" that appeal to...um...well...just insert your own favourite snobby word here. I always get in shit for labelling people, but you get what I mean.
The entire cast is stellar, but the best of the bunch is obviously Alan Arkin. It is a real travesty that Jerry Lewis wins international honours while the far superior talent of Arkin goes relatively unnoticed. Does anyone remember him in Gattaca? His character was funny, but in such a subtle way that most people probably categorized that as one of his dramatic roles.
So the long and short is that a comedy road movie with Alan Arkin anchoring the comedy is going to be a good movie no matter how you cut it.
The plot of this particular road movie is that this highly dysfunctional family is trying to get their young daughter to one of those typically American child beauty pageants. I don't know about you, but those things really turn my stomach, and this movie to its credit dealt with that issue unflinchingly. When they finally get to the beauty pageant (of course they get there! It's not a spoiler), the daughter, who has been coached by Arkin's irascible character, turns in a performance that totally scandalizes the judges...in spite of the fact that all of the girls who performed previously were grotesquely sexualized in ways that were truly sickening. (Those things should be banned if you ask me.)
So there you go. Great comedy, a bit of a social comment and, to cap it all off, they find a credible way to make Proust scholars funny.
Verdict: A must see. Will probably get some Oscar or Golden Globe nods.
posted by Mentok @ 4:36 PM,
1 Comments:
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At 11:32 AM,
Unknown said...
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J. and I really enjoyed this movie. That last scene of the movie had us howling.
Alan Arkin was brillant. Good advice as well!
