I really enjoyed this movie with Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Greg Kinnear and a terrific ensemble cast. Best of all is Alan Arkin as the crazy grandfather who is forced on a cross country trip with the rest of his nutty, dysfunctional family. It’s not giving away too much to say that they are heading to a beauty/talent contest for the young daughter, Olive (Abigail Breslin). Recent news reports have brought back the story of JonBenet Ramsey and, in the final scenes of Little Miss Sunshine, I couldn’t help but be reminded of the photo of that poor child made up to look like a sexy, adult woman. At the time, it looked like child abuse to me, and it surely contributed to her parents being prime suspects in the minds of many. Of course, nowadays, what family doesn’t score moderately well on the dysfunction meter? It’s this realization that makes the performances in this movie so funny, poignant, maddening and ultimately delicious.

–Sean Coakley