My mom and I got "Little Miss Sunshine" from the library a few nights ago. I was really excited to see it because of all last year's Oscar buzz, and several friends who raved about it. But I must say, I don't get it. Yes, I laughed hard at the "dance" routine at the end. But other than that, I really didn't enjoy it that much. The grandfather's perverseness grated on my nerves...untill he died. I was glad the family learned to put their pettiness aside and bond together, but....Oscar-worthy? It certainly was not the worst movie I've seen, but I was all excited and filled with anticipation, then sorely let down. Am I really missing something? Can someone fill me in?
6 comments:
I saw that movie with Justin a while back. I'm pretty conservative in my opinions in media (ask anyone that knows me!) and so I realize my take might be a lot different from yours or anyone elses. With that said, I found the grandfather's perverseness to disgust me as you did and, though the ending dance was meant to be the girls triumph I found it sad. Little girls SHOULD NOT be dancing like that
:( Perhaps I read into it more than what it is, after all it is a movie. But I didn't like how they took an innocent girl (what is she like 11!?!?!) and asked her to do things that girls her age shouldn't be doing. It's been a while since I saw it so again I could be like WAY overreacting here, but I do remember being disturbed. Wasn't the whole movie so sad?? It seemed like everyone had their disfunction that contributed to one huge disfunctional family. My thoughts...for what they're worth :) It might have been a hit for Hollywood, but in my book...I gave it 2 thumbs WAY down.
Little Miss Sunshine was about failure. Every character in the movie fails and fails big. Looking at how these different people dealt with their own failure (attempted suicide, turning to drug use and perversion, denial, ect) initially was a reaction in self-obsession. At the end this group of total losers rally together to protect the only one who still sees them as "winners"- Olive. The preserve her innocence and find a bit of themselves at the same time.
The Grandfather's perversions were disgusting. I think that they were very specific and thoughtfully created though. His failure was much more profound than the others because he knows that he dosn't get a second chance- it's over for him. I don't mind a movie showing ugliness when it's for a good reason, and I guess that I thought this one was.
And yes- little girls shouldn't be dancing like that- but innocence was a major theme in the movie, and the innocence and joy that Olive danced with was not perverse IMO.
Hey D- This last post was actually me- I forgot to sign Luke out. Sorry.
I could tell it was you, and I definately expected your opinion. You brought up some good points. Thanks!
I think you should get an Oscar for Hottest Mom!
The movie was also about different philosophies like postmodernism. Yeah, it had some dry humor in it too, but i thought it was a good movie. you just have to look into each character and find out what they are trying to represent. Like the dad, he is the over-achiever type.
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