Little Miss Sunshine

This movie has received a lot of good press, positive reviews, etc., so I put down the cash to see it this weekend. Loved it. I tried not to go in with any expectations -- only to be moderately entertained -- but I was, in fact, enormously entertained. The cast was perfect. They were such a good ensemble that no one "stole" the show. And despite the age-old premise -- a family pushed too far in a quest for something meaningful to them, though trivial to the outside world -- it was surprisingly fresh.

I thought it really bridged the gap between the often too dark, too quirky, too unrelatable independent film and the predictable mainstream blockbuster that succeeds on the good looks of its stars. The plot is fun, notwithstanding its absurd or deeply serious moments, and the character development is top-drawer. Bonus: It never starts dragging, and it ties up the loose ends for the most part.

This movie is not going to change your life, but it will make you laugh, and you won't regret the spending of time and money to see it. Note: Though it stars a child, it's not for the kids. There are a handful of adult moments of varying types, but not so many as to make it unpleasant.