Sunshine Family. Review on Little Miss Sunshine Movie

While we all in India have always understood and appreciated the value of joint families, the trend in the western civilizations has been on nuclear ones. Teenagers usually leave their parents home by the time they turn 20 and old people usually stay in homes. From that standpoint it may not be very difficult for us to visualize what ensues when a lot of people in a joint family travel together or go for a mission together. We have seen how almost an entire village seems to descend on a hospital when a member is admitted there, or how half a dozen people seem to be following up the same vendor when it’s a marriage that’s being organized and specially a daughters’ marriage.

But in the western context such situations are unheard of and therefore create an extremely comic and enjoyable scenario when it happens. One such story is beautifully captured by the director in this movie called “Little Miss Sunshine”.

This is the story of a couple who have two children, one a teenage son and another a cute little 10yr old daughter. The husband’s father was in an old peoples’ home as is the trend in USA, but was thrown out of there for abusing drugs, a habit which he is unable to get out of easily. So he has now shifted to stay with his son and his family. The wife’s brother is a homosexual and due to a breakup with his boyfriend had tried to commit suicide. So the couple( husband and wife) have brought him to stay with them. The teenaged son has determined to become a jet pilot and has vowed not to speak till he has achieved his goal. So all his communication is on a scribblepad. The husband himself is a hyper type of person who is still trying to launch a new business of motivational speaking. And the wife is trying to keep the peace between all of these people! Atypical Indian type of scenario if I may say so.

You can imagine what it would be like, and in this backdrop comes up a beauty pageant which the little girl wants to participate in, in a city 1300 Km away! However both the parents and the grandfather are supportive to her efforts and want her to participate under any circumstances. But with limited resources they have to undertake this as a road journey in a rickety old volkswagon. To begin with the van refuses to start has to be pushed each time by all in the party and then run after it to get in. But that is just the beginning of the fun. How their relationships unfold and how the journey progresses is a great treat to watch.

The movie is a great mix of emotion and fun without being a drag, heavy or a tearjerker anywhere.

He grandfather is very attached to his little granddaughter and is always supporting her and encouraging her in whatever she does. He has taught her all the moves that she is going to display in the beauty paegent. But will that be enough for her to face the competition that the professionally trained and practiced girls will display. Then during the journey the grandfather who had abused drugs for a long time, dies in his sleep. This provides for some very solemn and also comic moments all at the same time.

When during a simple fun game, the teenaged son discovers that he is colour blind and therefore can never be an aircraft pilot and sees all his life long dreams get shattered, his display of emotion will leave many a Indian tearjerking hero behind…

Or when the lady’s brother comes face to face with the very lover who ditched him for another man, and because of whom he tried to commit suiside, will he be able to face him.

But the climax of the movie is provided when they finally reach their destination, the venue of the peagent albeit 5 minutes late. Will the judges allow the girl to be registered. And even if she does, will she as a chubby, bespectacled, illtrained yet talented girl be able to stand upto the petite, well groomed and well trained counterparts. How will she cover her protruding belly in a swimsuit. How will she perform. Will she and her family become the laughing stock of the entire community. How the whole family comes together at the time of a crisis is really worth watching.

What are the lessons on family bonding and relationships that this movie provides. Watch it to find out.