Little Miss Sunshine (2006) Dir: Valerie Faris & Jonathan Dayton

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This 2006 road-trip comedy, co-directed by Valerie Faris and Jonathon Dayton, is a film that is seemingly universally loved by those who've seen it. It had been on my list for a long while at this point, but it was only thanks to a friend that I finally got around to watching it. Despite my tardiness, I still had a good deal of anticipation for what I was about to watch - the film's popularity fueling that more than anything else.

In regards to the cinematography, I felt that this was a vibrant and vivid film, despite its relatively simple style and visual design. I loved the use of colour, particularly the use of yellows and reds. The simplicity of the film shouldn't be misconstrued as laziness or dullness. On the contrary, it was a very satisfying film, from a visual perspective. I also wanted to note how good some of the framing was - there was one shot in particular, with the campervan up a slope in the background, which was particularly good, in that sense.

The story was unexpected, heartfelt, and delightfully amusing. The lighthearted comedy mixed with the darker, more adult, themes really worked for me. It added nuance and heart to an already immensely enjoyable comedy. The literal journey the family take served as an appropriate macguffin for the internal and interpersonal journeys they each took as characters. It was a wonderful and emotive story with a lot to take from it.

Abigail Breslin, who was, of course, very young at the time, gave one of her career best performances as the lovable, hopeful, and eternally endearing youngest child of the family. Her charismatic and adorable acting played a huge role in producing the heart and joy that this film thrived upon. I found it very impressive seeing how much personality Breslin was able to express. I honestly thought she was a treasure.

Steve Carell may have toned down his silly side just a bit for this performance, but I really think it served him well. Much like fellow comedy mainstay Jim Carrey, Carell can turn up his more dramatic and serious notes when its needed. He still had plenty of humour and silliness to show, but it was in a more measured way that I for one enjoyed thoroughly.

Toni Collette and Greg Kinnear did a very good job of playing the roles of two stressed and struggling parents who are trying to make their way through the world as providers for those around them. I really liked how they expressed the vast differences between their two characters, it made for some riveting interactions. I thought Collette was especially good, and even more so in the final thirty minutes of the film.

Finally, I really loved the acting of both Paul Dano and Alan Arkin in their respective supporting roles. Dano has long been a favourite actor of mine - I find him to be extremely versatile and often criminally underrated. This was another entertaining and unique performance from him. I am less familiar with Arkin, but I found his acting extremely humourous, and a lot more endearing than I anticipated. His wholesome chemistry with the young Breslin was very sweet to watch.

Overall, I am so glad that I finally got around to watching this film, it was a true delight from start to finish. It made me smile just about the whole way through, albeit with the odd teary eye sprinkled amongst it. It was so full of heart and joy, I absolutely adored it. It's one of those films that really does have to be watched at least once. I will certainly be rewatching it down the road. It's too good not to.