...a continuously engrossing endeavor that gets off to a memorable (and instantly-captivating) start...

| Original Score: 4/4 | Jul 3, 2023

The best film of 2006.

| Original Score: 3.5/4.0 | Sep 14, 2020

The most unlikely (and effective) feelgood movie you might ever see.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Aug 11, 2020

The movie hearkens back to the best of 1970s comedies like Michael Ritchie's Smile.

| May 12, 2020

First-time screenwriter Michael Arndt's script hits all the right notes, with a first-rate cast that makes this among the year's very best films.

| Nov 20, 2019

Little Miss Sunshine is one of the film festival gems that is just as smart and funny so many years later.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Jul 26, 2019

Like a little ray of sunshine in a world of bland, boring, reheated movies that clog up the arteries of our nation's theaters.

| Original Score: 4/4 | Jun 5, 2019

The best thing about American cinema is that besides the studio-assembled big ticket movies, there's also the flourishing indie film movement which keeps throwing up some delightfully refreshing movies.

| Original Score: 3/4 | Jan 24, 2019

The film is strictly paint by numbers, although in a slick and polished way. You barely notice you're being manipulated.

| Aug 23, 2017

Sentimental low points and contrived idiosyncrasies aside, Little Miss Sunshine still boasts wonderful performances, a cheeky sense of humor and an original story.

| Aug 4, 2013

An achingly deliberately madcap family adventure that skates by thinly on the collective charms of its ensemble cast.

| May 15, 2012

While the screenplay is impressive and deserving of its recognition, it is Alan Arkin's performance-of-a-lifetime that separates this from other well-written small movies.

| Original Score: 86/100 | Oct 1, 2009

Harmless enough as passable road movies go, but I can't help but wish directors of films like these would grow some damn balls.

| Original Score: 48/100 | Sep 19, 2009

Sundance-calibrated sitcom

| Aug 30, 2009

I loved it, every bit of it.

| Original Score: 3.5/4 | Apr 29, 2009

Like little kids spouting dirty words in certain comedies, this film from first-time directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris undermines the subversive with the self-conscious. But it's still funny.

| Original Score: 2.5/4 | Apr 23, 2009

...mediocre black comedy.

| Original Score: C+ | Apr 21, 2009

This inspirational, hilariously sad dysfunctional-family-road-trip dramedy offers absolutely everything -- except pretension.

| Original Score: 5/5 | Nov 20, 2008

A few touching and surprising moments aside, it all feels a little prefab, with family dysfunction as the indie version of a high concept.

| Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 7, 2008

Writer Michael Arndt has cleverly captured the bribery and corruption which lie at the heart of most families.

| Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 13, 2008