Rest in peace, Alan Arkin. He was only in about 15 minutes of the film, yet he still gave a memorable performance. I love how he assures Olive that she's beautiful when she's feeling insecure.
During the scene with Abigail where she cries in the hotel room, he immediately yelled cut concerned about her, until she explained that she was acting, which cracked him up. He made certain that during the scene in the van where he used the colorful language, that Abigail's headphones were turned up so she couldn't hear and would check before each take. At the world premiere, he asked her mother to take her out of the theater at that scene as well.
My favorite Alan Arkin movie would have to be Freebie and the Bean with him and James Caan. A black comedy action movie. The movie set to formula for other action comedies like Lethal weapon, Beverly Hill's Cop, 48 hours etc.
@@osmanyousif7849 Oh damn, that's who Eddie lost to? He was fantastic in Dreamgirls, I remember being really disappointed. I don't think I'd seen LMS yet.
The irony of the finale is is painfully accurate. The (in-film) audience claps and cheers for the sexualized children in skin tight clothing, but when Olive performs a completely sexless burlesque routine, that's when they act offended. Completely backwards, but totally real to life.
Not sure if this was completely true, but apparently the dance was suppose to be more crude, with a pole involved, but the studio and creators thought that's going a bit too far so tried to keep the dance more "tamed". But considering what you mentioned I'd argue, that should've been the whole point.
@@cheebees, that’s not what I’m saying. Children obviously shouldn’t be sexualize, but I do believe that there’s a right and wrong way to go about it. Like that would controversy with Cuties, which I believe is justified. Not only was that movie awful, but in comparison to Little Miss Sunshine, the main difference between the two is the fact that Cuties tried so hard to be a drama movie with something to say, but ended up doing the thing it was trying to criticize, therefore failing to do so.
Yes, well said. The real perverse, toxic-culturally-accepted shit they were fine with, but a girl's innocent dance with "bad" moves offended them because it was "bad."
Paul Dano is fantastic in this movie, using just his facial expressions most of the time. My heart breaks for him when he discovers that he can't be a pilot, and has to be calmed down by his little sister.
Olive: I'd like to dedicate this to my grandpa, who showed me these moves. Pageant MC: Aww, that is so sweet. Is he here? Where's your grandpa right now? Olive: In the trunk of our car.
The Hoovers are the epitome of dysfunctional, and don't really like each other all that much, they will stop at nothing to ensure that Olive makes it to the titular pageant. She's like sunshine in between clouds of rain, and Abigail Breslin deservedly got an Oscar nomination.
“A real loser is someone who’s so afraid of not winning, they don’t even try.” That’s the beauty of it all, putting your best efforts in life. Even after going through the toughest times, you can still look back and be proud of putting up with the challenges.
Fun Fact: Creepy guy was actually a long suffering beauty queen Dad, not a random dude watching kids in swimsuits. I'll also add that I love that Olive is basically the glue for the family. Everything is going to hell, but her optimism and gentle spirit pulls everyone up when they need it most. I mean notice how she is the only one that Dwayne doesn't lash out at when he snaps and she's the one who gets him back to the van with a simple hug. Damnit, who's cutting onions. So glad you reacted to this movie because it doesn't get the attention it deserves. So well written, such great actors, so funny, so much love.
Yay! Glad you loved it. This movie never gets old. It came out like 17 years ago, and will still be totally rewatchable and relatable decades from now! :-)
Alan Arkin was such a sweet man. During the scene with Abigail where she cries in the hotel room, he immediately yelled cut concerned about her, until she explained that she was acting, which cracked him up. He made certain that during the scene in the van where he used the colorful language, that Abigail's headphones were turned up so she couldn't hear and would check before each take. At the world premiere, he asked her mother to take her out of the theater at that scene as well.
I absolutely love Alan Arkin. Anyone wanting to see him in his prime, and at his best, should watch the great comedy “The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming” from 1966. It’s a forgotten gem of a film.
I keep discovering new things I like about this movie. This viewing it was appreciating Frank's line near the end, "I think we can live with that." Delivered perfectly by a formerly suicidal character, it's a nice choice of words that summarizes the story arc of the entire family, collectively and as individuals. Great reaction! Thanks, Cassie!
Little Miss Sunshine was absolutely brilliant. I can watch it time after time. The acting, the story, the comedy, the tragedies. I was so happy how it portrayed the absolutely disgusting child beauty pageant scene. I recently watched this with my oldest daughter, and she loved it too.Every character was so well portrayed. Love this movie with all my heart.
21:55 "How can this movie be so funny but so sad?" Because of everything you said in your post reaction analysis. This is an absolutely brilliant gem about a dysfunctional family that learns to love & support each other by the end. Plus the social satire in this movie is so incredibly funny. Adorable little Olive and her quest to win the pageant is the binding force that makes it all happen. Her pageant performance was a brutally honest satire of what makes those children's pageants so very cringe worthy to begin with.
I was gonna suggest "Muriel's Wedding" also. Toni Collette has been in so many mainstream American movies since then, it is so easy to forget she is actually Australian. And Muriel's Wedding is a gem.
@@ragdaj It's like a culture shock travelogue with a dash of droll situational comedy. It's not even particularly traditionally "romantic" because Coppola keeps the relationship level of the protagonists rather vague.
Marcel Proust was a French author in the early 20th century. His novel Remembrance of Things Past is considered one of the greatest novels of all time, and one of the longest. EDIT: I should note that as far as being a Proust scholar, Proust might be remembered for writing that one novel, but you really could spend your whole life and career studying it.
The 9 steps in "Little Miss Sunshine" are hilarious and a little over the top! Here they are: Leaving Loserhood (basically, moving on from your past failures) Aspiration, Inspiration, Perspiration (basically, working hard and staying motivated) No Hocus Pocus, Just Focus (don't waste time on magic or distractions) Say No to the Negheads (don't let negative people bring you down) Good Enough is Never Good Enough (always strive for excellence) Trust and Be Trusted (build relationships based on trust) Think Big. Act Big... Be Big (go for big dreams and goals) Reject Rejection (don't let rejection hold you back) Have a Great Time (pretty self-explanatory!)
This is honestly one of the sweetest movies I've ever seen. I just love the part when the whole family jumps on the stage and start dancing together with Olive as all the stuck-up people get mad lol. During their most difficult moments they all supported each other and that's what family is all about.
Thanks for the reaction and upload. What a wonderful movie. Seen it a couple of times. A lovely Road Trip with so many unique and colourful characters. Great balance between drama and comedy. All actors here - even the small roles - doing a great job. In the end it's all about family. And no matter what - everybody has each others backs when the going gets though. Loved it. For me the young Paul Dano stands out here, brillant in many roles like "There Will Be Blood", "12 Years A Slave", "Love And Mercy" and crazy good in "Prisoners" with Hugh Jackman.
Cassie, Nietzsche was a 19th Century German philosopher. Frank used Nietzschean philosophy with his suffering monologue to get through to Duane. He knew how to reach him
The power of film and music. This instantly took me back nearly twenty years to seeing this movie with a special lady, at a beautiful, old fashioned art house theater. This song that starts the film "Devotchka - Already Gone" is a hallmark of a very special time.
So many wonderful scenes in this movie that don't get enough attention. The family working together to help Olive ignore Richard, with Dwayne playfully teasing her to convince her to have the ice cream after her dad tries to manipulate her, and Dwayne shooting the straw wrapper at him. That is topped by Miss California confirming she loves ice cream to help her(and being one of the few who loves Olive's act). The grandfather telling Richard how he's proud of him taking a chance is a sweet scene. Loved Alan Arkin. Such an amazing actor and the perfect crotchety old man. And him giving Olive the pep talk when she's afraid her dad will hate her if she's a loser. RIP. Dwayne breaking down and then Olive just sitting and hugging him being enough to convince him to get up is sweet. He never said he hated her, he only yelled insults at the three adults(Divorc(mom), Bankrupt(dad), suicide(Uncle Frank). Fun fact: This movie was being filmed before "the Office"came out and Steve Carell was relatively unknown before then. But stuff went together so this movie came out AFTER "the Office"started, so it might have helped it some!
I'll add in a kudos for Alan Arkin. He MADE this movie. He passed away a few months ago at 89. He was still making movies. Abigail Breslin was Mel Gibson's daughter in 'Signs'. This was Steve Carrell's first major role - he filmed it before The 40 Year Old Virgin and The Office, although both were released before it. The studio was concerned he wasn't a big enough name for marketing purposes, but then pushed for him as "The Star" during promotions.
Hi Cassie...the best of your genre 😁Just wanted to make some movie suggestions. I'm too lazy to check the list right now but here goes... The Outsiders - This one has a very young Tom Cruise & Patrick Swayze Rounders - Starring Matt Damon and Edward Norton The Devil's Own - This film has two of your favorite actors in it...Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt Tango & Cash - A buddy cop action comedy film starring Kurt Russell and Sylvester Stallone Before Sunrise - romantic-drama starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy Lars and the Real Girl - A weird love story but very touching and original starring Ryan Gosling
Glad you enjoyed it, I have loved this movie for a long time. I actually feel it has improved with time. It's such a strongly written film with great performances from literally all the main cast. It feels real and the cast had such great chemistry together. Abigail Breslin was adorable as well and that scene with her grandpa where he tells her how great she is is really touching. A very charming film with a lot of heart to it. Since I'm watching Breaking Bad again, I love that both Walter White and Hank are in the movie. 😂
I was already highly entertained, but I absolutely DIED when "Super Freak" came on, LOL. Great movie with an amazing cast, especially Alan Arkin. I was so bummed he wasn't in the whole movie.
As many times as I've seen this movie, watching it along with you was even more enjoyable than the first time I saw it. By the time we got to Olive's dance in the talent competition, I was laughing so hard I was crying. Your reaction was really priceless! This movie made me realize long ago how much better independent films can be. Some of them are much more creative than the mainstream blockbuster movies, and they seem to attract such talented actors. RIP Alan Arkin. His Academy Award was so well deserved in a role that captured him on film for only 15 minutes. That's some great acting from him as well as the rest of the cast. Thanks again, Cassie, for bringing me to tears laughing so hard during a time when the news around the world gives us so little to even smile about. Happy Holidays!
My impression when I saw this was that for all the contest people were scandalized by Olive's performance, it was less exploitive than what the other girls were doing.
you have this uncanny ability to make me cry at movie reactions when, with any other reactor I would barely shed a tear. thanks for this. Little Miss Sunshine is one of my favorite movies of all time and Olive is my favorite character. I enjoyed watching this one with you for sure! 😃
This movie has a beauty, depth, and warmth that is so earnest and sincere. It couldn't have been cast any better. I wish there was this much originality in cinema these days.
I remember watching this with my daughters in a really nice hotel in Boston. We were laughing so hard at the dance sequence that hotel security came and knocked on our room to tell us to hold it down. It wasn't even late night but we couldn't stop laughing. Good memory.
Another real hidden Gem, "The Boys in Company C" (1978). A "TRUE" story. Also the 1st movie R. Lee Ermey plays his famous role as a Drill Instructor. (Made most known in Full Metal Jacket) This movie will make you laugh, proud, cheer, and cry. NOBODY has done a review on it yet. PLEASE be the First!!
I first watched this movie during the media criticism class when I was in the university during the late 2000s. Easily became one of my all-time favorites. Also, the soundtrack. So good.
A great film with a terrific ensemble cast. Alan Arkin emerges as my favorite of the characters. My two favorite scenes of his are first, when he’s telling Dwayne not to do drugs as he’s young and it would be crazy for him to do that yet defends his own drug use by saying he’s old, thus it’d be crazy for him NOT to do that. And second, when he assures Olive’s fears of being a loser by pointing out she’s trying, which means she’s not a loser.
😊 My favorite scenes with him as well. The Family tree is a little hard to pick up on, Dwayne is Sheryl's kid from a previous marriage (early on, she references Dwayne spending time with his dad elsewhere), so that's why Grandpa isn't sure of his name...😉. And I love how he (Grandpa) takes his strong feelings about everything, including child beauty pageants I'm sure, and sets his granddaughter up to do a stripper routine to "Superfreak" 😂 I agree with you that the family will be alright in the end. They must! They are all so wonderfully weird. 😊
Love this movie! And very happy to see you liked it, too! Also, fwiw, 2 films I think you might enjoy... 1) About a Boy (not quite as quirky, but similar-ish tone? also has Toni Collette!) 2) Grosse Point Blank (a rom com w/ John Cusack playing a hitman going to his high school reunion)
Beautiful reaction, Cassie. You summarized it perfectly. It is charming, sad, delightful, tragic and beautiful. Which is what life is all about. No matter what obstacles this family faces they stick together and overcome it. The expression on your face during Olive's act, was delightful. It is always good to see you laugh. Keep 'em coming!
When I'm sad, I always rewatch this movie - no matter how their lives get worse and worse, they remain a family, and I am happier every new second of this film.) And of course, the musical accompaniment is simply incredible, creating an atmosphere of inevitable hopelessness? But also unlimited happiness in this hopelessness)
I love this movie. Any movie that makes you laugh and cry in equal measure is almost always my favourites. They feel so human in a way. Like someone else suggested, ‘Lars and the Real Girl’ with Ryan Gosling is one of those movies. ‘Lost In Translation’ is another. ‘Garden State’, ‘Beautiful Girls’ and ‘Almost Famous’ which could very well be my absolute favourite of all time. Thanks for this one Cassie 👍
I love the realistic ending of the movie. They family grew closer and realized some important things, but not all of their problems were solved. Grandpa died. Olive lost the beauty pageant. Dwayne is color-blind and will have to figure out the rest of his life now. Frank is fresh off a suicide attempt, is effectively homeless, and depending on what kind of scene he made, will probably have a hard time getting another job in academics. And Richard is still bankrupt with no identified way to support his family. But they have just a little more hope now that maybe--POSSIBLY--they just might be okay somehow. It's so simple yet so beautiful.
You Are the Sunshine of My Life - Stevie Wonder Good Day Sunshine - The Beatles Sunshine of Your love - Cream Ain't No Sunshine (When She's Gone) - Bill Withers You Are My Sunshine, My Only Sunshine
A personal fave of mine - so glad you got to this Cass - I knew you'd dig it - it has literally everything in this movie that you want - stacked cast, heart and heartbreak and every human emotion under the sun. A gem indeed.
FYI, You can't get a pilot's license if you are color blind. On the right wing it is a green light and on the left is a red light. At night when it is pitch black, this will help you determine if a plane is heading at you or not. Also, if your radio is out, the tower can flash lights to give you visual signals.
I work in a psych ward and even though it can be really tough sometimes, one of the most touching things I consistently see is how older patients will pull together to offer support and encouragement to a younger patient. I see that so much in the character of Frank here and how he gets a new lease on life by helping Olive and Dwayne. And what an amazing and believable character arc Richard gets -- he goes from the world's most slappable guy to a genuinely good dad! This movie always gets me.
This is in my top 10 of the best movies of all time. When you said you expected this to be a "fun, funny film" I was like oh boy... who in the world told her this was light & funny..? I mean, the humor is definitely there, but I knew you're gonna cry HARD on this one. One of the best roles for Steve Carrell, too. He was amazing. The overall casting is just top notch.
Did you really ask, "Who is Nietztsche?" Friedrich Nietzsche is the father of modern analytical psychology and believed humans should focus upon self-realization above all else. I recommend his book Beyond Good and Evil. He hugely influenced Sigmund Freud although Freud went on to develop his own unique psychology theories based mostly upon sex and ego.
Now THIS is the kind of movie I want to see on this channel - special, out of the ordinary, smart, powerful little films that get overlooked by the torrent of Marvel nonsense.
@@ct6852 oh man, a very quirky comedy Napoleon Dynamite (2004), a couple delightful and sweet foreign ones would be Amelie (French), Shall We Dance (Japanese), Cold Comfort Farm (British); powerful dramas would be Ordinary People (1980), Secrets and Lies (British), Man On Fire (Denzel, violent but so moving), some very interesting tiny-budget thought provoking thrillers like Pi (1998) and Primer (2004), just for starters!
Indeed a nice flick, for crying and laughing at the same time.... another gem is... "Captain Fantastic", a comedy-drama starring "Aragorn" Viggo Mortensen. Nietzsche was a German philosopher, essayist, and cultural critic. His writings on truth, morality, language, aesthetics, cultural theory, history, nihilism, power, consciousness, and the meaning of existence have exerted an enormous influence on Western philosophy and intellectual history. His philosophy is mainly referred to as “existentialism”, a famous twentieth century philosophy focusing on man's existential situation. In his works, Nietzsche questioned the basis of good and evil. He believed that heaven was an unreal place or “the world of ideas”. “God Is Dead, and We Have Killed Him.” One of Friedrich Nietzsche's most famous quotes concerns religion and the development of a secular society in Europe. “God is dead, and we have killed him,” is one of Friedrich Nietzsche's most provocative claims. Nietzsche's problem then was the same as that of the religion he despised: how to overcome this nihilism. How can one come to affirm life in the face of suffering and meaninglessness? Among philosophers, Friedrich Nietzsche is most often associated with nihilism. For Nietzsche, there is no objective order or structure in the world except what we give it. Penetrating the façades buttressing convictions, the nihilist discovers that all values are baseless and that reason is impotent.
Alan Arkin directed the first Broadway show I ever saw, which was coincidentally entitled The Sunshine Boys. And the moment in this movie that destroyed me was that little note in the hospital, "Go hug Mom."
Since Frank was written as a sarcastic character, Bill Murray was considered for the part. The film makers however wanted to cast an unknown actor at the time, so they casted Steve Carell for the role of Frank.
"Sunshine" from Nazareth was one of the first songs I heard in my life. My dad had a cassette with 4 Nazareth songs recorded from radio. It still is one my favorite guitar solos. More recently I got to know "Sunshine" by Gun and it became one of my favorites too. "The sun shines brightly everyday Let it shine Let it shine When you see me please be kind Please be kind Please be kind"
It is one of the funniest comedies ever, but incredibly earnest and heartfelt. It's one of those movies that just yanks empathy from you and makes you love all the characters, especially Olive. There is so much cynicism in comedy these days and I think that's one reason why this movie always seems so fresh and wonderful.
She really was the Sunshine in their lives. Sometimes all it takes is one little angel in the family to bring everyone together, no matter how dysfunctional and unhappy the family is.
I know reading suggestions are in the comments are basically dime a dozen, but my two cents - Steve Carell is in The Way Way Back, another indie, coming of age film that's really great.
Rest in peace, Alan Arkin. He was only in about 15 minutes of the film, yet he still gave a memorable performance. I love how he assures Olive that she's beautiful when she's feeling insecure.
Do you remember Alan Arkin in "Wait Until Dark" with Audrey Hepburn?
The movie takes a turn when it unexpectedly turns into Weekend At Bernie’s
During the scene with Abigail where she cries in the hotel room, he immediately yelled cut concerned about her, until she explained that she was acting, which cracked him up. He made certain that during the scene in the van where he used the colorful language, that Abigail's headphones were turned up so she couldn't hear and would check before each take. At the world premiere, he asked her mother to take her out of the theater at that scene as well.
Alan Arkin was such an unrated actor. My favorite of his was “Coupe de Ville.”
My favorite Alan Arkin movie would have to be Freebie and the Bean with him and James Caan. A black comedy action movie.
The movie set to formula for other action comedies like Lethal weapon, Beverly Hill's Cop, 48 hours etc.
RIP, Alan Arkin. 1934-2023. He made this movie hilarious.
He took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor.
Ehh, I love the dude, but Eddie Murphy deserved it more for Dreamgirls.
Loved Arkin in this movie.
@@osmanyousif7849 Oh damn, that's who Eddie lost to? He was fantastic in Dreamgirls, I remember being really disappointed. I don't think I'd seen LMS yet.
Eddie got robbed.
I always thought he was a brilliant actor, loved him in "So I Married An Axe Murderer" another small but very funny part.
The irony of the finale is is painfully accurate. The (in-film) audience claps and cheers for the sexualized children in skin tight clothing, but when Olive performs a completely sexless burlesque routine, that's when they act offended. Completely backwards, but totally real to life.
That's such a great comment. I never thought of that.
Not sure if this was completely true, but apparently the dance was suppose to be more crude, with a pole involved, but the studio and creators thought that's going a bit too far so tried to keep the dance more "tamed". But considering what you mentioned I'd argue, that should've been the whole point.
@@osmanyousif7849 yes, lets subject child actors to do those things because we need to prove a point in a movie made to make money?
@@cheebees, that’s not what I’m saying. Children obviously shouldn’t be sexualize, but I do believe that there’s a right and wrong way to go about it. Like that would controversy with Cuties, which I believe is justified. Not only was that movie awful, but in comparison to Little Miss Sunshine, the main difference between the two is the fact that Cuties tried so hard to be a drama movie with something to say, but ended up doing the thing it was trying to criticize, therefore failing to do so.
Yes, well said. The real perverse, toxic-culturally-accepted shit they were fine with, but a girl's innocent dance with "bad" moves offended them because it was "bad."
"How can this movie be so funny but so sad?"
That's pretty much what life is.
So true!
you are resolve the life enigma...
goya for the win
yeah, welcome to indie films cassie :)
Well said. ❤
Paul Dano is fantastic in this movie, using just his facial expressions most of the time. My heart breaks for him when he discovers that he can't be a pilot, and has to be calmed down by his little sister.
He was great in "Let There Be Blood" with Daniel Day Lewis as well.
@TLL1969 I think his stand out performance was in the movie Prisoners. Truly fantastic acting.
@@evo1h That is one I haven't seen yet. I'll have to check it out.
There Will Be Blood, not "Let There"@@TLL1969
Paul Dano and Daniel Radcliff (Harry Potter) in "Swiss Army Man". :D
Olive: I'd like to dedicate this to my grandpa, who showed me these moves.
Pageant MC: Aww, that is so sweet. Is he here? Where's your grandpa right now?
Olive: In the trunk of our car.
😂💛
Lmaoo
Best line in the movie
Love that her family got on stage to choose to create a memory rather than shame her,it was the best part.
And that is exactly what grandpa would have wanted
The Hoovers are the epitome of dysfunctional, and don't really like each other all that much, they will stop at nothing to ensure that Olive makes it to the titular pageant. She's like sunshine in between clouds of rain, and Abigail Breslin deservedly got an Oscar nomination.
She should have won.
“A real loser is someone who’s so afraid of not winning, they don’t even try.” That’s the beauty of it all, putting your best efforts in life. Even after going through the toughest times, you can still look back and be proud of putting up with the challenges.
I am a forty year old dude and little miss sunshine is one of my all time favorites. So much heart and laughter. Its just perfect.
Fun Fact: Creepy guy was actually a long suffering beauty queen Dad, not a random dude watching kids in swimsuits.
I'll also add that I love that Olive is basically the glue for the family. Everything is going to hell, but her optimism and gentle spirit pulls everyone up when they need it most. I mean notice how she is the only one that Dwayne doesn't lash out at when he snaps and she's the one who gets him back to the van with a simple hug. Damnit, who's cutting onions.
So glad you reacted to this movie because it doesn't get the attention it deserves. So well written, such great actors, so funny, so much love.
That's good to know about the denim cutoff dad. Definitely a side eye moment.
Interesting, didn't realize that about denim cut off dude.
She's the only one that everyone in the family loves unconditionally.
That is a relief! I was worried he was like a casually implied sex-offender.
wow super fun fact! 😐
Yay! Glad you loved it. This movie never gets old. It came out like 17 years ago, and will still be totally rewatchable and relatable decades from now! :-)
Oh man. You just made me feel really old. I watched it in a tiny art house theater and didn’t realize it’s been that long.
Thanks, it's been a couple of days since I had an existential crisis 😅😆
I love that the Miss California character is so supportive. That is how people should be
"Is that Paul...? or Dan??" is a great way to try to remember Paul Dano
I thought he was Dannor Paulo. lol
I had this same thought; I’ll never forget his name again
Alan Arkin was such a sweet man. During the scene with Abigail where she cries in the hotel room, he immediately yelled cut concerned about her, until she explained that she was acting, which cracked him up. He made certain that during the scene in the van where he used the colorful language, that Abigail's headphones were turned up so she couldn't hear and would check before each take. At the world premiere, he asked her mother to take her out of the theater at that scene as well.
Didn’t know that man. Thanks for the info. ❤
I absolutely love Alan Arkin. Anyone wanting to see him in his prime, and at his best, should watch the great comedy “The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming” from 1966. It’s a forgotten gem of a film.
@@maggieshevelew7579 Don't forget 'The Heart is a Lonely Hunter!"
@@maggieshevelew7579 And Catch-22, which is one of the weirdest comedies of all time.
He was very good in 'Catch 22' as well.
I love seeing you both crying and laughing at the same time to this. Not many movies can do that. Lovely reaction!!
I keep discovering new things I like about this movie. This viewing it was appreciating Frank's line near the end, "I think we can live with that." Delivered perfectly by a formerly suicidal character, it's a nice choice of words that summarizes the story arc of the entire family, collectively and as individuals. Great reaction! Thanks, Cassie!
Little Miss Sunshine was absolutely brilliant. I can watch it time after time. The acting, the story, the comedy, the tragedies. I was so happy how it portrayed the absolutely disgusting child beauty pageant scene. I recently watched this with my oldest daughter, and she loved it too.Every character was so well portrayed. Love this movie with all my heart.
RIP Alan Arkin (March 26, 1934 - June 29, 2023), age 89
You will be remembered as a legend.
I didn't know he died until reading these comments. Kinda bummed now. Always think of Edward Scissorhands. RIP.
I adore this movie. It's just so oddly endearing in so many ways.
21:55 "How can this movie be so funny but so sad?"
Because of everything you said in your post reaction analysis. This is an absolutely brilliant gem about a dysfunctional family that learns to love & support each other by the end. Plus the social satire in this movie is so incredibly funny.
Adorable little Olive and her quest to win the pageant is the binding force that makes it all happen. Her pageant performance was a brutally honest satire of what makes those children's pageants so very cringe worthy to begin with.
Yes true!
You hit the nail on the head when you said, "What a weirdly beautiful movie"!
Saw this in the movie theater and the crowd was in stitches during that dance.
The Mom played by Toni Collette breakthru role was 1994s Muriels Wedding. It is worth reacting to
That is a top ten movie for me. She’s incredible in it. Actually, there’s nothing Toni Collette can’t do. A living treasure.
You're terrible, Muriel. (Someone had to say it)
I know her mostly from her series, The United States of Tara. Where she has disassociate identity disorder.
@@darkwitnesslxx she was so good in the sixth sense too. And hereditary
I was gonna suggest "Muriel's Wedding" also. Toni Collette has been in so many mainstream American movies since then, it is so easy to forget she is actually Australian. And Muriel's Wedding is a gem.
Cassie, I believe you might like Secondhand Lions. Not a chick flick or romcom…but a good, uplifting, coming-of-age story.
I second this. Very good movie and worth a watch
YES!!!!
Yes👍👍🦁
WAY better than this pos.
Very good movie.
"Lost in Translation" is definitely a good indie film. "Chungking Express" is another great one. Very unique, very memorable.
Second the Lost in Translation recommendation for the channel. 👍
"lost in translation" is my favorite "romantic" movie, and I don't like romantic movies
@@ragdaj Almost think of it as like a 'coming of age' story. Or just a fish-out-of water travel story.
@@ragdaj It's like a culture shock travelogue with a dash of droll situational comedy. It's not even particularly traditionally "romantic" because Coppola keeps the relationship level of the protagonists rather vague.
Yes! Bill Murray and Scarlett Johanson are MAGIC in that film.
Marcel Proust was a French author in the early 20th century. His novel Remembrance of Things Past is considered one of the greatest novels of all time, and one of the longest.
EDIT: I should note that as far as being a Proust scholar, Proust might be remembered for writing that one novel, but you really could spend your whole life and career studying it.
The 9 steps in "Little Miss Sunshine" are hilarious and a little over the top! Here they are:
Leaving Loserhood (basically, moving on from your past failures)
Aspiration, Inspiration, Perspiration (basically, working hard and staying motivated)
No Hocus Pocus, Just Focus (don't waste time on magic or distractions)
Say No to the Negheads (don't let negative people bring you down)
Good Enough is Never Good Enough (always strive for excellence)
Trust and Be Trusted (build relationships based on trust)
Think Big. Act Big... Be Big (go for big dreams and goals)
Reject Rejection (don't let rejection hold you back)
Have a Great Time (pretty self-explanatory!)
Have a Great Day would've been pretty good. Reject Rejection is kinda hilarious.
This is honestly one of the sweetest movies I've ever seen. I just love the part when the whole family jumps on the stage and start dancing together with Olive as all the stuck-up people get mad lol. During their most difficult moments they all supported each other and that's what family is all about.
I don't usually like reaction videos, but yours are so honest, and you're such a sweet soul that I feel calm after every video.
Thanks for the reaction and upload. What a wonderful movie. Seen it a couple of times. A lovely Road Trip with so many unique and colourful characters. Great balance between drama and comedy. All actors here - even the small roles - doing a great job. In the end it's all about family. And no matter what - everybody has each others backs when the going gets though. Loved it. For me the young Paul Dano stands out here, brillant in many roles like "There Will Be Blood", "12 Years A Slave", "Love And Mercy" and crazy good in "Prisoners" with Hugh Jackman.
Cassie, Nietzsche was a 19th Century German philosopher. Frank used Nietzschean philosophy with his suffering monologue to get through to Duane. He knew how to reach him
Now tell her who Proust was.
That's interesting. I never realised that. Thanks for sharing
I think the best scene in this is when Dwayne learns about 'colors' in the car.
The power of film and music. This instantly took me back nearly twenty years to seeing this movie with a special lady, at a beautiful, old fashioned art house theater. This song that starts the film "Devotchka - Already Gone" is a hallmark of a very special time.
So many wonderful scenes in this movie that don't get enough attention.
The family working together to help Olive ignore Richard, with Dwayne playfully teasing her to convince her to have the ice cream after her dad tries to manipulate her, and Dwayne shooting the straw wrapper at him. That is topped by Miss California confirming she loves ice cream to help her(and being one of the few who loves Olive's act).
The grandfather telling Richard how he's proud of him taking a chance is a sweet scene. Loved Alan Arkin. Such an amazing actor and the perfect crotchety old man. And him giving Olive the pep talk when she's afraid her dad will hate her if she's a loser. RIP.
Dwayne breaking down and then Olive just sitting and hugging him being enough to convince him to get up is sweet. He never said he hated her, he only yelled insults at the three adults(Divorc(mom), Bankrupt(dad), suicide(Uncle Frank).
Fun fact: This movie was being filmed before "the Office"came out and Steve Carell was relatively unknown before then. But stuff went together so this movie came out AFTER "the Office"started, so it might have helped it some!
I always liked how that mechanic gave it to em straight about being able to still go without needing the clutch
A superb reaction, and hearing Cassie say the emcee had a punchable face was perfectly surprising!
This is my go to movie when I feel down and need cheering up. It works everytime.
I'll add in a kudos for Alan Arkin. He MADE this movie. He passed away a few months ago at 89. He was still making movies.
Abigail Breslin was Mel Gibson's daughter in 'Signs'.
This was Steve Carrell's first major role - he filmed it before The 40 Year Old Virgin and The Office, although both were released before it. The studio was concerned he wasn't a big enough name for marketing purposes, but then pushed for him as "The Star" during promotions.
Hi Cassie...the best of your genre 😁Just wanted to make some movie suggestions. I'm too lazy to check the list right now but here goes...
The Outsiders - This one has a very young Tom Cruise & Patrick Swayze
Rounders - Starring Matt Damon and Edward Norton
The Devil's Own - This film has two of your favorite actors in it...Harrison Ford and Brad Pitt
Tango & Cash - A buddy cop action comedy film starring Kurt Russell and Sylvester Stallone
Before Sunrise - romantic-drama starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy
Lars and the Real Girl - A weird love story but very touching and original starring Ryan Gosling
Glad you enjoyed it, I have loved this movie for a long time. I actually feel it has improved with time. It's such a strongly written film with great performances from literally all the main cast.
It feels real and the cast had such great chemistry together. Abigail Breslin was adorable as well and that scene with her grandpa where he tells her how great she is is really touching. A very charming film with a lot of heart to it.
Since I'm watching Breaking Bad again, I love that both Walter White and Hank are in the movie. 😂
I was already highly entertained, but I absolutely DIED when "Super Freak" came on, LOL. Great movie with an amazing cast, especially Alan Arkin. I was so bummed he wasn't in the whole movie.
This will always be one of my favorite movies.
I like to think the cop finding the adult magazines and getting distracted was Grandpa looking after them from the beyond.
"I'm all hopped up on Mountain DEW!" Ricky Bobby's son at the dinner table.
As many times as I've seen this movie, watching it along with you was even more enjoyable than the first time I saw it. By the time we got to Olive's dance in the talent competition, I was laughing so hard I was crying. Your reaction was really priceless! This movie made me realize long ago how much better independent films can be. Some of them are much more creative than the mainstream blockbuster movies, and they seem to attract such talented actors. RIP Alan Arkin. His Academy Award was so well deserved in a role that captured him on film for only 15 minutes. That's some great acting from him as well as the rest of the cast. Thanks again, Cassie, for bringing me to tears laughing so hard during a time when the news around the world gives us so little to even smile about. Happy Holidays!
My impression when I saw this was that for all the contest people were scandalized by Olive's performance, it was less exploitive than what the other girls were doing.
you have this uncanny ability to make me cry at movie reactions when, with any other reactor I would barely shed a tear. thanks for this. Little Miss Sunshine is one of my favorite movies of all time and Olive is my favorite character. I enjoyed watching this one with you for sure! 😃
Yessssssss, it's one of my all-time favorites!!! 😍
Weirdly beautiful is a perfect description of this movie. It is insane, hilarious, heartbreaking, and wonderful all at once.
Drop Dead Gorgeous should be another beauty pageant movie to watch next.Unbelievably hilarious!
Yes 🎉 I love that movie
"who's nietzsche" is appalling
This movie has a beauty, depth, and warmth that is so earnest and sincere. It couldn't have been cast any better. I wish there was this much originality in cinema these days.
and ty for watching! its a perfect film. families are like that broken yellow van, everyone has to push together
I remember watching this with my daughters in a really nice hotel in Boston. We were laughing so hard at the dance sequence that hotel security came and knocked on our room to tell us to hold it down. It wasn't even late night but we couldn't stop laughing. Good memory.
Another real hidden Gem, "The Boys in Company C" (1978). A "TRUE" story. Also the 1st movie R. Lee Ermey plays his famous role as a Drill Instructor. (Made most known in Full Metal Jacket) This movie will make you laugh, proud, cheer, and cry. NOBODY has done a review on it yet. PLEASE be the First!!
"Hopped up on mountain dew" is that a Ricky Bobby reference and i think of "Steal my sunshine" by LEN when I think of songs associating lol
I first watched this movie during the media criticism class when I was in the university during the late 2000s. Easily became one of my all-time favorites. Also, the soundtrack. So good.
If you want another quirky/sad/funny/strangely heartwarming movie, I highly recommend Lars and the Real Girl.
GREAT movie.
Yea, it has the same feeling, like this :)
18:52 'We're doing a National Lampoon!' 🤣🤣🤣
This is one of my all time favorite movies ❤
A great film with a terrific ensemble cast. Alan Arkin emerges as my favorite of the characters. My two favorite scenes of his are first, when he’s telling Dwayne not to do drugs as he’s young and it would be crazy for him to do that yet defends his own drug use by saying he’s old, thus it’d be crazy for him NOT to do that. And second, when he assures Olive’s fears of being a loser by pointing out she’s trying, which means she’s not a loser.
RIP Alan Arkin…a great dramatic/comedic actor!
😊 My favorite scenes with him as well.
The Family tree is a little hard to pick up on, Dwayne is Sheryl's kid from a previous marriage (early on, she references Dwayne spending time with his dad elsewhere), so that's why Grandpa isn't sure of his name...😉.
And I love how he (Grandpa) takes his strong feelings about everything, including child beauty pageants I'm sure, and sets his granddaughter up to do a stripper routine to "Superfreak" 😂
I agree with you that the family will be alright in the end. They must! They are all so wonderfully weird. 😊
Love this movie! And very happy to see you liked it, too!
Also, fwiw, 2 films I think you might enjoy...
1) About a Boy (not quite as quirky, but similar-ish tone? also has Toni Collette!)
2) Grosse Point Blank (a rom com w/ John Cusack playing a hitman going to his high school reunion)
Beautiful reaction, Cassie. You summarized it perfectly. It is charming, sad, delightful, tragic and beautiful. Which is what life is all about.
No matter what obstacles this family faces they stick together and overcome it.
The expression on your face during Olive's act, was delightful.
It is always good to see you laugh. Keep 'em coming!
Alan Arkin was something else in this one, lol
Absolutely! Won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor!!
Asking someone else to go fetch your porn with zero shame is definitely a vibe. lol
@@charliegrifo9668 Admittedly I was rooting against him that year as my choice was Djimon Hounsou for Blood Diamond, but it is what it is
When I'm sad, I always rewatch this movie - no matter how their lives get worse and worse, they remain a family, and I am happier every new second of this film.) And of course, the musical accompaniment is simply incredible, creating an atmosphere of inevitable hopelessness? But also unlimited happiness in this hopelessness)
I love this movie. Any movie that makes you laugh and cry in equal measure is almost always my favourites. They feel so human in a way. Like someone else suggested, ‘Lars and the Real Girl’ with Ryan Gosling is one of those movies. ‘Lost In Translation’ is another. ‘Garden State’, ‘Beautiful Girls’ and ‘Almost Famous’ which could very well be my absolute favourite of all time. Thanks for this one Cassie 👍
Almost Famous is here on the channel if you haven't seen it.
I saw this when it came out in an indie movie theater and the crowd went wild during the dance number at the end.
Olive’s performance made the whole movie.
Definitely an unassuming gem. I watched it with zero expectations and was completely blown away. One of my favorite movies.
Great movie. Kind of family unifying experience that gets recalled for years at family get togethers. 😂
I love the realistic ending of the movie. They family grew closer and realized some important things, but not all of their problems were solved. Grandpa died. Olive lost the beauty pageant. Dwayne is color-blind and will have to figure out the rest of his life now. Frank is fresh off a suicide attempt, is effectively homeless, and depending on what kind of scene he made, will probably have a hard time getting another job in academics. And Richard is still bankrupt with no identified way to support his family. But they have just a little more hope now that maybe--POSSIBLY--they just might be okay somehow. It's so simple yet so beautiful.
what a great reaction, you picked up on the vibe of the movie so quickly
You Are the Sunshine of My Life - Stevie Wonder
Good Day Sunshine - The Beatles
Sunshine of Your love - Cream
Ain't No Sunshine (When She's Gone) - Bill Withers
You Are My Sunshine, My Only Sunshine
Not "hidden" at all. Critical darling, and Oscar nominated, audience favorite of the year.
I was so sad when Little Miss Sunshine lost the best picture Oscar to The Departed.
Abigail Breslin, who played Olive, also played the younger sister in the Zombieland movies.
Paul Dano was great performing with Danielle Radcliffe in another oddball film Swiss Army Man. I highly recommend.
A personal fave of mine - so glad you got to this Cass - I knew you'd dig it - it has literally everything in this movie that you want - stacked cast, heart and heartbreak and every human emotion under the sun. A gem indeed.
FYI, You can't get a pilot's license if you are color blind. On the right wing it is a green light and on the left is a red light. At night when it is pitch black, this will help you determine if a plane is heading at you or not. Also, if your radio is out, the tower can flash lights to give you visual signals.
30:59 - The song that stars here is brought back from the beginning of the film and is called “The Winner Is”- beautiful titling of a track.
I saw this movie when I was little kid and I loved it but it wasn’t till I was an adult that I realized just how great this movie really is.
I work in a psych ward and even though it can be really tough sometimes, one of the most touching things I consistently see is how older patients will pull together to offer support and encouragement to a younger patient. I see that so much in the character of Frank here and how he gets a new lease on life by helping Olive and Dwayne. And what an amazing and believable character arc Richard gets -- he goes from the world's most slappable guy to a genuinely good dad! This movie always gets me.
One of my true favorites.
This is in my top 10 of the best movies of all time. When you said you expected this to be a "fun, funny film" I was like oh boy... who in the world told her this was light & funny..? I mean, the humor is definitely there, but I knew you're gonna cry HARD on this one. One of the best roles for Steve Carrell, too. He was amazing. The overall casting is just top notch.
Did you really ask, "Who is Nietztsche?" Friedrich Nietzsche is the father of modern analytical psychology and believed humans should focus upon self-realization above all else. I recommend his book Beyond Good and Evil. He hugely influenced Sigmund Freud although Freud went on to develop his own unique psychology theories based mostly upon sex and ego.
🎶Sunshine on a rainy day, makes my soul, trip, trip, trip away 🎶
Proust was an early 20th Century French modernist writer, most known for his Rememberance of Time "series," most particularly the book "Swann's Way."
Nice summary. There are others: v=uwAOc4g3K-g
I always get choked up during the dance scene… the way they all get up there to support and protect Olive..❤
Now THIS is the kind of movie I want to see on this channel - special, out of the ordinary, smart, powerful little films that get overlooked by the torrent of Marvel nonsense.
Any suggestions for the channel?
@@ct6852 oh man, a very quirky comedy Napoleon Dynamite (2004), a couple delightful and sweet foreign ones would be Amelie (French), Shall We Dance (Japanese), Cold Comfort Farm (British); powerful dramas would be Ordinary People (1980), Secrets and Lies (British), Man On Fire (Denzel, violent but so moving), some very interesting tiny-budget thought provoking thrillers like Pi (1998) and Primer (2004), just for starters!
No need to be so dismissive. There's plenty of us who enjoy both.
@@marthapackard8649 Of course, fast food is very popular, doesn't mean it's good for you.
THIS MOVIE RULES.
Indeed a nice flick, for crying and laughing at the same time.... another gem is... "Captain Fantastic", a comedy-drama starring "Aragorn" Viggo Mortensen.
Nietzsche was a German philosopher, essayist, and cultural critic. His writings on truth, morality, language, aesthetics, cultural theory, history, nihilism, power, consciousness, and the meaning of existence have exerted an enormous influence on Western philosophy and intellectual history. His philosophy is mainly referred to as “existentialism”, a famous twentieth century philosophy focusing on man's existential situation. In his works, Nietzsche questioned the basis of good and evil. He believed that heaven was an unreal place or “the world of ideas”.
“God Is Dead, and We Have Killed Him.” One of Friedrich Nietzsche's most famous quotes concerns religion and the development of a secular society in Europe. “God is dead, and we have killed him,” is one of Friedrich Nietzsche's most provocative claims. Nietzsche's problem then was the same as that of the religion he despised: how to overcome this nihilism. How can one come to affirm life in the face of suffering and meaninglessness?
Among philosophers, Friedrich Nietzsche is most often associated with nihilism. For Nietzsche, there is no objective order or structure in the world except what we give it. Penetrating the façades buttressing convictions, the nihilist discovers that all values are baseless and that reason is impotent.
Captain Fantastic is an amazing amazing movie. Not enough people know about it.
Alan Arkin directed the first Broadway show I ever saw, which was coincidentally entitled The Sunshine Boys.
And the moment in this movie that destroyed me was that little note in the hospital, "Go hug Mom."
Since Frank was written as a sarcastic character, Bill Murray was considered for the part. The film makers however wanted to cast an unknown actor at the time, so they casted Steve Carell for the role of Frank.
Weird to think of Carell as unknown. But at the time he was pretty new to the game. I think he started on The Daily Show.
"Sunshine" from Nazareth was one of the first songs I heard in my life. My dad had a cassette with 4 Nazareth songs recorded from radio. It still is one my favorite guitar solos. More recently I got to know "Sunshine" by Gun and it became one of my favorites too.
"The sun shines brightly everyday
Let it shine
Let it shine
When you see me please be kind
Please be kind
Please be kind"
It is one of the funniest comedies ever, but incredibly earnest and heartfelt. It's one of those movies that just yanks empathy from you and makes you love all the characters, especially Olive. There is so much cynicism in comedy these days and I think that's one reason why this movie always seems so fresh and wonderful.
saw this on a flight years and years ago... one of the best movies
Napoleon Dynamite is a pretty good indie film, probably a precursor to little miss sunshine.
She really was the Sunshine in their lives. Sometimes all it takes is one little angel in the family to bring everyone together, no matter how dysfunctional and unhappy the family is.
I forgot how much I absolutely love DeVotchKa
I know reading suggestions are in the comments are basically dime a dozen, but my two cents - Steve Carell is in The Way Way Back, another indie, coming of age film that's really great.
That’s a lovely movie. And isn’t it Toni Collette again?
@@Divamarja_CA yes, it is!