"...she eats ice cream!"

Talk about your dysfits. We just viewed the DVD for "Little Miss Sunshine" and I laughed and cried so hard. This eccentric, dysfunctional movie was a treasure.
And I related to it in most unusual ways that I am hard pressed to articulate. The writing, the casting, the direction were worth every award it has garnered and then some. For those that haven't seen this film, it is quirky and not a typical family film. For me, this film is a wonderful family film the way that "Harold and Maude" was a wonderful love story.

As much as I adore Alan Arkin,I think Steve Carrell should have won for Best Supporting Actor. And Abigail Breslin is a gem. My heart went out to Abigail's character, Olive as she wrestled with being herself and what makes her happy versus what she sees around her or is told is the norm. Olive is genuinely happy with herself and with life.

Abigail has worked very hard and has her mind and heart set on winning Little Miss Sunshine contest. When ordering a breakfast she learns what ala mode is and orders her waffles with ice cream until her daddy cautions his round-faced daughter about not getting fat. "Do you think Miss California is more skinny or is she more fat?" "Skinny, I guess."
"That's because I bet she doesn't eat ice cream." The father was implying that she would not be as beautiful if she got 'fat.' When the family (amazingly) arrives for the competition, Olive's role model, Miss California is there autographing photos. Olive ingenuously asks her if she eats ice cream. And slim Miss California tell her that her favorite flavor is Chocolate Cherry Garcia--although it is probably a frozen yogurt. As a beaming Olive turns to leave to prepare for the contest, she says to her mother, "She eats ice cream."

Thank you.
And so do I.