Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

A fairly straightforward comedy about a fairly twisted extended family that fundamentally still loves each other. The ensemble cast interacts well together, albeit at times dysfunctionally. (The movie is rated R for language, drug use, and sexual content.) Each family member is messed up in their own way but approaches their individual peace while sticking together as a family during the road trip from hell. As for Steve Carell's character, I'd be depressed if I were the "foremost Proust scholar" too! Oddly enough, the most twisted part of this movie is the little girls' beauty pageant, where the "tarted up" artificial Barbie dolls are seen as normal. 4.5 stars.