since we are devoting a thread to an admittedly B movie any way you look at it ( ie: Snakes on a Plane) allow me to start a thread on one of the best films out there right now. Dale?
M
I haven’t a clue as to what that movie is about, but the way they all run and jump into the van on the commercials looks pretty fun.
And why don’t we see Pollyanna anymore? That was a great movie.
Little Miss Sunshine. Saw it last night. Very good.
It’s about a patched-together families of screwed-up failures pulling together to get the seven year old daughter (who isn’t pageant material,) to a pageant–her dream.
The screw-ups never triumph, in the usual sense, but, with great humor, the film respects the value of its characters’ lives and, by extension, the lives of the rest of us screw-ups.
(El esposo, btw, was not as enchanted. No helicopters or Matlock.)
i saw it last weekend and am still laughing. this is only the second film that i’ve seen where people in the audience clapped and they/we clapped throughout the movie. i don’t want to give anything away but i will say that i don’t think this movie is for everyone.
My wife and I saw this movie last night, and folks clapped and cried (not necessarily simultaneously though) during it. Great movie. At one point, I laughed so hard I cried which hasn’t happened in quite some time at a movie.
Go see it…
Eric
So did anyone see this who didn’t like it? Reasons why not?
I ask because I’m a bit iffy about going to see this one, as Arkin is one of those people who sets my teeth on edge instead of coming across as funny.
djm
dear djm:
you should maybe pass on this movie.
I couldn’t recommend the movie highly enough.
Just go with an open mind.
M
Why not, Mary? Do you mean that you couldn’t recommend the movie highly enough to justify anyone else going to see it? “Go, see it”, seems less ambivalent to me. 
I plan to see the movie this weekend regardless of Mary’s less than stellar recommendation. Here is a local link for anyone who may be interested.
movie review
I guess that’s what I meant.
I recommend it. Highly.
OK? 
M
I knew what you meant, Mary. The acceptable form of speech where the negative is used to express the positive always seems problematic to me. But, then again, I seem to be out in left field most of the time anyway. 
My woman friend told me tonight that she wants to take the three grandkids to the see the movie with us, but I see that “Little Miss Sunshine” has an R rating (not sure why). For those who have seen the movie I am curious as to whether there is anything in the movie that wouldn’t be appropriate for children. The children’s ages are 5, 9, and 13.
But, then again, I seem to be out in left field most of the time anyway.
Whenever I try that, security removes me from the ballpark…
F*** is uttered with great frequency, by several characters, one of whom makes numerous unsubtle references to sexual conquests. That’s all I can say without giving something away. I think I would skip it for the 5 and 9 year olds.
Me too. It has a lot of heart and honesty, and might make you think about a few things (rare in most mainstream movies). And it’s funny as hell, without being like a sitcom (full of setups and gags). Excellent, understated acting from all the main characters. It’s great to see with a lot of folks in a theater, the place was roaring! The characters are presented “warts and all,” if you don’t like straightforward depictions of flawed people, it might make you uncomfortable.
Skip the reviews until after you see it – that’s what I usually do, they give too much away. Sometimes I’ll peek at the first or last paragraph, those are usually safe.
There seem to be a few movies playing now that might be a bit better suited for adult/child combos, for the reasons Em gave. The 13 year old… hmmm…I don’t even know about that. There might not be enough frame of reference for a 13 year old to enjoy most of the humor of the show.
I would opt for Barnyard the Original Party Animals, Monster House, or How to Eat Fried Worms, which look great and are playing now.
Anyway, my sons and I have lots of fun seeing those types of shows together, usually the adults in the audience seem to enjoy them as much or more than the kids. I recently saw Nacho Libre with my teenage sons and their friends, and only enjoyed it as much as I did (STUPID movie) because it was so obvious that they were having such a great time.
FWIW
M
My friend and I saw “Little Miss Sunshine” this weekend. One of us laughed a little too hard and had to make an emergency trip to the bathroom right in the middle of the most dramatic part of the movie. Don’t wait another day. Go see this movie.
I loved it too. I laughed really hard and also cried.
Carol