Little Miss Sunshine

As the family's strained dynamics are laid bare during an awkward dinner, it becomes apparent that Frank, a bespectacled professor with a passion for Marcel Proust, has been struggling to come to terms with his recent heartbreak. The revelation of his attempted suicide is met with stunned silence, broken only by Olive's father, Richard, who hastily steers the conversation towards safer topics.

In an effort to shift the mood, Olive excitedly shares her latest pageant routine, a testament to her unwavering enthusiasm and dedication. Despite being an unorthodox candidate - a bespectacled seven-year-old with an average appearance - Olive has won over judges in a regional contest, earning herself a spot in the prestigious Little Miss Sunshine pageant in California.

As news of Olive's triumph spreads, the family is initially resistant to the idea of traveling to Redondo Beach. However, after Richard's persistent cajoling and a pep-talk drenched in self-help jargon, they reluctantly agree to embark on the journey in their trusty Volkswagen micro-bus.

En route, the family's quirks are laid bare: Grandpa Edwin (Alan Arkin), a retired lothario with a penchant for heroin, regales the group with tales of his wild youth. Meanwhile, Olive's brother, Dwayne, has taken a vow of silence that shows no signs of abating, content to while away the hours lost in the works of Friedrich Nietzsche.

The family's harmony is further disrupted when the micro-bus's clutch gives out, forcing them to perform an arduous ritual of push-starting whenever they're not parked on a slope. The tension boils over at a gas station, where Richard receives devastating news that his book deal has been scrapped. Frank's humiliation knows no bounds after running into his ex-lover in a convenience store.

As the journey reaches its midpoint, the family returns to the road, their collective mood soured by a series of mishaps. It isn't until Dwayne notices the oversight that they realize they've forgotten Olive at the gas station, leaving her to fend for herself amidst the chaos.

As the sun dips below the horizon, the Hoover clan settles into their motel rooms, each pair sharing a space that seems to shrink in the face of their collective anxieties. Richard and Sheryl's room is a cauldron of tension, their argument over the failed book deal simmering just below the surface like a pot about to boil over. Meanwhile, Olive confides in her grandfather Edwin (Edwin) that she's terrified of the pageant awaiting them tomorrow, but he reassures her with his trademark warmth and optimism, reminding her that she's a stunning individual who will undoubtedly "blow 'em outta the water." Unbeknownst to Olive, Richard has other plans. He sneaks away in the dead of night, driven by frustration and determination, to confront Stan Grossman (Stan) about their faltering book deal.

The next morning brings devastating news: Edwin is pronounced dead at the hospital, his passing a poignant reminder of the fragility of life. The family's grief is palpable as they're thrust into the administrative chaos that follows, only to find themselves facing an impossible choice between honoring their father's memory and arriving on time for Olive's pageant. With a heavy heart, Richard makes the difficult decision to smuggle Edwin's body into their van, hoping to find a way to lay him to rest while still fulfilling their daughter's dreams.

As they hit the road once more, their progress is marked by a series of mishaps, including a horn that refuses to cease its incessant honking. A state trooper pulls them over, but Grandpa's porn collection provides a convenient distraction from the true nature of their cargo. The family manages to evade further scrutiny and continues on their way.

With Olive and Dwayne (Dwayne) growing more anxious by the minute, it becomes clear that all is not well beneath the surface. As they near the pageant site, Olive's eye test from the hospital reveals a shocking truth: Dwayne is colorblind, his dream of becoming a test pilot cruelly dashed. His rage and despair are palpable as he storms off into a nearby culvert, leaving his family in stunned silence.

In the aftermath of this explosive revelation, Richard brings the bus to a halt, but it's Olive who ultimately brings her brother back on board with a silent hug that speaks volumes about the power of familial love.

As the Hoover family finally arrives at the Redondo Suites hotel, their journey is marked by confusion and frustration, particularly with regards to parking. Despite this, Olive manages to squeeze into the pageant lineup mere minutes before the cutoff, thanks in part to a sympathetic employee who overrides an initial refusal from a disapproving pageant official. Meanwhile, Richard tends to his father's affairs, overseeing the removal of Edwin's body and bidding him a poignant farewell.

As the family navigates this emotional terrain, Dwayne and Frank find themselves at odds with the crass atmosphere surrounding the child beauty pageant. Seeking escape, they stroll out to the pier, where Dwayne opens up about his struggles with adolescence and the search for identity. Frank offers words of wisdom, drawing from Proust's philosophy that it is our suffering, not happiness, which ultimately defines us.

The pageant commences, and a sea of prepubescent contestants, ghoulishly transformed by layers of makeup and fake tan, take to the stage. Richard, now beset with anxiety for Olive's participation, shares his concerns with Dwayne, and they both decide to intervene backstage to persuade Sheryl to reconsider her daughter's involvement. However, Sheryl remains resolute, insisting that they must "let Olive be Olive."

As the family watches nervously from the audience, Olive is led onto the stage, resplendent in a suit and top hat, which had been choreographed by her grandfather. This marks her first time performing the routine, and it proves to be a raunchy strip-burlesque number set to Rick James's "Superfreak." Despite being innocent of its explicit undertones, Olive performs with abandon, as do her family members when they join in.

The audience is left stunned and even begins to catcall, but the Hoovers stand united, cheering Olive on. The snippy pageant official orders the emcee to remove Olive from the stage, only for Richard to intervene, dancing alongside his daughter in a show of support. As one by one, her family members take to the stage to finish the number with Olive, the tension dissipates.

Following a brief visit to the local police precinct, the Hoovers are ultimately permitted to leave California as long as they agree to never enter Olive into another beauty pageant. Having grown closer and more confident throughout their journey, the family piles back into their micro-bus, ready to face whatever challenges await them in Albuquerque as the sun sets on their odyssey.