--- title: "Little Miss Sunshine: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/little-miss-sunshine/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/little-miss-sunshine" critics_score: 74 critics_reviews: 8 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # Little Miss Sunshine (2006): what the critics said Critics' score 74 from 8 reviews: 6 positive, 2 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics find Little Miss Sunshine a warm, funny family comedy whose performances make its eccentric characters feel like people rather than a collection of quirks. Praise centres on the ensemble’s timing and its handling of disappointment, with Alan Arkin, Steve Carell and Abigail Breslin singled out. The more enthusiastic reviews also credit the direction and dialogue with keeping the family’s irritations recognisable and allowing tenderness without smothering the humour. The reservations concern how hard the film works for its reassurance, and how much bite its satire retains. The Guardian finds its treatment of child beauty pageants evasive, while Slant Magazine objects more strongly to the contrivances and what it sees as a condescending portrait of America. Time Out also faults camerawork and editing that interrupt the performances. The spread runs from enthusiastic approval to mixed responses, with the cast earning more consistent praise than the social criticism. ## Empire — Angie Errigo Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 25 August 2006. The critic calls the film a marvellous satire of modern life and family values that mixes sharp humour with emotional depth. They single out the strong ensemble cast and the directors' skilful handling of tone shifts in this quirky road movie. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/little-miss-sunshine-review/) ## The AV Club — Nathan Rabin Rating B+. 26 July 2006. The film turns potentially grating caricatures into sympathetic, multidimensional characters through strong performances and empathetic direction that grounds the zaniness. It mostly succeeds as a low-key comedy but falters with a far-fetched, crowd-pleasing climax. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/little-miss-sunshine-1798201889) ## The Independent Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2006. The review describes the film as a modest and endearing comedy of disappointment that steers a canny line between comedy and realism during the family's absurd road trip. It praises the truthful family dynamics and standout performances, especially from Alan Arkin, Steve Carell and Abigail Breslin. [Read the review](https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/reviews/little-miss-sunshine-15-415009.html) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 8 September 2006. The critic describes the film as genial and breezy with a neatly engineered dramatic twist, but finds its satiric intent weirdly uncertain as it avoids deeper engagement with the darker implications of child beauty pageants. The family dysfunction and performances are engaging, though the film ultimately offers a feelgood reassurance rather than sharp critique. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2006/sep/08/comedy) ## Time Out Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 5 September 2006. The critic finds the dark-edged ensemble comedy borders on the loveable for its road-trip exploration of family failures but faults the jittery camerawork and editing that disrupts the actors' performances, as well as the arrhythmic incoherence of the climactic routine. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/little-miss-sunshine) ## Slant Magazine — Nick Schager Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 25 July 2006. The road-trip comedy spreads wackiness evenly across its ensemble of oddballs but relies on rusty contrivances and sharp comedic turns from Arkin and Carell to stay intermittently amusing. It offers a mildly endearing celebration of loserdom alongside a condescending portrait of Americana and hypocritical disparagement of success-at-all-costs values. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/little-miss-sunshine/) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert 3 August 2006. A gentle family satire and classic American road movie that preaches nonconformity over superficial values. The flawless ensemble cast excels at finding humor in pain and unspoken reactions. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/little-miss-sunshine-2006) ## Screen Daily 23 January 2006. Festival review. The review calls it a genuinely delightful comedy and highly engaging first feature with an outstanding comic ensemble that works seamlessly, noting it is more subtly drawn and authentically poignant than the average studio family comedy while delivering a high laugh-factor with empathy rather than derision. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/little-miss-sunshine/4025834.article) ## The New Yorker — David Denby 24 July 2006. A slight but charming comedy about a winner-take-all society driving its citizens crazy, with a good ear for family irritations. It delivers a modest winner that avoids whimsy through candid dialogue and strong ensemble work. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/07/31/hot-and-bothered-2) ## The New York Times — Manohla Dargis 26 July 2006. A bittersweet comedy of dysfunction about a family road trip that offers a sharp look at contemporary America. It contrasts the metaphor of competition with the myth of the open road through terrific performances. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/26/movies/little-miss-sunshine-youre-either-on-the-family-bus-or-youre-off.html) ## Variety 21 January 2006. Festival review. A quietly antic dysfunctional family road trip comedy that shoots down the all-American culture of the winner and offers sweet redemption. Distinguished by a flawless cast, gentle spirit of rebellion, and smart script that never pushes quirks too hard. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2006/film/awards/little-miss-sunshine-3-1200519204/) ## Eye for Film — Chris Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 7 September 2006. The critic finds the film a hilarious comedy with refreshing honesty and capacity for self-examination rarely found in mainstream movies. They single out the value of family bonds amid eccentric characters' passions and dreams. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/little-miss-sunshine-film-review-by-chris) ## Paste — Robert Davis Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 16 August 2006. The film is a warm, funny road-trip comedy with more smiles than belly laughs that benefits from impeccable ensemble timing. The chaotic dinner scene and the cast's versatility are singled out for praise. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/little-miss-sunshine) ## Digital Spy — Daniel Saney 7 September 2006. Festival review. The critic finds it a surprisingly touching and emotional road movie that serves as an impressive debut from its directors, praising the quirky performances and the screenplay's clear messages about ambition, self-respect, and familial solidarity. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/edinburgh-film-festival/a36398/little-miss-sunshine/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/little-miss-sunshine.md