5 Screenwriting Lessons – Little Miss Sunshine

Who Wrote It?

Little Miss Sunshine was written by Michael Arndt.

How Long Is It?

Little Miss Sunshine is 101 minutes long, including credits.

What’s It About?

Little Miss Sunshine follows the Hoovers, a dysfunctional family who live in Albuquerque. They consist of harried mother Sheryl (played by Toni Collette), Richard, her husband, an unsuccessful self-help teacher (played by Greg Kinnear), drug addicted grandpa Edwin (played by Alan Arkin), uncle Frank (played by Steve Carell), a gay scholar recovering from a recent suicide attempt, teenage son Dwayne (played by Paul Dano), who is taking a vow of silence, and daughter Olive (played by Abigail Breslin), a perky seven year-old obsessed with beauty pageants. When Olive gets a last-minute invitation to compete at the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant, which will be held in California, the Hoover family have two days to get to the venue in a derelict VW camper van, and their journey proves to be highly eventful.

5 Screenwriting Lessons – Little Miss Sunshine

(The Following May Contain Spoilers)

Journeys Are Vital to Character Growth – The main focus of Little Miss Sunshine is the Hoovers’ realisation that they will have to work together in order to fulfil Olive’s dreams. Out of all the family members, this challenge is hardest for Dwayne. His dislike of his family is expressed clearly and effectively when Frank tries to start a conversation with him at the dinner table. When Frank asks Dwayne if he has any friends, Dwayne writes “I hate everyone” and underlines his comment when Frank mentions the rest of the family. His strained relationship with them is severely tested when he finds out that he’s colorblind and will never be able to fulfil his dream of being a pilot. This causes him to have a breakdown, during which he ends his vow of silence and viciously attacks his family. However, when Olive decides to go and comfort him, Dwayne realises how much she appreciates him, and re-joins the family, allowing them to get to their destination in time. Dwayne’s acceptance of Olive’s dream demonstrates that he has become a more selfless character, as her goals now matter more to him than his failures.

Another member of the family who tries to deal with unattainable dreams is Richard. When he finds out that his agent, Stan Grossman, has failed to land the deal that would get his book published, he steals a motorbike and drives to the hotel where Stan is staying to confront him personally. Once there, Richard responds angrily to Stan’s comments about his inability to sell as an author, and announces that he is dissolving their partnership. During this sequence, Richard’s assertive nature, which has previously been a hindrance in his relationship with others, is given a more positive use, as he states that will not let others define him and the manner in which he pursues his dreams. Dwayne and Richard are both forced to realise that the effort they put into attaining their goals was futile, and a longer-lasting and more reliable source of happiness can be found by supporting their family.

Give Characters Shades of Grey – No matter how colourful and distinctive a character is, they need to be depicted with enough nuance to seem realistic. The characterisation of Edwin provides a good example of a memorable but seemingly one-note character who is portrayed with increasing complexity the longer we get to know him. Initially, Edwin appears to be little more than a vulgar and immature grandparent. In the car, Edwin gives Dwayne a talk in which he provides very inappropriate advice, telling him to start having sex as quickly and often as possible, in a speech full of profane language. However, when he interacts with Olive, we see another side to him, as he assures her that she is “beautiful inside and out”, and tells her not to worry about failing, as the real losers are those that do not try. The contrast between Edwin’s crass and offensive behaviour towards the male members of the Hoover family and his caring treatment of Olive develops his character, as the seeming contradictions between the two sides of his personality demonstrate that he is not a completely stereotypical character. This makes him seem more rounded and interesting to watch.

Olive is another character with an important personality trait that is gradually established throughout the course of the movie. In spite of the enthusiasm with which she pursues her dreams of being a beauty queen, Olive’s insecurity is her defining flaw. When the family have breakfast at a diner, Richard tells her that the ice cream that she has ordered can make her fat, causing her to feel uncomfortable. At the pageant, Olive meets one of her favourite beauty queens, Miss California, who says that she eats ice cream frequently as well. This highlights one of the main problems with beauty pageants, as Olive feels like she has to conform to an established image in order to compete. Miss California’s comments demonstrate that it is unnecessary for Olive to forbid herself from enjoying the things she loves, and this foreshadows the primary message of the climax, that Olive doesn't need to follow the conventions of beauty pageants, and, like the other members of the Hoover family, is happiest being herself.  

Establish Personalities Effectively – The Hoover family are introduced in an opening sequence that establishes their quirks and flaws. Olive is watching a video of an old beauty pageant, Richard is giving a lecture to a near-empty classroom, Edwin is taking heroin in the bathroom, and Sheryl is arguing over the phone, denying the fact that she is smoking in the car. This extract sets up the various obstacles that the family face in their daily life. Whilst it establishes their unusual nature, it also demonstrates that their problems are typical enough for them to seem like realistic and relatable characters.

The emphasis on the Hoovers’ distinct personalities is a pivotal part of the first act, especially when they sit together at the dinner table for the first time. The primary sources of conflict in the scene are Frank’s reluctance to reveal the issues that led to his suicide attempt and Richard’s belief that Frank’s actions render him a failure. Their primary character flaws, namely Frank’s inability to get over his depression and Richard’s refusal to accept the perceived weaknesses of others, are fully displayed in this scene, and the presence of the rest of the family provides an extra level of tension, as they notice these failings as well. This means that both Richard and Frank have to face up to their negative traits in order to gain the respect of those around them. Generally, the first act is focused on setting up the dysfunctions and flaws that define the Hoover family, whilst making them appealing enough for the viewer to want them to overcome these issues.

Hypocrisy is Key to Comedy – Comedy is heavily based on the contrast between an expected outcome and an unexpected one, and this incongruity can often be highlighted through characters who say one thing and do another. The best example of this in Little Miss Sunshine occurs during the climactic beauty pageant. The various girls who participate are dressed in a manner that is highly inappropriate for their age, with several wearing bikinis. When Olive performs the routine that Edwin created for her, it turns out to be a burlesque-style striptease. The pageant organisers are horrified by this, and attempt to remove Olive from the stage. The contrast between their acceptance of the earlier performances and their reaction to Olive’s dancing suggests that they regard the latter as extreme and unusual, but the viewer is made aware of the fact that the difference between Olive and her competitors is not as significant as it seems to the people running the pageant. This narrow gap, and the inability of the pageant judges to notice it, highlights how unreliable their opinions are, and suggests that the sexualisation of child performers is inherently problematic.

Tight Time Frames Increase Tension –The Hoover family have just two days to make the 800-mile journey from Albuquerque to California, and they have to deal with problems that make an already-difficult task seem impossible.  When Richard breaks the clutch, the mechanic he consults claims that replacement parts will not arrive until the following week. The Hoovers soon find a solution to this problem, as they are told that they can get the car moving by pushing it until the engine starts, then jumping into the vehicle. This dangerous strategy establishes that the Hoovers are willing to take any risks to get to California. More importantly, it provides effective symbolism for the changes that they will have to undergo on their journey. In order to achieve their external goal (reaching the beauty pageant) and their internal desire (repairing the rifts between the various family members), the Hoovers will have to work together to keep the VW van – and their relationship – on track.

The problems with the car seem insignificant later on, as the Hoovers face a number of problems that would usually spell the end to a road trip like theirs. At the midway point of the film, Edwin dies of a drug overdose. However, realising how much seeing Olive at the pageant would have meant to him, the family continue on their journey anyway. When they are told that they cannot transport Edwin’s body until funeral arrangements have been made, they steal it from the hospital and hide it in the trunk of their car until they reach their destination. Their readiness to carry out such a risky action highlights how desperate they are to get to the beauty pageant, and establishes that their journey is no longer solely for Olive’s sake – it matters just as much for the rest of the family. This shift in motivation proves that the Hoover family understand each other better, and this would not have happened were it not for the time spent on the journey so far, and the difficulties they have faced together.

Conclusion

Little Miss Sunshine proved to be successful both critically and financially because of its engaging and developed characters and ability at dealing with dark issues, such as suicide, depression and child exploitation, whilst keeping a generally upbeat tone throughout. The Hoovers are relatable characters whose growth during the movie is entirely believable, and the story is both familiar and unusual. The blend of the conventional and the unique allows Little Miss Sunshine to appeal to both viewers who want something that is fun to watch, and those who are interested in more challenging fare. This is the main reason why the film was popular on release and remains well-regarded today.