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Why you should watch it?

In one of his speeches, Arnold Schwarzenegger emphasized his disgust for losers.

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In today's society, there is immense pressure to conform to societal norms and expectations. This pressure to fit in can have a profound impact on individuals, leading to feelings of anxiety, inadequacy, and loss of individuality. We live in a society where we have a lot of "fake models" to follow and to compare with. We start to feel inadequate because we see "successful" people everywhere on social media. And instead of using these very powerful tools for self-expression and connection, we are being consumed by them. Social media of course are only one example that is contemporary and very evident, but this need to conform and be accepted is old as our human history. In all types of society, there were some nonwritten rules, on what was acceptable and considered "normal" and what was not, and this is always something that "hurt" someone, which was not able to express herself/himself freely.
Having models and heroes to look up to is not a bad thing in itself, on the contrary, sometimes it's exactly what makes the difference in the success of some individuals with respect to others, cause aspiring to become like them can be sometimes the driving force that helps us to push our limits. What I think is wrong, and of course, this is just my opinion, is that sometimes we look at these models only because society makes them look cool. Sometimes, we want to be actors, influencers, or famous sportsmen, for the wrong reasons... we aspire to be like them because they seem to have such a nice life, assuming that what makes other people happy (or at least apparently happy, but this is a totally different matter...) is also what can make us too. We are all different individuals, and instead of trying to copy other people's success to reach happiness, we should look at them as a source of inspiration, but try to find our own way.

The 2006 movie "Little Miss Sunshine" perfectly illustrates this theme through its characters and the various ways in which they struggle to conform to societal norms.

The movie revolves around the Hoover family, who are a dysfunctional yet loving group of individuals. The protagonist, Olive Hoover, is a young girl who wants to participate in a beauty pageant, Little Miss Sunshine. Despite her lack of traditional beauty and talent, she is determined to participate in the competition and prove to herself and others that she can be a winner. Olive's desire to participate in the pageant highlights the pressure she feels to conform to societal norms and expectations of what a young girl should be.

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The pressure to conform is not limited to the individual characters in the movie. The Hoover family as a whole is trying to conform to societal norms and expectations, particularly those of the middle class. Despite their unconventional and unconventional lifestyle, they are determined to maintain their middle-class status, leading to a series of hilarious and heartwarming moments throughout the movie.

Despite the pressure to conform, the movie ultimately celebrates the importance of individuality and the rejection of societal norms. Through her journey in the Little Miss Sunshine pageant, Olive realizes that she does not need to conform to societal norms and expectations to be happy and fulfilled. The Hoover family also learns to embrace their unconventional lifestyle and individuality, despite the pressure to conform to societal norms.

The characters' experiences with failure and disappointment, highlight the pressures and expectations that individuals face in society to succeed.

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Plot

"Little Miss Sunshine" is a 2006 comedy-drama film about a dysfunctional family who takes a road trip to California to participate in the Little Miss Sunshine beauty pageant. The family consists of an over-achieving father, an unhappy mother, a gay uncle, a rebellious teenage son, and a young daughter named Olive who dreams of winning the pageant. The film follows the family as they navigate their way through personal struggles, unexpected events, and their strong desire to support Olive as she competes in the pageant.

Conclusion

I know that I haven't talked much about the movie in itself, but I think that the message it wants to convey is in this case the most important thing... and above all, it is a good movie, so I invite you to watch it and let me know what are your thoughts on it.

Rating

My personal vote is:

8.0/10.0