Breslin plays Olive Hoover, a homely little girl from Albuquerque who dreams of being a beauty queen.  Those dreams suddenly seem within reach when a contestant in the Little Miss Sunshine pageant is disqualified and Olive, as runner up, is chosen to replace her.

The problem is the pageant is Sunday, just a few days away, in California.  For the Hoover family, this is not a good weekend for a road trip.  Dad (Greg Kinnear), a motivational speaker, is waiting for word about a business deal.  Mom (Toni Collette), has just invited her suicidal brother (Steve Carell) to live with them.  And, Grandpa (Alan Arkin), who's already living with them, is a foul-mouthed heroin addict.

Everyone has doubts about whether Olive can actually win.  But, as a motivational speaker who believes there's a winner in everyone, he can't exactly say no to his own daughter.  So, everyone piles into an old VW bus and they head to California.

Overall review:  ****  It's great.  The film says a lot about family sticking together and supporting and believing in each other.  And, Olive's talent?  Priceless!