Little Miss Sunshine earned a place on my rewatch list with enjoyable lines like,”Everyone, just pretend to be normal.” And one of the loveliest elements of all is the contrast between Richard’s “Refuse To Lose” approach to being a winner, and the moments after everything turns upside down for Dwayne.
For Richard, neck-deep in the all-American culture of needing to be seen as a winner, any perceived obstacle that impedes you from moving forward is something which needs to be pushed down hard, as in the moment he’s instructing Sheryl on how to drive a stick.
Much later on, Dwayne melts down after realizing his path to the skies is forever unobtainable and then isolates himself on the side of the road, distanced from his family. It is only after Olive comforts him silently that he returns to the rest of the family, helping Olive up the difficult incline by lifting her up gently.
Simply an incredibly lovely approach of showcasing opposites, and another reason why Little Miss Sunshine is one of my favourites.