I Really Do Care What Others Think

   

     Whether we admit it or not, most of us are living to impress others. From buying designer bags to show our friends that we're wealthy, to hiding our true passions and interests to fit the norm. Caring about what others think of us is the center of our worlds; it influences who we're friends with or what we wear. The movie Little Miss Sunshine directed by Valeria Faris and Johnathan Dayton, starring Steve Carell and Abigail Breslin tackles the idea of what really makes people happy, and what is normal. 

    The movie follows a family's trip across the country to have the youngest family member, Olive, participate in the Little Miss Sunshine Pageant. The story follows the family's dynamic, along with all of the struggles they face. While at first the movie may seem to be about the family's bond, it can be deciphered that the movie is actually about doing what makes you happy and not caring about what others think. 

    What I found most fascinating about the movie is the character arc of Richard Hoover. While the film is centered around Olive, I believe that the main character is the father. It is clearly demonstrated throughout the film that Olive is a carefree little girl. She dresses how she pleases, says what she wants, and doesn't think twice. The same can be said for the grandfather. He displays a relaxed, unbothered, and is overall unworried about what anyone else thinks. Along with the grandfather, the son Dwayne also displays this sort of mentality. He refuses to speak until he achieves his goal of becoming a pilot. This is obviously out of the norm, displaying that he is not concerned with others opinions. In fact the only person that continually struggles with this mentality is the father. He is obsessed with others opinions, from caring that his daughter is skinny, to being obsessed with not losing. But throughout the film, he slowly lowers his walls, and begins to take notes from his family members. By the end of the film, he realizes that life is not all about winners and losers, it's about being happy. 

    The film tackles the idea of happiness, specifically the liberation one feels when they finally stop caring about what others think. There is one moment in the movie, that stands out to me, and not only perfectly sums up the goal of the movie, but also a mentality people should carry with them. When Dwayne and his uncle, Frank, are standing on the boardwalk talking about life, Dwayne says this "Do what you love, and #*%! the rest." This quote not only sums up the mentality that Olive displays throughout the film, but also the entire point of the film. 

    Little Miss Sunshine not only tackles with the idea of happiness, but also with the idea of social norms. Each character breaks the social norms in some way, from not speaking, to having an untraditional job, and so forth. As you carry on throughout the day, I encourage you to break the social norms and take Dwayne's words with you, do what you love, regardless of others opinions.