>Alan Arkin nearly stole the movie
>with his performance. I say, nearly. Some will argue that
>he's just playing one-note, and that's fine, but I thought he
>gave the film its free-wheeling spirit. His character is the
>goofily perverted soul of the movie.

Arkin's "fuckin' chicken" rant was his finest moment, though "politics" was great too.

>Some of you will be "annoyed" with the little girl who plays
>Olive, Abigail Breslin. Fuck you. No, seriously, keep your
>cynical, unfeeling, child-hating asses at home. Abigail
>Breslin was adorable without being cloying, if that's possible
>(and I'm saying right now that it is). And there's a shot
>near the end where she doesn't say a word and ends up earning
>one of the biggest laughs in the movie. She's unquestionably
>the star of this thing, and if I had anything to do with it,
>she'd get an Oscar as of this point in time. Yeah, I said it.
> Oh, and fuck Dakota Fanning, while you're at it.

big ol' co-sign

Her saying grandad was in the trunk, both ice cream-related scenes, giving big brother a hug, and the walking down the hill / embankment thing were very well done. I don't see how anyone could hate on her.

>Oh, and I'm sure there might be a little "controversy" about a
>certain third act sequence, but I just have to say that any
>complaints about that sequence completely miss the point of
>it. So let me present the *WHOOOSH* in advance.

The dancing? yeah, I could see people's beef with it, but I was sold already (as opposed to the similar moment in About A Boy which didn't get the same pass from me).

>I see why Fox Searchlight paid $10.5 large. Hell, I would
>have too. This joint deserves to be seen. Don't go in
>expecting a great indie masterpiece of plotting and action,
>see it for the comedy and the performances.
>
>Highly, highly recommended.

And, like someone else already said, the old people (all) around me were really digging it too. So it should surely have its "multi-generational appeal."