| 1 | [[foldercontrol]] |
| 2 | |
| 3 | !!The Hoover family |
| 4 | [[folder:Olive]] |
| 5 | !!Olive Hoover |
| 6 | ->'''Played By''': Creator/AbigailBreslin |
| 7 | [[quoteright:243:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tumblr_m5747uegv61qczbqno1_250_3573.jpg]] |
| 8 | [[caption-width-right:243: {{Squee}}!]] |
| 9 | Our plucky protagonist who gets qualified for the titular contest. |
| 10 | ---- |
| 11 | * BigEater: She loves to eat, something her father tries to discourage in her. |
| 12 | * {{Burlesque}}: [[spoiler: Her talent performance, much to the horror of everyone watching.]] |
| 13 | * CheerfulChild: She's always jolly and endearing. |
| 14 | * ChildrenAreInnocent: She doesn't seem to give in to the negativity around her. |
| 15 | * TheCutie: She is obviously not pageant material but she's so adorable, innocent, and determined that you can't help but love her. |
| 16 | * TheHeart: She's the glue holding the family together. They may not like each other very much, but they'll all go through hell and high water for her sake. |
| 17 | * LittleBlackDress: Wore one in the pageant's evening gown competition. |
| 18 | * LivingEmotionalCrutch: To everyone. She's pretty much the reason why the Hoovers don't become a BigScrewedUpFamily by the end. Even when Dwayne has a breakdown, he immediately gets better after Olive hugs him and comforts him. |
| 19 | * MeaningfulName: Olive is a name associated with peace and harmony. |
| 20 | * MoralityPet: Everyone cares for her, and harming her physically, emotionally, and psychologically is a huge BerserkButton for them, even ''against one another''. |
| 21 | * NiceGirl: To the point that she sticks out to her bitter and brooding family members. |
| 22 | * PluckyGirl: No matter what kind of crap she and her family go through and no matter how insurmountable the odds seem against her, she always manages to remain positive and upbeat. Most of the time, anyway. |
| 23 | * {{Squee}}: Does this after being informed that she'll be able to qualify for the titular pageant. |
| 24 | * SupportingProtagonist: Although the film's main plot is to get her to compete in the titular pageant, Olive spent most of the film as a TagalongKid and everyone's MoralityPet. |
| 25 | * TagalongKid: Justified, as she is the youngest member of the family. |
| 26 | * TokenGoodTeammate: NiceGirl Olive sticks out to her bitter, brooding and apathetic family members. |
| 27 | * TrademarkFavoriteFood: Ice cream. |
| 28 | [[/folder]] |
| 29 | |
| 30 | [[folder:Richard]] |
| 31 | !!Richard Hoover |
| 32 | ->'''Played By''': Creator/GregKinnear |
| 33 | ->'''Dubbed By''': Creator/BrunoChoel (European French) |
| 34 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/richard_hoover_little_miss_sunshine.jpg]] |
| 35 | Olive's dad who's trying to make a career (and income) out of being a motivational speaker and life coach. No, it's not going well. |
| 36 | ---- |
| 37 | |
| 38 | * CompetitionFreak: He's obsessed with winning and doesn't want anyone in his family to be a "loser" ([[SmallNameBigEgo despite being a loser himself]]). |
| 39 | * {{Determinator}}: He taught himself and his family to never, ''ever'' quit. |
| 40 | * HaplessSelfHelp: Richard is a SocialDarwinist who believes that "there are two types of people in the world, winners and losers." He's a motivational speaker who lectures his whole family on the importance of being "winners" - then his family's financial future gets a serious blow when his motivational project doesn't sell, leaving them in debt, and he's viciously told that he's "not viable." |
| 41 | * {{Jerkass}}: Spends most of the film as a dick to everyone. |
| 42 | * JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Despite this, he does mean well and have his family's best interests in mind. |
| 43 | * ObnoxiousInLaws: He doesn't get along well with his brother-in-law Frank. |
| 44 | * PapaWolf: When one of the pageant organizers walks onstage and tries to stop Olive from dancing (grabbing her arms), an outraged Richard races to the front of the auditorium, leaps on the stage, jumps on the MC's back and rides him into the wings. |
| 45 | * ParentalAbandonment: He has a MissingMom. [[spoiler: Midway to the film, a DisappearedDad as well.]] |
| 46 | * ThePatriarch: He is the head of the Hoover family. |
| 47 | * SecondLove: He is Sheryl's second husband. |
| 48 | * SmallNameBigEgo: Always talk big, despite not being that credible himself. |
| 49 | %%* SmugSnake: At his worst. |
| 50 | * SocialDarwinist: "There are two people in this world; winners and losers!" |
| 51 | * SupportingLeader: He is ThePatriarch of the family, but his daughter is the main character of the story. |
| 52 | * TookALevelInKindness: Makes a gradual HeelRealization towards the end of the film. |
| 53 | * WickedStepfather: He's not really wicked or evil, but Dwayne sees him as this. To his credit, he seems to at least try to get along with Dwayne, even complementing his commitment to his vow of silence. |
| 54 | [[/folder]] |
| 55 | |
| 56 | [[folder:Sheryl]] |
| 57 | !!Sheryl Hoover |
| 58 | ->'''Played By''': Creator/ToniCollette |
| 59 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/toni_colette_little_miss_sunshine_sundance_movie_photo_gc.jpg]] |
| 60 | Olive and Dwayne's overworked mother. |
| 61 | ---- |
| 62 | |
| 63 | * TheLancer: Being the family's matriarch, she acts as Richard's NumberTwo. |
| 64 | * OnlySaneWoman: She's by far the most normal member of the family. |
| 65 | * SilkHidingSteel: She's a "take no crap" kind of woman. |
| 66 | * SmokingIsCool: Much to her husband's annoyance. |
| 67 | * TeamMom: Well, she is the matriarch of the family. |
| 68 | * WomenAreWiser: She comes off as more normal and reasonable than her husband. |
| 69 | [[/folder]] |
| 70 | |
| 71 | [[folder:Frank]] |
| 72 | !!Frank Ginsberg |
| 73 | ->'''Played By''': Creator/SteveCarell |
| 74 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/frank_little_miss_sunshine_42119_445_297.jpg]] |
| 75 | Olive's uncle who's staying with the family after an "episode". |
| 76 | ---- |
| 77 | |
| 78 | * BeardOfSorrow: For starters, he attempted suicide. Apparently, there are ''a lot'' of reasons why... |
| 79 | * CoolUncle: Once he finally gets his act together towards the end of the film. |
| 80 | * DeadpanSnarker: There's a scene where Richard gets annoyed by his sarcastic comments. |
| 81 | --> '''Richard:''' Sarcasm is just the sour grapes of losers trying to pull winners down to their level. That's one of the lessons of Step Four. |
| 82 | --> '''Frank:''' Wow, Richard! You've really opened my eyes to what a loser I am! Say, how much do I owe you for those pearls of wisdom? |
| 83 | * DrivenToSuicide: Attempted this, but failed. |
| 84 | * FiredTeacher: He used to be a college professor prior to being usurped by his rival professor. |
| 85 | * SixthRanger: In virtue of not living with the Hoovers. |
| 86 | * TheSmartGuy: He used to be a top notch professor, apparently. |
| 87 | * StraightGay: If he didn't talk about his unrequited love for a guy at the start of the film, chances are, Olive and the audience wouldn't know about his orientation. |
| 88 | * TeacherStudentRomance: He fell for one of his grad students, though it was unrequited. |
| 89 | [[/folder]] |
| 90 | |
| 91 | [[folder:Dwayne]] |
| 92 | !!Dwayne |
| 93 | ->'''Played By''': Creator/PaulDano |
| 94 | [[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/welcome_to_hell_405368.jpg]] |
| 95 | Olive's older half-brother, who took a vow of silence until he could become a fighter pilot. |
| 96 | ---- |
| 97 | |
| 98 | * AcePilot: His main goal is to be a top-notch Air Force pilot. [[spoiler: Sadly, he’ll never accomplish this because he’s colorblind. On the bright side, he decides that even if he can’t become an Air Force pilot, he’ll still find a way to fly.]] |
| 99 | * AloofAlly: He hates his own family, [[JerkWithAHeartOfGold or so he claims]]. |
| 100 | * AtomicFBomb: [[spoiler: He doesn't handle the discovery his DreamCrushingHandicap very well.]] |
| 101 | * BerserkerTears: [[spoiler: During his AtomicFBomb.]] |
| 102 | * BewareTheQuietOnes: Despite not speaking, you don't want to piss him off. [[spoiler: Once he breaks his vow of silence, he's much more dangerous.]] |
| 103 | * BigBrotherInstinct: He tries to prevent Olive from competing in a contest that he views as oversexualized and demeaning to girls. |
| 104 | * TheBigGuy: He constantly works out. |
| 105 | * BrutalHonesty: "Olive's not a beauty queen. She just isn't. I'm gonna go tell her..." |
| 106 | * CoolBigBro: He really loves his little sister Olive. |
| 107 | * {{Determinator}}: [[spoiler: During his heart-to-heart with Frank near the end of the movie, he decides that even if he can't join the Air Force, he's still going to learn to fly, colorblindness be damned.]] |
| 108 | * EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: He is notably pale. |
| 109 | * ElectiveMute: He has taken a vow of silence until he achieves his dream of becoming an Air Force pilot. [[spoiler: He breaks it in the second half of the film.]] |
| 110 | * EmoTeen: Dwayne has... issues. He even confesses to being a fan of Creator/FriedrichNietzsche. |
| 111 | * HatesEveryoneEqually: Or so he claims, but many scenes in the film show that [[HiddenHeartOfGold he actually loves his family.]] |
| 112 | * JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He acts as an AloofAlly, but cares deeply for his family. |
| 113 | * NietzscheWannabe: Literally. |
| 114 | --> '''Frank: '''Who is that? Nietzsche? So you stopped talking because of Friedrich Nietzsche? ...Far out. |
| 115 | * NoNameGiven: His last name is never revealed, though Website/TheOtherWiki lists it as Hoover despite being Cheryl's son from a previous marriage. |
| 116 | * SilentSnarker: |
| 117 | --> '''Dwayne:''' (writes "I hate everyone" on a pad) |
| 118 | --> '''Frank:''' Come on. How about your family? |
| 119 | --> '''Dwayne:''' (underlines "everyone") |
| 120 | * SirSwearsALot: [[spoiler:Once he starts talking again, he can barely get a sentence out without attaching a swear word to it.]] |
| 121 | * TragicDream: [[spoiler: He's colorblind, thus his dream of being an AcePilot is not meant to be.]] |
| 122 | [[/folder]] |
| 123 | |
| 124 | [[folder:Edwin]] |
| 125 | !!Edwin Hoover |
| 126 | ->'''Played By''': Creator/AlanArkin |
| 127 | [[quoteright:334:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/grandpa_little_miss_sunshine_42120_334_500.jpg]] |
| 128 | Olive's grandpa, who's addicted to heroin, and coaches her. |
| 129 | ---- |
| 130 | * CorruptionOfAMinor: "Fuck a lot of women kid. Not just one woman, ''a lot'' of women!" Words he said to his 15-year-old step-grandson. |
| 131 | * DirtyOldMan: He still wants to get around to this day, and hates himself for not being able to do so anymore. |
| 132 | * DrugsAreBad: Unless you're old, according to him. |
| 133 | * GrumpyOldMan: He's easily agitated. |
| 134 | * HiddenDepths: He might act obnoxious most of the time, but he's perfectly capable of displaying wisdom too. |
| 135 | -->'''Edwin''': You know what a loser is? A ''real'' loser is someone who's so afraid of not winning, they don't even try. |
| 136 | * HypocriticalHumor: His entire characterization is made of this. |
| 137 | * JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He acts like a bigot and is obnoxious, but he cares for his family a lot. |
| 138 | * LovableSexManiac: He loves buying {{Porn Stash}}es, and [[ReallyGetsAround Really Got Around]] in his younger days. |
| 139 | * MentorOccupationalHazard: [[spoiler: He teaches Olive her burlesque dance routine and dies midway to the film.]] |
| 140 | * PassedInTheirSleep: [[spoiler: Olive just says he won't wake up.]] |
| 141 | * RetiredBadass: He's a UsefulNotes/WorldWarII veteran. |
| 142 | * ScrewPolitenessImASenior: He just doesn't have the time or inclination to be respectful anymore and freely says whatever's on his mind. |
| 143 | * SirSwearsALot: ClusterFBomb, proceeded by PrecisionFStrike, then ClusterFBomb again. You know how the cycle goes now. |
| 144 | * TheSmartGuy: The street-smart and "smartass" variant. |
| 145 | [[/folder]] |
| 146 | |
| 147 | !!Secondary characters |
| 148 | [[folder:Stan Grossman]] |
| 149 | |
| 150 | !!Stan Grossman |
| 151 | ->'''Played By''': Creator/BryanCranston |
| 152 | ->'''Dubbed By''': Creator/PatrickBorg (European French) |
| 153 | |
| 154 | ---- |
| 155 | |
| 156 | * ManipulativeBastard: He's a typical "smooth-talking businessman" type of character. |
| 157 | * TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Rather, he gave Richard a "the reason you're not viable" speech. What he basically implies is that, even though the Nine Steps program is as corny as can be, it could have still sold a ton of books if Richard at least had name recognition going for him. But, in addition to having a clearly cheesy motivational program, he's an absolute nobody to boot. |
| 158 | * SharpDressedMan: He is a businessman after all. |
| 159 | * ShoutOut: [[Film/{{Fargo}} His name and modus]]. |
| 160 | [[/folder]] |
| 161 | |
| 162 | [[folder:Josh]] |
| 163 | !!Josh |
| 164 | ->'''Played By''': Justin Shilton |
| 165 | |
| 166 | ---- |
| 167 | |
| 168 | * BitchInSheepsClothing: Appears concerned about Frank when he runs into him but appears to mock him with Frank's rival professor when Frank turns his back. |
| 169 | * OnlyOneName: No last name given. |
| 170 | * StraightGay: If he isn't revealed to be Frank's ex-boyfriend, you wouldn't know he's gay. |
| 171 | [[/folder]] |
| 172 | |
| 173 | [[folder:Larry Sugarman]] |
| 174 | !!Larry Sugarman |
| 175 | ->'''Played By''': Gordon Thomson |
| 176 | |
| 177 | ---- |
| 178 | |
| 179 | %%* {{Jerkass}}: Implied. |
| 180 | * TheRival: To Frank. |
| 181 | * SmugSmiler: His picture shows this. |
| 182 | * StraightGay: He doesn't look stereotypically homosexual either. |
| 183 | * TheUsurper: Apparently, he wormed his way to Frank's supposed credits. |
| 184 | [[/folder]] |
| 185 | |
| 186 | [[folder:State Trooper [=McCleary=]]] |
| 187 | !!State Trooper [=McCleary=] |
| 188 | ->'''Played By''': Creator/DeanNorris |
| 189 | |
| 190 | ---- |
| 191 | |
| 192 | * AllMenArePerverts: He's easily DistractedByTheSexy while on duty. |
| 193 | * BadassBiker: Well, he is a state patrol cop. |
| 194 | * CoolShades: Part of his outfit. |
| 195 | * DirtyCop: To distract him from his job, all you need is a PornStash. |
| 196 | * DistractedByTheSexy: He seems to forget the reason he's arresting Richard after seeing the {{Porn Stash}}es. |
| 197 | [[/folder]] |
| 198 | |
| 199 | [[folder:Pageant Official Jenkins]] |
| 200 | !!Pageant Official Jenkins |
| 201 | ->'''Played By''': Beth Grant |
| 202 | |
| 203 | ---- |
| 204 | |
| 205 | %%* AloofDarkHairedGirl: Towards the Hoovers, at least. |
| 206 | * EeriePaleSkinnedBrunette: She's very pale. |
| 207 | * FinalBoss: She serves as the last obstacle of the Hoover family. |
| 208 | * GetOut: [[spoiler: Orders Richard to get Olive off from the stage. It didn't end as planned.]] |
| 209 | * JerkassHasAPoint: Unpleasant and unsympathetic she may be, [[spoiler: it doesn't change the fact that the Hoovers arrived to the pageant registration four minutes late.]] |
| 210 | * LastNameBasis: No first name given. |
| 211 | * TheLeader: She seems to be the person who calls the shots at the pageant. |
| 212 | %%* PinkMeansFeminine: Her attire. |
| 213 | * SilkHidingSteel: She's a "take no crap" kind of woman too. |
| 214 | [[/folder]] |
| 215 | |
| 216 | [[folder:Kirby]] |
| 217 | !!Kirby |
| 218 | ->'''Played By''': Wallace Langham |
| 219 | |
| 220 | ---- |
| 221 | |
| 222 | * NiceGuy: Allowed Olive to participate in the titular pageant despite being late [[spoiler: and is one of her supporters in the finale.]] |
| 223 | * OnlyOneName: No last name given. |
| 224 | %%* TokenGoodTeammate: To the pageant staff. |
| 225 | [[/folder]] |
| 226 | |
| 227 | [[folder:Ms. California]] |
| 228 | !!Ms. California |
| 229 | ->'''Played By''': Lauren Shiohama |
| 230 | |
| 231 | ---- |
| 232 | |
| 233 | * EveryoneCallsHimBarkeep: She's just referred to through her pageant title instead of her name. |
| 234 | * MsFanservice: She is the only beauty queen of the right age in the film. |
| 235 | * NiceGirl: She acts very friendly to Olive and the other participants [[spoiler: and is one of Olive's supporters in the finale.]] |
| 236 | %%* TokenGoodTeammate: To the pageant judges. |
| 237 | * TokenMinority: She is the only notable Asian character in the film. |
| 238 | [[/folder]] |
| 239 | |
| 240 | [[folder:Pageant Assistant Pam]] |
| 241 | !!Pageant Assistant Pam |
| 242 | ->'''Played By''': Creator/MaryLynnRajskub |
| 243 | |
| 244 | ---- |
| 245 | |
| 246 | * DefrostingIceQueen: First acts cold towards Olive [[spoiler:, but she's obviously enjoying while watching the Hoover HappyDance]]. She doesn't act "cold" so much as "impersonal/professional." She's just doing her job - and clearly not enjoying it all that much. |
| 247 | * FriendlyEnemy: [[spoiler: She clearly doesn't mind the Hoovers doing their thing.]] |
| 248 | * FirstNameBasis: No last name given. |
| 249 | %%* NumberTwo: Hence her job title. |
| 250 | * TokenGoodTeammate: In virtue of being a FriendlyEnemy. |
| 251 | [[/folder]] |
| 252 | |
| 253 | [[folder:Pageant MC]] |
| 254 | !!Pageant MC |
| 255 | ->'''Played By''': Matt Winston |
| 256 | |
| 257 | ---- |
| 258 | |
| 259 | * LargeHam: He seems to be enjoying his hosting gig. |
| 260 | * NoNameGiven: No first or last name given in any material. |
| 261 | * SharpDressedMan: Well, he is an MC after all. |
| 262 | [[/folder]] |
| 263 | |
| 264 | [[folder:The Biker Dad]] |
| 265 | !!The Biker Dad |
| 266 | ->'''Played By''': Geoff Meed |
| 267 | |
| 268 | ---- |
| 269 | |
| 270 | * BadassBiker: Enforced with his attire, hence the nickname. |
| 271 | * DelayedReaction: It took a few seconds before his IncomingHam. |
| 272 | * FaceOfAThug: He has a menacing appearance but is actually a GentleGiant. |
| 273 | * GentleGiant: Is quite a large and intimidating fellow, but he is ''literally'' Olive's loudest supporter outside her family. |
| 274 | * IncomingHam: "YEAH, ALRIGHT!" |
| 275 | * JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Is aloof and dismissive towards Richard, but becomes Olive's (again, literally) loudest supporter in the audience other than her family. |
| 276 | * NoNameGiven: The credits only named him as the biker dad. |
| 277 |
http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/context.php
FollowingContext Characters / LittleMissSunshine
Go To
- Show Spoilers
- Night Vision
- Sticky Header
- Wide Load
