How often do we go see a film that has been lauded by the critics as being “the best film of the year,” or “more American movies should be made like this one,” only to leave our seats feeling mystified and somewhat depressed? Are moviemakers simply out of step with the mainstream, or is something more sinister at work? I’m inclined to believe the latter.

I’m thinking of the sunshineless Little Miss Sunshine, now an Academy Award winner (for Best Supporting Actor to Alan Arkin and Best Original Screenplay). I won’t bemoan Little Miss Sunshine its Oscars — it deserves a few wins for the inconvenient truths it portrays about modern Hollywood’s glorification of the miserable.

The critics may say it is about a dysfunctional family — a phrase that is so overused that it carries little weight anymore. It is really about dysfunctional people, clearly labeled (by one of the characters) as “divorced,” “suicidal” (he botched it), and “bankrupt.” Another refuses to speak. The old guy does heroin and loves porn. They are all living in their own form of Hell. The movie has a few laughs, but the bankrupt guy is the only likable adult with a positive point of view. He wants to achieve, but doesn’t. Same goes for his seven-year-old. Mom insists on telling that seven-year-old daughter that Uncle Frank tried to commit suicide. Frank insists on explaining his unrequited gay love affair to the same poor kid. Grandpa proudly (and loudly) encourages his 15-year-old mute grandson that the young man should “f**k” as many women as possible; no adult cares to criticize the elder, save for his choice of language. No real moral judgments here. Otherwise, it’s all good. The culmination is when the girl dances like a stripper for the horrified beauty-pageant judges, and her family gets up to dance with her, to make the point that life should not be about beauty.

Clearly not. Also, there should be no winners, and no judgments on anyone for anything they choose to do.

The message of Little Miss Sunshine is: Misery loves company. The film is praised as a “feel-good” film; perhaps for moviegoers who like bamboo under their fingernails. If you are miserable, then Little Miss Sunshine is the film for you. You can wallow in your misery, while enjoying the misery of others. But if you are a happy soul, resist the hype. The chances are good you will leave this film feeling worse than ever before. Then, perhaps, you will be more apt to join them in their quest to tear down everything that is good and decent, and create a damaged society in your own image.

— Anna Nimouse is a nom de cyber for an actress and mother living in Hollywood.