

I really don't know how they did it, but the screenwriter Michael Arndt and directing team Dayton/Faris (Jonathan and Valerie, that is) have managed to create a movie in which we are simply so connected to the characters it's frightening. But charming is the first one that comes to mind. It would be unfair to limit the film to one adjective.

Title cards detail the family stealing the trophy from the room, running down the hall, running out of the hotel, running into the van, and driving off. Alternate Ending #4 is the same as #3, but it's extended.She signals that the coast is clear, and so the others run out of the hotel carrying the trophy (while Frank wears the crown). Alternate Ending #3 had Olive running out into the lobby of the hotel, acting as a lookout, as you can hear everyone else arguing off-screen about stealing the trophy.As they exit the hotel, Richard asks "who wants ice cream?" Sheryl places a crown on Richard's head, who in turn places it on Olive's head. He releases the family members, and they start to walk out of the lobby. The security guard tells them that Olive is disqualified from the competition and that they are released, under the condition that they are banned from entering beauty pageants in California again.

