In Little Miss Sunshine, after the unexpected death of Edwin Hoover (Grandpa), his body was smuggled by the family into their yellow Volkswagen T2 van to ensure they could make it to Olive's "Little Miss Sunshine" beauty pageant on time.
Grandpa's Final Journey
Following the passing of Edwin Hoover, the Hoover family faced a critical dilemma. The necessary bureaucratic processes and paperwork involved in handling a death threatened to significantly delay their urgent cross-country trip. Their primary goal was to transport young Olive to the highly anticipated "Little Miss Sunshine" pageant in Redondo Beach, California, an event for which she had just qualified.
The Decision to Smuggle
Richard Hoover, Edwin's son and the patriarch of the family, was determined to honor his father's memory while also ensuring Olive's dream of participating in the pageant could still come true. Faced with the choice between completing lengthy administrative procedures and reaching the pageant venue on schedule, Richard made the unconventional decision to bypass traditional arrangements.
This extraordinary measure was taken for several key reasons:
- Time Constraint: The tight deadline for Olive's pageant appearance made any significant delays unacceptable.
- Bureaucratic Hurdles: The time-consuming paperwork and official procedures associated with a death would have prevented them from reaching their destination in time.
- Family Dedication: Richard's commitment to both his father's wishes and Olive's aspirations drove this unorthodox solution.
To overcome these obstacles, the family collectively undertook the task of discreetly moving Edwin's body. They carefully placed his remains into the back of their already cramped and somewhat dysfunctional yellow van. This unusual act of familial solidarity allowed them to circumvent the immediate legal and logistical hurdles, permitting their unconventional road trip to continue uninterrupted towards Olive's big moment. This pivotal event underscored the family's eccentric nature and their unwavering, albeit unorthodox, dedication to one another, as depicted in the film Little Miss Sunshine.
