Greg Kinnear On 'Little Miss Sunshine'

Movie Star Talks About The Dark Comedy Featuring A Dysfunctional Family

(CBS)  One of the big successes from this year's Sundance Film Festival is the dark comedy "Little Miss Sunshine." Greg Kinnear plays a motivational speaker to takes his family on a strange road trip to a kids' beauty pageant. His brother-in-law, played by Steve Carell, is also along for the ride.

Kinnear stopped by The Early Show to talk with co-anchor Harry Smith about the film and some of the choices he has made picking his roles.

Before the segment, Kinnear had a little fun with Harry about the TV business.

"Come on. You're a big movie star. We're getting ready to do this segment here, and you're making fun of me because we're going through all this TV stuff, and you spent all those years on "E," and you're just laughing because that's all behind you now," says Smith.

"It's never behind you, Harry. And I actually miss all of the sort of chaos," says Kinnear. "You make it look very seamless, but behind the scenes it's hysteria here. Don't believe what he's telling you."

In the movie, Kinnear plays a motivational speaker named Richard who can motivate absolutely no one, especially his own family.

"Yes," Kinnear aggress. "He's a failed motivational speaker, and that's kind of an interesting dichotomy and an interesting place to start. I felt kind of bad for the guy when I read it. Of course, it's a funny script, but I felt like he's a bit of a tortured guy and has the weight of the world on his shoulders trying to make things happen for his family that he couldn't quite make happen."

The whole family is amazing – all stuck in an old Volkswagen minibus, traveling across the country to get to the daughter's "Little Miss Sunshine" pageant.

On board are Richard's completely psychotic brother-in-law, played by Steve Carell, who has just tried to commit suicide because his gay lover has jilted him. Also in the bus is Alan Arkin, who plays Richard's father. Arkin's character is also a drug addict, who seemingly doesn't say no to anything.

"It's a strange family and a strange group of characters, and it worries me because it sounds like the wacky comedy family, and it's really not," Kinnear says. "I feel like there's a heart and a spirit to it that, you know, kind of elevates that. And yet, yes, you're right. Each of these characters are very unusual, and you find him in a strange crisis."

Kinnear has made some very interesting choices in picking his roles. He is in "Matador" with Pierce Brosnan.

"I think the last time we talked to you, these are not big Hollywood movies," Smith notes. "These are smaller movies where it seems we get to see a lot more you. We get to see you stretch your acting legs more. Is this is by design or by accident?"

"You know, I try to - I read the script. Whether it's a studio film or an independent film has less bearing these days than ever. This is being distributed by Fox. It all ends up at one of five places, these films eventually anyway. And smaller films in the independent world, there is a faster working process, which is kind of great," Kinnear explains. "I have a football movie for Disney coming out in August that was a much - it was three times the length to shoot it, and it's a different work ethic, but still, you know, at the end of the day, you just try to follow the characters and the roles."