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SUNSHINE CLEANING

Starring: Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin, Steve Zahn Clifton Collins, Jr., Mary Lynn Rajskub and Jason Spevak

Directed by: Christine Jeffs

Rated R for language, disturbing images, some sexuality and drug use

By John Delia

Although I expected a comedy after seeing the trailer, Sunshine Cleaning surprised me with a wonderful little drama that is memorable and captivating. The acting by Adams and Blunt takes top prize for best chemistry as the two bounce off each other in ways that make you laugh and cry at the same time. If you like films like Juno and Little Miss Sunshine, then this dramatic comedy is for you.

Rose Lorkowski (Adams) was once a high school cheerleading standout and was headed for a dream life, then came reality. A down and out cleaning lady for a local service, Rose has succumbed to a mundane life with her father Joe (Arkin) and sister Norah (Blunt) as her only family support. Add to this that her get-rich-quick scheming father and her sister can’t keep a job, while her son keeps getting kicked out of school for inappropriate behavior. One day after making love to her married ex-boyfriend (Zahn) he comes up with a suggestion that she can clean up crime scenes for a living. After getting Norah to join with her on the idea the two start making great strides and the family sees new hope. When the business takes a turn for the worse however, Rose and Norah have to face some very tough decisions.

The acting is the key here to the film’s success. Adams and Blunt really make a plausible duo in this slice of life drama that is unfortunate yet uplifting. The two even look a lot alike so they really fit the family profile. Their character’s personalities, however are totally opposite, while Rose is level headed, Norah is lamebrain and awkward. I really loved the two as they try to run a business that gets too much for them and finally gets out of hand.

In support, both Zahn and Arkin are superb. Zahn plays a local cop who has to visit the bloody crime scenes that need a lot of clean-up where he comes up with the idea for Rose’s business. Arkin provides the comic relief with the wild sales schemes he comes up with to make money for the family. The shrimp caper stands out as one of the funniest scenes of the film.

The movie is rated R for language, disturbing images, some sexuality and drug use so take this into consideration when viewing the film.

FINAL ANALYSIS: A very good film for those that like slice of life films. (4.5 of 5 Palm Trees)