Director: Christine Jeffs
Starring: Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin
Amy Adams latest film Sunshine Cleaning is a film that has a lot going for it. The movie revolves around Rose Lorkowski(Amy Adams), and her family. Her life is one with many problems, she is seeing a man that is married, her child can’t seem to keep out of trouble, and she is stuck in a less than desirable job. Her family situation isn’t much better; her father is a widower (Alan Arkin), with get rich quick schemes dominating his time, and her sister (Emily Blunt) is a stoner/slacker living life on the fringe. Desperate, after her sons latest problem cause him to be pulled out of school, her married cop lover (Steve Zahn), suggests that she get into the business of cleaning up crime scenes. With the reluctant help of her sister, she jumps head first into the field of “biohazard removal”.
The plot of the film is admittedly weak and somewhat predictable; many will be able to guess what is coming next, but this is not necessarily a terrible thing. While it does, at times, drift into familiar territory it does so in such a way that the audience can forgive it and the plot manages to be interesting enough to keep viewers engaged, enabling Blunt and Adams acting talents to shine.
This is the main attraction of the film, the acting of Adams and Blunt. Adams is fantastic in her role and is able to connect with the audience and make her character both believable and sympathetic. Blunt also does a fantastic job, owning her character and serving as a good counterpoint to Adams hardworking one. Their interactions on screen are the highlight of the film, with the cleaning sequences, particularly the early ones, adding a humorous element; that keeps the film upbeat.
Arkin, as the father and grandfather figure, adds to the mix, bringing his considerable talents to the table. His role is similar to the one he portrayed in Little Miss Sunshine as the humorous, scheming grandfather. The young actor, who plays Adams’ son in the film, is also amusing. In particular, his scene in the candy store is memorable as he tells the young girl that strawberry fancy corn will give her bionic strength.
The film is an admittedly morbid, with death obviously in the forefront, but this is well balanced by the humorous elements, which keep it from becoming a drag. Anytime that Blunt or Adams are on screen, either together or apart, they steal the scenes, showcasing their considerable ability. Ultimately, I would recommend the film, it is sure to pull on your heart strings, and put a smile on your face, something many movies cannot claim.
Score: 7/10
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