Though more serious than its name implies, good characters and humor help "Sunshine Cleaning" to shine.
Amy Adams stars as Rose Lorkowski, a 30-something single mother who finds herself in need of a better job so she can send her troubled son Oscar to private school. Rose charges into the field of crime scene clean-up accompanied by her sister Norah (Emily Blunt), completely unaware of what they are getting themselves into. As they navigate the sometimes bloody and smelly but always somber business of cleaning up the messes people have left behind, they find help from their father (Alan Arkin), cleaning supply storeowner Winston (Clifton Collins Jr.) and Lynn (Mary Lynn Rajskub). Although Rose and Norah start the business as a way to quickly make money, they soon discover that they're not only profiting financially but also personally as they learn to work together and reevaluate the direction their lives are going.
Adams once again shows her acting skill in her turn as Rose, who can't seem to break free from the naivet? of her high school glamour years. While the audience may become frustrated with Rose as she almost refuses to let go of her past, throughout the movie Rose learns to gradually move on.
Blunt, a rising star in her own right, displays great talent as Norah, who struggles with having little memory of her mother and knowing what she wants out of life. Although there is a slight feeling of incompletion when it comes to Norah's relationship with Lynn, the focus is more on her progression from aimless living to attempting to find direction and purpose in her life. Though their new careers are not the best, and they don't always get along, Rose and Norah learn to work together and face reality as they also improve their own lives while bettering the lives of others in a small way.
While the movie does have its comedic moments, the overall tone is darker and more serious as it attempts to (and succeeds in) realistically depicting the struggles of the Lorkowski family financially and emotionally. The performances of Adams, Blunt, Arkin and the rest of the cast help to lighten the mood with quirky humor that one can only expect from a film from the producers of "Little Miss Sunshine."
If you're looking for a movie with quality characters in the post-Oscar season, "Sunshine Cleaning" shines as an original story of growth, bonding and bloody messes.
You can reach this writer at thescene@theeagleonline.com.
