Sunshine Cleaning (2009) R - 3 Stars

A happy little semi dysfunctional family tries to turn things around when they go into business for themselves, cleaning up after the dead. Here's a cute little quirky story of having it all and then not. Filled with compassion, the story line is very unique and the characters are down to earth , quickly drawing you into their world. Adams portrays a seemingly real woman with real problems, and along with Blunt and Arkin, they all work well together. The ending just leaves you hanging a bit and I was disappointed in the fact the movie never really explains the relationship between Winston and Rose. It looked like it was going somewhere and then he's gone from the picture, literally.

Rose Lorkowski (Amy Adams), was top of the charts in high school. She was head of the cheer leading squad and dated the quarter back of the football team. But now, in her thirties, it's all she can do just to keep a roof over her and her son Oscar's (Jason Spevack), head. She cleans houses for a living while her sister Norah (Emily Blunt), isn't doing much at all. Still living with their father Joe (Alan Arkin), Norah looses jobs quite frequently. Guess she takes after dad, who's been trying to make it rich with a silly get rich quick schemes for years. There's got to be more to life.

However, Rose is still dating Mac (Steve Zahn), the quarter back, now turned police man, as she pathetically sneaks away to cheap motels to be with him now that he's married. Her life seems to be a struggle and when Oscar behaves inappropriately at school, Rose is determined the school must be at fault and vows to get him into private schooling. But, that takes extra money she doesn't have, and Mac is good for more than one thing as he tells her about a cleaning gigs at crime scenes.

Sunshine Cleaning is born and Rose and Norah are now on their way to making it to the big time. All they have to do is go into a crime scene, throw everything away and tidy the place up to pull in the big bucks. In the process, they meet wonderful new friends like Winston (Clifton Collins, Jr.), as the girls discover the closeness of sisterhood and family, all while scrubbing the blood off walls and furniture.

Big Beach Productions, Back Lot Pictures, Overture Films
Director: Christine Jeffs, Karen Moncrieff
Writer: Megan Holley
Producers: Peter Saraf, Jeb Brody, Marc Turtletaub

I viewed 8/09