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Starring |
Amy Adams
,
Emily Blunt
,
Alan Arkin
,
Steve Zahn
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Directed By |
Christine Jeffs
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Audio
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Dolby Digital 5.1
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Visuals
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2.35:1 Anamorphic Widescreen
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Running Time |
87 mins
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UK Release Date |
November 16, 2009
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Genre |
Comedy
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Our Rating |
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User Rating |
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These are glorious days for both Amy Adams and Emily Blunt, with both the American Adams (who has notched up an impressive seven releases just since 2007’s Enchanted) and the British Blunt both at the height of their considerable powers.
Yet despite impressive performances from both, Sunshine Cleaning is hardly the sparkling success it might have been. The failure lies less with the two leads than with a premise that might have worked better as an HBO TV series than as an independent film.
Amy Adams plays Rose, the older of two sisters and ostensibly the more sensible one. It is she who has become a mother and has secured a job (as a cleaner anyway) while her younger sister Norah (Blunt) has thus far drifted through life, shirking serious attachment or responsibility. On the other hand, Rose does also enjoy a relationship with married police officer Mac (the always watchable Steve Zahn). It is he who tips her off about the potentially lucrative scheme which the girls soon embark upon: a business cleaning up the results of the often messy aftermath of domestic crime scenes. The enterprise, however, quickly proves even more problematic than might have been expected, as the sisters are quickly reminded of the tragic events in their own childhood.
The problems of tone are in many ways signposted by the title, which cynically seems to have been created partly to forge artificial comparisons with the more successful indie flick Little Miss Sunshine. While not totally misleading – both films feature Alan Arkin, share a producer and are black comedies of a sort – anyone expecting a repeat of Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris’s road movie will be disappointed. Well acted it may be, but Sunshine Cleaning ultimately does a far worse job of daubing a smiley face on what is, in this case, generally gloomy material.
Extras wise, the main disappointment is the general absence of the ever busy Adams and Blunt (as well as director Jeffs). The commentary from writer Megan Holley and producer Greg Williamson is engaging enough, however and there’s also an insightful featurette about the real life world of biohazard cleaning. But overall this is a mildly enjoyable piece which doesn’t quite hit the mark.
Overall Verdict: Pleasant enough at the time but don’t be surprised to find you’ve forgotten it a month later.
Special Features:
Audio Commentary with Writer Megan Holley and Producer Greg Williamson
'A Fresh Look At A Dirty Business' Featurette
Trailer
Reviewer: Chris Hallam
