DVD Reviews

Sunshine Cleaning

• Rating:
• Director: Christine Jeffs
• Starring: Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin, Steve Zahn
• Details: US/102mins (15A)

If you've got a thing about unresolved character issues, then you're best off steering clear of Sunshine Cleaning, a film with a lot of issues, but very little in the way of resolution. Sure, if it was the filmmaker's intention to simply have the characters explore said issues, then they've achieved that unequivocally - just don't expect indigestion from all the tasty closure. With thespian ability on show that would make Oscar's balls drop, it's just a shame that the rest of the film doesn't resonate with the same amount of quality as its featured players. Story sees Amy Adams play Rose, a single mother who never really fulfilled some early potential. Once hugely popular, she was the captain of the cheerleading squad and dating the quarterback; Rose is now a minimum wage maid, cleaning well-off former school friend's pricey pads. Still sleeping with her former High School sweetheart, who's now a married cop; he tips her off about recent murder scenes, and how she could make serious dough cleaning them up. After roping in her cynical sister, the two find a stirring independence in being their own bosses, but must tackle some life and business issues before they can really call their daring endeavour a success. With a tone very much reminiscent of the recent Little Miss Sunshine, 'Cleaning' is far less delightful altogether. Apart from the aforementioned problems with the script, nothing really happens for the entire middle of the film, and it doesn't pick up at all for the final third. It's still amusing in parts, though, thanks to Arkin, Blunt and Adams; but it's often far too frustrating to really enjoy. There are a lot of fractured relationships here, and many of them scoot by without a mention. Who is Adams' kid's father? What kind of relationship did their mother have with their father that would cause her to such drastic action? Why would you leave your kid with a creepy, one-armed guy with a pony tail you barely know? There are seemingly the ingredients here for a really enjoyable indie feature, it's just that there is no character cohesion whatsoever; and in a film of this sort, that is as imperative as loading the camera with film. Worth watching for the three leads, this is ultimately a trying experience, that you'd be best off waiting for on DVD.

Review by Mike Sheridan