Not a lot of people can put a positive spin on "removal of bio-hazard materials".. but Amy Adams sure can! Even though there are elements in the movie that make it very "Little Miss Sunshine-esque" - it still manages to be original. The story unfolds delectably to reveal a family that appears to be normal on the outside, but is struggling under the weight of personal tragedy, shattered dreams, unfulfilled expectations and a general sense of malaise. Yes, that does sound depressing, but the characters manage to find humor in their daily tribulations. And that's what makes this movie into an uplifting, bitter-sweet tale of family, failures, triumphs and redemption.
In a nutshell (and without giving away too much!) Amy Adams plays Rose, who goes from being a popular cheerleader in highschool to a single mom working in a cleaning company to owning her own "crime scene clean up" business. Her sister, Norah (played by Emily Blunt.. of "The Devil wears Prada" fame) never moved past their mother's tragic death, and is constantly in a state of lethargy and cigarette-induced stupor. Their father (loved Alan Arkin in this role!) is the eternal optimist, always on the brink of THE business opportunity that will make him rich. Dysfunctional family relationships are usually the focus of indy flicks.. and this movie is no exception. "Rachel getting married" and "Margot at the wedding" are examples of other small films that have attempted to depict this complex bond. In its characterization of Rose and Norah, "Sunshine Cleaning" brings authenticity to the portayal of the nuances and subtleties that exist between sisters.
Overall, the movie is missing the "feel good" factor of "Little Miss Sunshine" by a hair.. but I don't think the writer's objective was to make the viewer attain that state of mind. The tag line of the movie is "Life's a messy business".. and the writer tries to convey just that, by offering surprising comedic elements as a relief from the darker themes of death and grief.
