Writer: Lai Swee Wei

Writer Ratings:
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Effects: NA
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Watch this if you liked: “Little Miss Sunshine”

"Suicide... It's a good thing," as said by Emily Blunt in this film and may have been a good idea for this reviewer. Don't be deceived by the cheerful title of "Sunshine Cleaning" when the tale revolves around two desperate sisters, Rose and Norah who decides to make a living by cleaning up crime scenes. A bloody affair, but somebody has to do it. Heck, eventually the girls discover something far deeper than just cleaning up the mess - helping people cope better with the passing of their loved one. Least it makes the job sound less gruesome and maid-like.

Former high school popular cheerleader, Rose is a single mom raising an intelligent seven-year-old seems to have her life at a stand-still. She works as a cleaning lady and is in a shabby affair with a married cop, Steve Zahn who is her former high school sweetheart.

Plenty of issues surround this movie, Rose and Norah struggles with their new cleaning company ironically named Sunshine Cleaning, Rose continues her affair with a married cop, Norah keeps in contact with a deceased lady's daughter to break the news of her mother's death, Rose's son behaves awkwardly after listening to horror stories made-up by Norah, their father - well, nothing much, but he does some good somewhere. The story has quirky characters with emotional and humoristic elements here and there. However, it leaves this reviewer feeling flat as no climax could be felt.

Thankfully, a ray of sunshine can be found and it comes in the form of Amy Adams who plays the main character Rose. The "Ella Enchanted" star has always seemed so genuine in her performance, projecting honesty, integrity, vulnerability and strength into Rose's character. This bubbly girl here can morph from a Disney chick to a single mother with emotional issues. Emily Blunt does well as a rebellious yet helpful sister and Clifton Collins Jr, a one-armed man who owns a cleaning store exudes a sweet charm, adding a good dimension for Adam's possibly new prospect.

"Sunshine Cleaning" needs some cleaning up to do because the story itself seemed dull.

Cinema Online, 08 July 2009