Friday night, the kids were asleep, and we were browsing the Netflix Watch Instantly queue for something good to watch. We settled on Sunshine Cleaning, a 2008 film starring Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, and Alan Arkin. The film takes place in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Amy Adams plays a single mother who works as a maid to support herself and her son. When her son gets in trouble at school, she needs to find money to send him to private school. She starts a crime scene clean-up company with her slightly-undependable sister, played by Emily Blunt. Alan Arkin plays their father who is always looking for odd ways to make money, be it selling popcorn or frozen shrimp.
This is a small indie black comedy, and it had its moments. It was nice to see a film about regular folks working hard to make it. Too many times, we’re watching movies about well-to-do people with meaningless problems. These characters were just trying to make it, which was more satisfying. I’d give this a 6 or 7 out of ten.
Sunshine Cleaning (2008)