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Amy Adams, Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin, Jason Spevack, Steve Zahn ... see more see more... , Mary Lynn Rajskub , Clifton Collins Jr. , Eric Christian Olsen , Kevin Chapman , Chris Browning

A thirtysomething single mother whose boundless potential was squandered through a series of failed relationships and a misguided effort to help her younger sister succeed in life finds the fruits of ... read more read more...her labors finally coming together in director Christine Jeffs' dark family comedy. Back in high school, the future looked pretty bright for Rose Lorkowski (Amy Adams); not only was she the cheerleading captain, but she was also dating the star quarterback. Flash forward a little over a decade, and Rose is working overtime in hopes of getting her son into a better school. Her sister, Norah (Emily Blunt), is still living at home with their father, Joe (Alan Arkin), a failed salesman whose penchant for jumping into get-rich-quick schemes has left the family without a financial net to fall back on. Rose may be down, but she certainly isn't out, and when she hatches a plan to launch a crime-scene cleanup business, the money starts rolling in. Sure, cleaning up murder scenes and suicide sites may not be the most glamorous job in the world, but death is a fairly profitable business, and as the phone keeps ringing, Rose and Norah finally begin to experience the closeness of sisterhood that has eluded them all these years while also providing their family with true security. ~ Jason Buchanan, Rovi

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59% liked it

177,356 ratings

Critics

72% liked it

166 critics

R, 1 hr. 42 min.

Directed by: Christine Jeffs

Release Date: March 13, 2009

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DVD Release Date: August 25, 2009

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Stats: 6,933 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (6,933)

  • danperry17
    November 19, 2011
    danperry17
    Another well-portrayed Amy Adams character lights up this bleak slice of life, and the story about taking pride in yourself and your work shines through. With the hand they've been dealt, the Norkowski sisters (Adams, as Rose, and Emily Blunt as Nora) have every right to lie down... read more and give up, but when an unorthodox opportunity knocks - an opportunity to go into business cleaning up violent crime scenes - the sisters relaunch themselves, and turn their lives in the right direction, though things can't stay sunny the whole way... can they? It's a decent movie overall, tugging hard (sometimes too hard) on our proverbial heartstrings, and leaving a few major questions unanswered, but it's a realistic, somewhat uplifting piece with an edge. A nice surprise.
  • TheDudeLebowski65
    October 29, 2011
    TheDudeLebowski65
    A very good film in the vein of such films as Little Miss Sunshine, Sunshine Cleaning is a charming and funny drama comedy film with a good cast. The film has a great story and the actors deliver wonderful, amusing performances. Sunshine Cleaning is the perfect example of an Indi... read moree film gets it right, using a simple story. Most indie films try to go overboard with the dialogue, story and acting, but Sunshine Cleaning has a perfect balance of everything that makes a good little film. This may not be a perfect film, however for the most part; it's a wonderfully executed film with great performances by Amy Adams and Emily Blunt. Along with King of California, Sunshine Cleaning is one of the best indie comedies to come out in quite some time. I very much enjoyed this film, and thought that the story was just great. The film succeeds on all levels at being a well rounded out drama comedy, and with the performances alone by the cast, Sunshine Cleaning is worth seeing. If you happen to come across this film at your local video store, give it a rent, you'll be surprised at how good it is. Sunshine Cleaning is a great little comedy film that blends dramatic elements very well. I thought that the story though a bit slow had enough momentum to keep me intrigued and entertained. If you're looking for a great indie comedy, give Sunshine Cleaning a view, this is a film worth watching. Brilliantly acted and directed.
  • ironclad1609
    September 19, 2011
    ironclad1609
    The comparison between this tragic-comedy and "Little Miss Sunshine" is not entirely unjustified. Here we also have very lovable yet slightly dysfunctional characters, Alan Arkin is even reprising his role as (not quite as grumpy) grandpa. The two leading ladies easily fill their... read more roles with life, easily making you care for their little business idea of cleaning up death sites. The biggest surprise of the film is Clifton Collins, who mostly played gangsters and killers so far and delivers a really likable performance as one-armed clerk. The script is smart, sweet and sad, but never takes it too far with the quirkiness. Even though nothing insanely exciting happens it is fun to follow those characters around for a while and you can't help but wish them nothing but the best. sadly, the film ends somewhat abruptly, when you would have seen a bit more of a solution for them. Still, very entertaining and lovable.
  • blkbomb
    June 22, 2011
    blkbomb
    "I recommend the pecan pie." Sunshine Cleaning was a good light drama because of the great performances by Amy Adams and Emily Blunt. They are both two of the best young actresses that are making movies right now. Amy Adams really showed how good she was in The Fighter. The story... read more in Sunshine Cleaning is interesting and entertaining enough. The story follows two sisters who start a business where they clean up after messy deaths. It's at times funny, and the chemistry between Adams and Blunt is really good. Well worth the watch.
  • dwt5411
    June 21, 2011
    dwt5411
    Well acted, but without a sense for the morbidity of its conceit or the desperation that would cause a person to pursue such a vocation, the film devolves into a chick-flick; it's as sticky as the blood and brain splattered floors Blunt and Adams squeamishly mop up.
  • MrMarakai
    May 13, 2011
    MrMarakai
    From the producers of "Little Miss Sunshine" we are told. Unfortunately, a film like this is reduced to riding on the success of another to gain any attention for itself. What a shame, as this well crafted 'dramady' has quality all it's own.
    In Albuquerque, N.M., struggling sing... read morele mum Rose Lorkowski (Amy Adams) starts a business mopping up crime scenes. She has no experience in this highly specialized field so she recruits her stoner sister Norah (Emily Blunt) to help out and both siblings become emotionally involved in the lives and deaths of the messily deceased, while rediscovering their self-esteem and creating a bond between them that they have longed for as sisters.
    I can't say that the tag of a film being 'produced' by the same people actually means anything. As far as I'm aware producers don't add anything creatively to a film. Personally I'm drawn to films that have interesting storylines or people involved that I've enjoyed before, and in this case, it's Amy Adams. Having seen "Junebug" and "The Fighter" of late, I've been really impressed by her superb performances which have lead me onto the path of this unanticipated treat. It's an adept comedy/drama with beautifully understated performances. The balance of dark comedy with family drama is skillfully handled by director Christine Jeffs, from an impressive debut script by Megan Holley. Minus a couple more oddballs family members, this has much in common with the previous producers film "Little Miss Sunshine". It has the same well drawn characters (Alan Arkin's eccentric grandpa included, only this time heroine free), the same mix of humour and pathos and the same upbeat tone in downbeat scenarios.
    After steadily building a reputation for herself, this is another choice role for the marvellous Amy Adams, who is without doubt, the actress to watch these days. A wonderfully structured little film that achieves a balance in the realism of it's characters in slightly surreal situations.
    An unexpected delight.
  • flixsterman
    May 8, 2011
    flixsterman
    My love affair with Amy Adams continues.
  • jamers2011
    April 24, 2011
    jamers2011
    Released as a highly anticipated feature at the 2008 Sundance Film Festival, and distributed by the producers of the acclaimed comedy, Little Miss Sunshine, everyone hoped Sunshine Cleaning would be brilliant. It is for those reasons that I think Sunshine Cleaning is not as liked... read more as it should. I feel like because it was not as good as Little Miss Sunshine, viewers and critics unfairly judge the film. In doing so they missed out on a great movie experience. What I found in this film was a touching, emotional story fueled by a fantastic cast, and an indie flare that holds it all together.

    The story was so depressing, more dpressing than I thought it would be. I imagined a comedy, but this film is most definitely a drama.

    The cast was absolutely fantastic. Amy Adams amazed me as I knew she would. She's my favorite actress and she does not disappoint here. She delivers a great performance, portraying multiple emotions and experiences so much. She was so convincing and I felt for her character through the whole film. Emily Blunt also gives a fantastic performance as the sister. She experiences similar things as her sister, but still the character required a special approach, and Blunt delivers. The combination of Adams and Blunt is incredible...and they're both so cute. I can't resist the two of them together. Alan Arkin also is convincing as the lonely father. His character could have been more developed, but I thought he did a very nice job. Supporting actors Steve Zahn, Mary Lynn Rajskub, and Clifton Collins Jr., also work nicely in the film. Great cast!

    I loved this film. I expected to like it, but I also was prepared for disappointment, but the movie delivered for me. I definitely think this film had opportunities to completely "hit it out of the park," but I still really really enjoyed it. I recommend this film!
  • RCCLBC
    March 21, 2011
    RCCLBC
    The potentials was there to "knock it out of the park", great cast...interesting story...intriguing characters.

    Sadly to spite all of that, it just never seemed to make it past second base.

    It's enjoyable enough, but it felt WAY too underdeveloped to me.
  • superclerk25
    February 28, 2011
    superclerk25
    It was good but not at all what I thought I was going to be watching. I thought I was getting into a funny indie film about two sisters starting a rather strange business together but what I actually got was a dramatic character piece about one sister who struggles to find self ... read moreconfidence and another who must come to terms with the loss of a loved one. It had a couple funny parts but it was mainly a deeply emotional look at these peoples lives.
    There were a couple story elements that I felt weren't wrapped up at the end but it works as this is a raw real world look at a few specific people and everything doesn't getting wrapped up in the real world.

View All Sunshine Cleaning Reviews

Critic Reviews

J. R. Jones
May 29, 2009
J. R. Jones, Chicago Reader

Taken on its own terms, though, it's a solid indie effort with plenty of nice character strokes by screenwriter Megan Holley and razor-sharp performances by Amy Adams and Emily Blunt. Full Review

Rick Groen
March 27, 2009
Rick Groen, Globe and Mail

Sunshine Cleaning is one of those dependent independent films -- dependent on the need to be "quirky" yet "heartfelt" too, and as much a slave to the formulaic as any Hollywood product. Full Review

Peter Howell
March 27, 2009
Peter Howell, Toronto Star

Adams and Blunt rise above the clunky premise and execution to once again demonstrate why they've become the go-to girls for any director seeking smart, versatile and warm-blooded talent. Full Review

Roger Moore
March 25, 2009
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel

The irrepressible Adams puts a sunny face on a life that hasn't worked out, but that's worth the struggle in spite of it all. Full Review

Dan Zak
March 20, 2009
Dan Zak, Washington Post

Sunshine Cleaning should have been a madcap comedy of the macabre, or a tangled yarn about the metaphorical biohazards of living life at the margins, but it shoots for the middle and ends up being jus... Full Review

Mick LaSalle
March 20, 2009
Mick LaSalle, San Francisco Chronicle

Sunshine Cleaning emerges as that rare American specimen -- a strong movie about women. Full Review

Amy Biancolli
March 20, 2009
Amy Biancolli, Houston Chronicle

This one is scripted, directed and acted with grace and immaculate care. Full Review

Tom Long
March 20, 2009
Tom Long, Detroit News

Lifted by a trio of fine performances, Sunshine Cleaning thrives on the unexpected and revels in the low-key. Full Review

Lisa Kennedy
March 20, 2009
Lisa Kennedy, Denver Post

Credit director Christine Jeffs and writer Megan Holley with revealing the sisters' pained back story ever so gently. Full Review

Colin Covert
March 19, 2009
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star Tribune

There should be a self-healing book for film performers titled "When Bad Scripts Happen to Good Actors." And the cast of Sunshine Cleaning should get a group discount. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Lynn: How'd she die?
    • Norah Norkowski: It was sorta a do-it-yourself thing?
    • Rose Norkowski: There's not a lot that I am good at. But I'm good at getting guys to want me. Not date me, or marry me, but want me.
  • Life's a messy business.
  • Rose (Amy Adams) did not take a gift with her to the baby shower.
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Sunshine Cleaning Trivia

  • Who is Rose having an affair with in the film 'Sunshine Cleaning.'?  Answer »
  • Who was in these films? Sunshine Cleaning Sahara Employee of the Month Daddy Day Care  Answer »
  • Notable & Influential Films of ____. Milk The Secret Life of Bees Sunshine Cleaning Rachel Getting Married Che  Answer »
  • Amy Adams movie quotes- guess which film this comes from: "There's not a lot that I am good at. But I'm good at getting guys to want me. Not date me, or marry me, but want me."  Answer »
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