Amy Adams Brings the Sparkle to ‘Sunshine Cleaning’

Rating: 3.5/5.0

CHICAGO – Amy Adams gives a performance in Christine Jeffs’ “Sunshine Cleaning” that is not only the best actress turn of the year to date but nearly single-handedly makes the many flaws of this quirky comedy easy to overlook. It’s rare, but sometimes one talented star can make any project shine. Amy Adams is that talented.

In many ways, what Adams delivers in “Sunshine Cleaning” is more subtle and complex than the naivete routine that earned her an Oscar nomination for “Doubt”. Yes, Adams gives yet another performance that could be part of the year-end conversation when awards are being handed out, although the film is average enough that she’ll probably be forgotten.

Read Brian Tallerico’s full review of “Sunshine Cleaning” in our reviews section.

The rest of “Sunshine Cleaning” needed a bit more polish, particularly the bizarre screenplay that jumps tones like a film festival patron bouncing from movie to movie. “Cleaning” is from the genre of “Sundance comedies” like “Little Miss Sunshine” or “Juno” (although it’s not nearly as good as either).

The “Sundance comedy” is practically a formula at this point - odd characters, a great ensemble, quirky dialogue, unexpected plot twists, and usually Steve Zahn or Alan Arkin. The problem is that, like a lot of Sundance comedies, being overly unpredictable and quirky is sort of, well, predictable for a movie like “Sunshine Cleaning”.

Continuing reading for Brian Tallerico’s full “Sunshine Cleaning” review.

Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin, Jason Spevack and Amy Adams star in Sunshine Cleaning.
Photo credit: Lacey Terrell and Overture Films