Sunshine Cleaning

It's very hard in the middle of this conflicted conservative yet hipster city to find a place to view even the most accessible of indie flicks. I had thought after hearing that the people who produced Little Miss Sunshine (referred to as LMS in the rest of this review) also poured money into this movie, there was no way it wouldn't not end up a fan favorite in theaters across the board. I watched and waited, tissues at the ready, until the release date came. And passed unnoticed. The flick breezed from my memory. And then the miracle that is the $3.50 theatre proffered a surprise that lifted my spirits and sent me into a sleepless night, full of visions of the bittersweet lovefest that would be my matinee visit to this flick. And Reader, I have to say this flick did not disappoint.

Commencing with the obligatory yet minimal summary: a single mother teams up with her druggie sister to form an uncertified crime scene clean-up crew in order to pay for her son's education in an institution that embraces his genius. There are many very LMS-esque conventions in this piece, possibly to the flick's detriment.  It begins with a suicide. We are then introduced to seven characters who are either coming to accept their fuckedupedness and shine, or who deny their flaws and fade out of the audience's memory before the end. Of course, all of the major characters are endearing to the point of being syrupy. Alan Arken also stars in this film. He's apparently been typecast by Big Beach as the grandfather whose filthy mouth and insistence upon his family's inherent good makes him the Pop Pop of America's heart. And where do these guys find these children?! Arg! Jason Spevack, while arguably not as talented as Abigail Breslin, is the kind of child whose Bambi-eyes and naivete inevitably draws an unintentional "Awww..." from even the most cynical of viewers.

An  aspect of my personality that may not have surfaced in my prior reviews is my tendency to weep at even a whiff of sap. No seriously, I have sobbed through commercials for Rice Krispies, Downy, and Pine-Sol (I promise there is minimal hyperbole in that claim). This movie brought the rain. If you find being artificially induced into wracked sobs in public places somehow cathartic, you will love this flick. The second half is filled with scenes clearly calculated to boost Puff's sales.

But after having pulled myself together in the emptying theatre during the credits (and then again in the bathroom, and once more in the car...), I can't help but think this film may be a little too artificial. In the same way that LMS sometimes relies too heavily upon creatively-spun cliches, this flick is also sometimes a little too predictable, sacrificing major plot details (What happened to Lynn? Why would you light candles so close to explosive chemicals?) in exchange for the big cry scenes. This should not deter my loyal readers from strapping themselves into the manic-depressive celebration of life, just don't be expecting anything that will permanently alter your top ten flick faves.

Reason to watch: the "ACD," leg-licking, lobsterman-wannabe child

Everyone's celebrity crush: Emily Blunt. She's hot like E>**WHAT?!**<3