Sunshine Cleaning 3.21

I don't think this movie could have come out at a better time (with the current state of things). Rose (Amy Adams) is a single mom struggling to stay afloat and take care of her kid, all while battling an affair with married Mac (Steve Zahn). You feel pity for Rose seeing her so attached to someone who's clearly not available. I'm sure most girls out there will relate to these feelings and kick themselves for not kicking the habit (or guy) earlier.

A standout performance is delivered by Nora (Emily Blunt --Devil Wears Prada). Nora, Rose's sister, lives at home with their father, unable to hold down a job and clearly not a fan of her life. I found myself identifying with her throughout the movie...unsure of where exactly you belong in the world and what you're supposed to do with your life.

So Rose proposes the idea of opening a crime scene clean-up operation (enter Sunshine Cleaning) for her and Nora. Seeing these two walk into a trailer, gasping for air and tying shirts around their heads to keep out the putrid fumes was hilarious. I found myself holding my nose in the theatre as if I was standing in this dump with them. While some of the movie is laughs, they clean up after people have died, so it does get a little emotional. Rose and Nora walk into homes to make everything better in others lives while ignoring their own hazardous spills in life.

Managed to cry for the third time in a movie theatre [others were Pearl Harbor (any movie that "kills" off Ben Affleck and Josh Hartnett...depressing) and Curly Sue (the envelope scene was just too much!)]. Wasn't full blown crying mind you. Just a few tears trickling down the cheeks. I felt way too involved in this movie.

The movie does have a little feel of Little Miss Sunshine as they share the New Mexico location, same Grandpa (Alan Arkin), same Grandpa/Grandkid relationship and the driving of a van. Other than that, two different messes that clean-up nicely.