Sunshine Cleaning Review

Messages: Although the movie ultimately has a hopeful message and reinforces the importance of family ties, it's not exactly straightforward. Characters constantly disappoint each other, and there are many grim themes related to death and loss.

Role models: Despite many flaws, the family members are close, and they see each other through both ups and downs. But back to those flaws: A single woman continually hooks up with a married man, and another woman fails to honor a work commitment, leaving her sister/business partner to deal with a major accident. A grandfather means well but takes a long time to finally get his act together. Also, a child appears to be having a hard time adjusting to school, and his teachers seem quite harsh.

Violence: Only one scene actually depicts active violence -- a man commits suicide in public by shooting himself with a rifle in the first 15 minutes of the movie. But since the film is about a service for cleaning crime scenes, biohazards, etc., viewers see lots of the after effects of violence, including blood on mattresses, chairs, and other places; bits of brain and other flesh on the floor; and a severed finger. Another scene shows children discovering a woman who's slit her wrists. There are also a few loud fights.

Sex: A woman is shown trysting with a married man many times; she's usually wearing nothing but her underwear, and they kiss and grope each other. A man is shown grinding on a woman while she lies there, uninterested; he's shirtless, and she is, for the most part, clothed. A woman flirts with another by pretending to bite a necklace she's wearing.

Language: A grown-up explains the meaning of the word "bastard" to a child and (affectionately) calls him that. Other words include several uses of "s--t" and "f--k," as well as "bulls--t," "dumbass," damn," "goddamn," and "oh my God."

Consumerism: Not an issue

Drinking, drugs and smoking: A woman smokes pot. Some casual drinking.