This is a realistic slice of life and reflects The struggles at the bottom of society and how millions of people live and the types of circumstances and challenges faced by the working class. the protagonist has a McJob and she and her boyfriend face challenges. Realistically for folks in this type of situation most of the people they know can offer little help because they are facing multiple challenges of own. Matt and Naomi are a bit too good locking to successfully portray very poor people, who usually seem older tan their years. These two are very fit and attractive and do not seem on a level with their peers. The main character in the film appears stronger than the men in her life (at first) but she turns out to be a loser and an immoral person who victimizes the weakest member of her family and shows herself to be pathetic. Of course she does this in order to " fix" her problems, but of course this will fix nothing and will simple add another negative factor, one that can never be corrected. ultimately it's a depressing film but in that it refers the reality of bad choices.

Watching the love scenes in this movie, as the two navigate through squalor so they can enjoy the only thing that really matters, is something that I think anyone can relate to. The acting from Naomi Watts and Matt Dillon is pretty amazing. It's worth it to watch this film just to catch them at their mature adult acting prime. Throughout the film there's a nagging hint that a tragedy is right around the corner, and it is, sort of. But it ends up just being another bunch of stuff they have to work through in their already insanely difficult lives. They transcend it and survive, once again, wrapped in each other's arms. A typical ending but it makes a solid statement about love. Really a pleasure to watch. Certainly not fast paced but evenly edited. The street scenes of Clearwater Florida are spot on with their array of strange weirdos and junkies.

"We got a plan and we're taking care of our business, but it's been stressful." Melissa (Watts) is a convenience store clerk who lives in a motel with her paraplegic boyfriend Richie (Dillon). She hates her job and Richie is struggling with his troubles trying to take care of her. When Melissa finds out she is pregnant what starts out as extreme happiness begins to change. The troubles at her job and the motel begin to wear on them. This is a perfect example of a movie that is just OK but when you add great actors to them it makes it much better then it could have been. This is just another "how much worse can things get" type movie but because of Watts and Dillon you truly care about the characters and root for them against all odds. You feel for the struggles they go through and as the movie goes on you feel as beaten down as they do. This is not a happy movie at all but it does feel very real and that is the sign of a good movie, it makes you feel things emotionally. Overall, a movie that is worth seeing but very depressing and you feel like you have been emotionally beaten at the end of it, much like you feel after watching Precious. I give this a B.

I wanted to review this movie because it was such a nice surprise to enjoy it after I had avoided seeing it due to the low rating here. This is a really original movie, with solid performances by the lead actors. From the IMDb summary you know the basis of the film, whats original about it is it does not focus overly on the negative - depressing themes etc. Due to the characters being in a low income, 'poor' demographic of society, so many movies are made with a view of looking down, pity, there is something wrong and these people need to change. This film is very real but not negative or depressing. It shows that just because a couple is not living the American dream, it does not mean their lives don't include fun, love, laughter etc regularly. There was no bullshit in this movie, no 'Hollywoodness'. And I liked it. Its so good Matt Damon and Naomi Watts take on films like this. I'd rate it a 7, but give it an 8 here to boost the rating!

It's hard to really distinguish the very good indie flicks from the not-so-very-good ones, and that's because not many people see many of them, not many notices, not many reviews out there for others to see and make a judgment as to if they want to watch a certain flick because of reviews (or not). In that case, this film isn't bad, but I may not totally recommend it either. The performances are solid but nothing extraordinary, certainly not acting that would stand as some of the best of the year. Watts has done this certain thing before and better, and she has some iffy moments here. Matt Dillon may actually be stronger and more consistent, but yeah, not much stretch as an actor the role called for. It's not really "bad" though.

Sometimes a movie is just to darn glum for its own good, an example that could be tailor made for Sherrybaby director Laurie Collyer's raw and in the end mediocre 2013 effort Sunlight Jr. The movie is a fine showcase for the well known talents of Naomi Watts and the arguable lesser recognized talents of Matt Dillon and also a warning bell that Norman Reedus needs to find himself a new agent faster than he can say "typecast". The story of Sunlight Jr. is really bare bones stuff with Collyer seemingly more worried about what depressing thing will happen to these people next rather than creating something that really affects the viewer. Many scenarios in the picture could hit home whether it be substance abuse, relationships, domestic violence or a raft of other tough issues but the film doesn't seem to know what it's saying and the arc struggles for it. We don't really get why a kind person like Melissa loves an obvious drunk like Richie or why she would care for a redneck drug dealing fiend in the form of Justin and it makes her decisions through the journey harder to latch onto which is a shame as Watts again delivers here. Creating a fine name for herself over many years now Watts must of taken a significant pay cut to appear in such a picture as this and it's commendable that she would tackle a smaller scale picture that would only seem to exist to win awards for it's actors. Melissa is a fine piece of acting by Watts that is somewhat matched by Dillon while poor old Reedus must be wondering if he will ever get a non Daryl role now. Justin is such an overblown and overplayed part by Reedus that the films believability suffers for it and it's a shame he was allowed to go so OTT, same could also be said for the films atrocious guitar tinged soundtrack. Without another fine turn from Watts this film would of been a real lost cause but thanks to her it remains watchable but highly forgettable. If a film wants to be glum it needs to overcome this with high quality elements and everything else here around Watts just isn't up to scratch leaving the viewer with not much to care for and not much reason to suggest to anyone that this trip into sorrow is worth enduring. 2 packs of donuts out of 5 For more movie reviews and opinions check out - www.jordanandeddie.wordpress.com

Laurie Collyer's SUNLIGHT JR. is a quiet meditation on true love and deep struggle. Set against the backdrop of a gritty, urban America, Naomi Watts and Matt Dillon are Missy and Richie, a couple trying to make their way despite a world that will not give them a break. Brave performances and phenomenal chemistry between Watts and Dillon bring a level of tenderness to a relationship unfolding in a world that is anything but tender. Collyer (SHERRYBABY, NUYORICAN DREAM) delivers a potent story about love and how, in a life full of sometimes seemingly insurmountable obstacles, it is truly at the core of what really matters.

"It's all you wanted to do, just cry. And now look at you. There's two men out there in the kitchen fightin' over you." Sunlight Jr. is director Laurie Collyer's follow up to Sherrybaby and once again she creates a strong leading female character, but her script is weak and despite showing the reality and hardships of life it doesn't seem to be saying anything. It is just a depressing vision of lovers who are struggling to survive and keep their love afloat. We usually don't get to see this side of society represented on film, but despite her efforts and Naomi Watt's excellent performance we don't actually get anything special or revealing from Sunlight Jr. The film doesn't have anything to say and it just puts us right in the center of the lives of two people who are barely making a living and who are basically hopeless. Despite giving her lead female character a lot of substance, the rest of the cast are pretty much one dimensional. Collyer doesn't seem to like men very much as none of them in this film have any redeeming quality. Watts however had a lot to work with since her character has a lot of depth and is determined to overcome her struggles. Everyone else is just there to bring her down, and in a way they bring down the entire film as well. The storyline is just too grim for my taste. I'm not being fair with Matt Dillon, he gives a strong performance, it's just that he didn't have much to work with and like his character he is disabled by the script. Melissa (Naomi Watts) and Richie (Matt Dillon) are happy together despite their economic struggles which force them to live at a small motel in Florida. Melissa works as a clerk at a nearby convenience store (Sunlight Jr.) winning minimum wage, while Richie who is a paraplegic is unemployed. He receives a monthly check for his disability, but it's not much. Despite the harsh conditions Melissa and Richie seem happy together, and when she finds out she's pregnant they both have something to look forward to. However their situation changes when Melissa loses her job and it takes a toll on their relationship. They are forced to move back with her alcoholic mother, Kathleen (Tess Harper), and the tension builds. There is also Melissa's ex boyfriend, Justin (Norman Reedus), who has been stalking her and complicating things even more. That is about all the drama you will get from Sunlight Jr, which doesn't really seem to explore any issues. Sunlight Jr. might be a very authentic and realistic portrayal of an underrepresented side of society, but it really doesn't have anything to say either. It is grim and realistic, but there is no message. It's as if we got to catch a glimpse of someone's life, but we don't learn anything we haven't already seen before. The performances from Watts and Dillon are what make this film slightly tolerable, but the pacing and lack of narrative hurt this film. It is just a sad film that fails to connect with you. Sunlight Jr. can be described as a slice-of-life drama, but there isn't really much more to this indie. It is a very slow and depressing film to sit through and I think that was Collyer's intention. She's not aiming to entertain, she wants us to see the struggle these people go through, but she does so without giving us any hope whatsoever and leaves us depressed.

I know both Naomi Watts and Matt Dillon look young for their age, but the fact is when this movie was made, in 2013, Matt is close to 50 and Naomi is in her mid-40's! I liked this movie, but I had a real problem with the ages of the actors! Only a couple in their 20's, 30's at the latest, would have these problems!! What were the writers thinking?? I mean, an unplanned pregnancy at her age?? And such financial difficulties?? Homelessness? Living with her Mother? At their age?? Ridiculous! Even with him being disabled. And speaking of that, SURELY he'd be getting a little more money for his disability. I don't know. I love these actors, so I liked the movie for that reason. But their ages really threw me off!!

I'm sick of all these new films. SUNLIGHT Jr. has a terrific cast - MATT DILLON and NOAMI WATTS. The background score reminded me of early SMASHING PUMPKINS. The film does have pretty good setting about ordinary working class Americans who work in convenience stores and take care of motels. They drink a lot of beer in the evening and eat mac and cheese. The film is about the impact the recession and general slothful lifestyle have on their lives. The actors are good, but the script is unimaginative. There are the usual bunch of clichéd problems these working class characters have to go through. Like the cruel boss and pregnancy. The director inserts the melancholic grungy background score in scenes with no substance. I was looking forward to this film. really disappointed. i couldn't even finish it. (5/10)