When i read the logline i was hopeful because it sounded like something with depth; a couple on hard times expecting their first child. When I saw that Matt Dillon was in it I knew it was going to be good. I got more excited when i saw J Mascis (Dinosaur Jr.) did the soundtrack and the backdrop of a setting in Florida also sounded promising. Matt Dillon and Naomi Watts did the best they could with the overall " miss" of the story that could have been more than just one big downer. The soundtrack falls flat... Mostly just meaningless guitar noodling that didnt convey any type of emotion that could have drawn the viewers in.

It’s a very apt portrayal of the people stuck in generational poverty, their lives and choices. It is empathetic, heartbreaking yet consoling all at once.

1.29.19 NF w/Sh & J

Not great, sad that it is realistic

I like Naomi Watts and Matt Dillon somewhat, but, this film does not portray, in the least, their acting ability. Really didn't like it.

Another independent art house film where Naomi Watts plays a clerk working in a convenience store. She supports her husband Matt Dillon who is an invalid in a wheelchair. A sad, poignant and somewhat pathetic story about how they struggle through their difficulties.

It was a decent look at the working poor but it kept getting worse and worse with no light at the end. And then it ended with the girl with zero options getting back with the abusive handicapped boyfriend. Wth.

Despite the uplifting title, Sunlight Jr. Is a dull drama heading towards a very unhappy ending. Naomi Watts gave a good performance but the mediocre script and lousy story made it all hard to enjoy.

Sunlight Jr. was good. Watts and Dillon were outstanding. I liked the whole idea that movie centers around the store.

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

why is it ....getting an abortion is the answer to the problem? the ultra sound showed life with movement, but killed the unborn baby anyway...pathetic movie!

Some stories just get progressively worse and just end and the Director did a great job of sticking with it. This is an emotional roller coaster and reminiscent of struggles growing up. Some might not find this appealing but I think it's a great love story that takes place within the working poor. Remove affluent or prestige and you'll genuine relationships. I want to see more stories like this.

Not a happy film with a happy ending, but a realistic portrayal of life for the ever growing working poor, never have money, never have enough of anything and showing how miserable things are for the unskilled. The mothers house scenes was a perfect setting of dysfunction. Very good US film.

I'm really happy I gave this movie a chance because I enjoyed it. I just feel like some things were left out and the movie didn't feel complete without them. I also think that a lot more could have been explored just as the movie was ending.

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.

this movie just proves a point that u can watch naomi watts in nearly anything but NOT LITERALLY anything. yuck yuck yucky movie. blah.

Naomi Watts is a great actress and easily the best thing about this movie, but she doesn't quite fit in this bleak world. This downer film could make even the strictest pro-lifer reconsider their views.

I thought this movie had potential but sadly it just got worse and worse. I love the actors in it but I don't feel that they were suitable for the roles. The storyline was typical, felt it was a waste of time to watch.

The only reason I didn't stop watching this is because I had to see how things ended up for this woman. I should have given up on it because it was a complete let down.

Both Naomi Watts & Matt Dillon are decent to watch, the film isn't however.