The Kids are All Right
THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT: BETTER THAN ALL RIGHT
The Kids are All Right is an excellent family drama with a stellar cast. It tells the story of a lesbian couple who have two teenage children. When their children decide to contact their sperm donor father, problems arise that make everybody reevaluate their relationships. Annette Bening and Julianne Moore are said lesbian couple and they give strong and sympathetic performances while Mark Ruffalo as their sperm donor shows that he isn't just a handsome face.
Jules (Julianne Moore) and Nic (Annette Bening) are a married couple living in Los Angeles with their two teenage children, Joni (Mia Wasikowska) and Laser (Josh Hutcherson). Joni has just turned 18 and Laser is pushing her to find out who their dad is. Joni finds Paul (Mark Ruffalo) and she meets him with Laser. They hit it off and eventually their moms find out. It makes for an awkward beginning but eventually Jules is doing some landscaping work for him and the kids are hanging out with him whenever they can. Nic is the only one who hangs back. And when she finds out that Jules and Paul are having an affair, everything blows up.
The Kids are All Right is a story about an atypical family. But it shows that lesbian or straight, all relationships have their ups and downs. The trials and tribulations that Jules and Nic go through are what any couple go through when they have been together for a long period of time. And teenage rebellion and curiosity is prevalent too. What makes the story above average is that it is all relatable. Hearing your parents having sex, somebody not feeling appreciated, somebody feeling lonely, these are all elements that everybody has been through. It is easy to imagine yourself within this family. Annette Bening and Julianne Moore are both Oscar nominated actresses who make Nic and Jules a solid couple. They are playful and loving with one another but also have strains that come from every day life. Mark Ruffalo as the odd man out does a great job of making Paul likable even though he comes across as a bit of a loser. He makes it easy to see that he is just lonely. Seeing this all play out in the hills of Los Angeles gives it a hip, present day vibe. From Paul riding on his BMW bike through the hills to Jules trying to landscape his hill of a backyard, it all just screams California and its laid back ways.
The Kids are All Right tells the story of a family who is trying to get through complications that arise from growing up. Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, and Mark Ruffalo as the adults make an awesome team and their children played by Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson handle themselves beyond their youth. Its worth checking out.
Report Card:
Story-B+
Acting-A
Visuals-B
Originality/Innovation-B+
Enjoyability Grade–B+
DVD Extras-C
Overall Grade-B+
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