Review: THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

A teenage boy peddles his bicycle down the driveway of a two story suburban house and down the quiet street. This scene could be from the opening of any typical family film. But the family of Lisa Cholodenko’s THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT are hardly your typical family and this is far from the typical family movie. This family is headed by a lesbian couple, Nic (Annette Bening) and Jules (Julianne Moore). Years ago both woman were impregnated with the seed of the same sperm donor. Nic gave birth to Joni (Mia Wasikowska) eighteen years ago and Jules followed three years later with Laser (Josh Hutcherson). Each lady has staked out a particular style of parenting. Nic ( the main breadwinner with a job in the medical profession) is the reminder and occasional “noodge” ( Write out your thank-you notes! Sign that get well card for Grandpa!). She also likes to relax with an occasional glass of wine (which concerns Jules much to Nic’s annoyance). Jules is more the free spirit of the two and wishes Nic would ease up on the kids. Professionally she seems to drift from job to job with her current career in landscaping (not gardening!). Her son Laser seems to be drifting also. Perhaps to compensate for the lack of a male influence at home, he spends most of his time with the abusive, thuggish classmate, Clay. Joni seems to be a focused achiever like Nic. She was her class valedictorian and is preparing to leave home for college. She spends most of her time playing Scrabble with her unrequited crush , Jai, while being goaded by her over-sexed gal pal, Sasha. For the most part Nic and Jules are like many couples who’ve been together for several years. They even need to spice up their evenings with a little porn. Surprisingly they enjoy the gale male variety. All in all things are fairly quiet in their house, until Joni decides she wants to meet her father.

Joni contacts the clinic, and they in turn contact the sperm donor, Paul (Mark Ruffalo). He’s a free wheeling (he rides a motorcycle!) single restaurant owner (and part owner of the co-op farm) who flirts with the hippie chick farmer while enjoying the occasional bedroom company of his restaurant hostess. Paul is at first stunned by the prospect of meeting the kids he has fathered, but soon warms to the idea. After an awkward first meet, Paul begins to bond with Joni and Laser. Shortly Laser confesses to Nic and Jules that he and Joni have met him. The woman try to be supportive and invite Paul to their home. Their united front crumbles after getting to know him. Soon Paul’s influence helps Laser and Joni confront their friends Clay and Sasha. But everything does not go all right with Paul as the film progresses.

I won’t go any further so as to spoil any more of the film’s surprises. Lisa Cholodenko directs with great confidence and doesn’t rush any of the scenes. The film is very well paced. The script by her and Stuart Blumberg is full of wonderful exchanges and peppered with some very funny one-liners. The actors are superb. Josh Hutcherson really captures a confused sixteen year trying to find himself. Mia Wasikowska shines as a young woman trying to be independent and break away from her family. The last close-up of her is a real heart breaker. I’ve haven’t enjoyed Mark Ruffalo this much since YOU CAN COUNT ON ME. In some scenes he’s incredibly charming and in others you can feel his yearning to be a father. Jules is another terrific performance by Julianne Moore. She can be extremely funny and then be incredibly sexy and follow it up with great pathos. The real stand out is Annette Bening. Nic starts out as a variation of her AMERICAN BEAUTY uptight lady, but we soon begin to see her vulnerability. Her character is the real strength of the family and of this film.

I suppose the biggest compliment I can give this movie is that it makes me want to check out Lisa Choldenko’s other films such as LAUREL CANYON and HIGH ART. I think we’ll see this film on lots of top ten list at the end of the years and it will garner many award nominations. Perhaps I’m just happy to see a movie that’s not full of CGI effects, car chases, and explosions. I suppose that’s why I’m giving it this!

Overall Rating: 5 out of 5 stars