The Kids Are All Right

The Kids Are All Right
2010
Directed By: Lisa Cholodenko
Starring: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore

Going into this film, I had no clue what it was about. I remember telling a friend I thought it was about a guy with a drug addiction. Nope. It's a very uncommon thing for me to see a film I have no clue about and like it the first time. But of course, there are those special times.

This film was inspirational, titanic, and flamboyantly recognizable (no pun intended). How could a film about a simple, middle-class family have such great valor and story telling ability? I don't know, but it did. The simplicity of the family life for a middle-aged lesbian couple and their two children focuses on the dynamic of living in a same-sex family. It did not feel weird to see two women raising their kids. The subtlety of the lesbian relationship really meant to me that they chose not to make a mockery of homosexuality.

The two children (each born from a different mother) had the same sperm donor. When the eldest, Joni, turns 18, she chooses to get in touch with the donor. This man meets her and her brother for lunch and they get to talking. The rest of the movie shows the man becoming involved with his new found family. Annette Bening's character does not like the idea of someone interrupting their life, but she know it is something she cannot avoid.

The plot was simple. The characters were pretty one dimensional. But this wasn't a bad thing. All five of the main characters brought through a sense of reality that made me not want the movie to end. The chemistry was there, whether it was a sad moment or a happy moment. Awkwardness was all around the characters, and you could feel that.

Really, this movie seemed like a really well-done reality show. You were able to like each and every character but hate them at the same time. The ability to see real people in the actors' eyes made the realism of the film really come through. I enjoyed learning about this family and each of their attributes. Each actor brought their own taste to the film and they meshed together well to create a family dynamic. The drama that ensues throughout the film seems genuine and not preachy. I enjoyed the film and kind of wished it was a little longer. Instead of wondering when the credits would finally pop up, I found myself wondering what would happen next in the story of this realistic middle-class family.

Stars (out of 10): 8