Movie Review: The Kids Are All Right

Way back when, your author used to fancy himself a movie critic. And on occasion, some people he hasn't talked to in a while will immediately ask if he still reviews movies. Since he usually has to begrudgingly admit that he is still waiting tables instead, there will occasionally be movie reviews posted here at BMC—not necessarily new or even the most recent releases, but still technically reviews—just so he can say he indeed still bitches about what's getting too much/not enough attention. Reviews will offer a quick take that ends with a brief summarizing thought that, in the spirit of Metacritic or Sound Opinions, will be in green (denoting a positive opinion), yellow (mixed opinion) or red (negative opinion). And sorry, but no star-ratings or letter grades.

Today's review: "The Kids Are All Right," originally released January 25, 2010 at the Sundance Film Festival.


THREE THINGS I LIKED:

1. THE CAST IS ALL GREAT — Whether it's Annette Bening and Julianne Moore's portrayals as the lesbian couple, each with a biological teenager (daughter Joni played by Mia Wasikowska and son Laser played by Josh Hutcherson), or Mark Ruffalo as the anonymous sperm donor that makes the kids genetic half siblings, every actor here is terrific to the point that I find it difficult to recall when any of them has turned out better work in their individual careers.
2. A PERFECT MARRIAGE OF DRAMA AND COMEDY — As directed (and co-written) by Lisa Cholodenko, The Kids Are All Right still hits all the right notes even when it's going against convention. Most every scene in the film is fully realized and effectively generates more honest and intimate humor about life than any of the Meet the Parents films.
3. IT'S NOT A POLITICAL STATEMENT — Nic (Bening) and Jules (Moore) are obviously involved a same-sex relationship, but the movie never dwells on whether it's legally recognized or not. Nor does it need to. The fact that Cholodenko isn't attempting to hammer home any such message is one of the film's strongest points, and anybody who avoids the picture for such fears is to be pitied for their ignorance.

THREE THINGS I DIDN'T:

1. IT'S CHOLODENKO'S MEN WHO AREN'T ALL RIGHT — Mark Ruffalo's Paul borders on being a carbon copy of his endearing Terry from Kenneth Lonergan's You Can Count on Me—which isn't all bad, since that means he's still as charismatic as they come. But Hutcherson's Laser is given the least to do here of any character in the movie.
2. TOO COMPLEX FOR ITS OWN GOOD? — The film is very good at creating more than a few conflicts for its characters, but some of the ways Cholodenko has her characters resolve them feels a bit forced. Most notably, Moore's climactic speech about the difficulties of marriage feels a little too groomed for Oscar consideration.
3. FEELS A SCENE OR TWO SHORT — Maybe that speaks to my not wanting the film to end, but the loose ends with Paul felt more swept under the proverbial carpet than actually being tied up before the conclusion. 

25 WORDS OR LESS:

The Kids Are All Right offers a more indelible contemporary portrait of American family than most traditional attempts.