The Kids Are All Right
Directed By: Lisa Cholodenko
Written By: Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg
Starring: Julianne Moore, Annette Benning, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson
The Kids Are All Right is a tale that focuses on a Lesbian marriage between Jules and Nic (Julianne Moore and Annette Benning) and its gradual breakdown following their children discovering the man who donated his sperm in the form of Paul (Mark Ruffalo)
The Kids Are All Right takes a very conventional story with very conventional sub plots and tackles it in an uncovential way. What is seen in this film is nothing new or different or groundbreaking but it is done in such an original, believable and entertaining way that it never feels cliché, similar to the Ricky Gervais film Cemetery Junction. While the film is smartly written by Stuart Blumberg and Lisa Cholodenko, the performances are what truly makes the film and turns these characters into interesting people whose stories you want to follow for the running time. Mia Wasikowska makes up for her performance in the dreadful Alice In Wonderland, while Mark Ruffalo continues to demonstrate why he is one of the most reliable actors working today (lets hope his Hulk film is a success) however its Moore and Benning and who carry the film and both of them are utterly convincing.
The film is a hybrid of drama and comedy, with the film leaning more towards the former than the latter however when the film is stretching its comedic muscles it does it in an amusingly entertaining way (a Mexican gardener being the highlight). The drama in the film is never truly moving however in one scene (which I wont spoil) the film reaches the heights of its dramatic potential by reducing the scene to utter silence and focusing the camera solely on a characters facial expression. The Kids Are All Right does have a few flaws however, there are some sub plots mainly involving the children that are rather underdeveloped and while some may say that the films main focus is not on them, it is an odd testament to the film that it was frustrating we didn’t get to see the end of certain sub plots. Also some of the films humour and scenes may be a bit to risqué for some.
The family dynamic of the film may mean more to those who have raised families, with certain scenes obviously containing more emotional resonance depending where you are in life. Also films like Twilight should take note, this is how you do a film containing a love triangle and do it in a way that is not frustrating beyond belief. The Kids Are All Right is, along with the previously mentioned Cemetery Junction is one of those films that in it’s rather clichéd simplicity outclasses films of a similar and unfamiliar ilk.
Overall The Kids Are All Right is an entertaining, amusing, smartly written and well acted film which while not completely fulfilling on some elements of its story may contain more emotional resonance depending where you are in life. A conventional tale with an unconventional twist, The Kids Are All Right is nothing outstanding however an entertaining film that on a smaller scale does things that films on a larger scale simply fail to do. Much like the kids, this film is alright.
One Sentence Summary: Well written, with good performances, the film like the kids is alright.
7/10
By Michael Dalton
The Kids Are All Right takes a very conventional story with very conventional sub plots and tackles it in an uncovential way. What is seen in this film is nothing new or different or groundbreaking but it is done in such an original, believable and entertaining way that it never feels cliché, similar to the Ricky Gervais film Cemetery Junction. While the film is smartly written by Stuart Blumberg and Lisa Cholodenko, the performances are what truly makes the film and turns these characters into interesting people whose stories you want to follow for the running time. Mia Wasikowska makes up for her performance in the dreadful Alice In Wonderland, while Mark Ruffalo continues to demonstrate why he is one of the most reliable actors working today (lets hope his Hulk film is a success) however its Moore and Benning and who carry the film and both of them are utterly convincing.
The film is a hybrid of drama and comedy, with the film leaning more towards the former than the latter however when the film is stretching its comedic muscles it does it in an amusingly entertaining way (a Mexican gardener being the highlight). The drama in the film is never truly moving however in one scene (which I wont spoil) the film reaches the heights of its dramatic potential by reducing the scene to utter silence and focusing the camera solely on a characters facial expression. The Kids Are All Right does have a few flaws however, there are some sub plots mainly involving the children that are rather underdeveloped and while some may say that the films main focus is not on them, it is an odd testament to the film that it was frustrating we didn’t get to see the end of certain sub plots. Also some of the films humour and scenes may be a bit to risqué for some.
The family dynamic of the film may mean more to those who have raised families, with certain scenes obviously containing more emotional resonance depending where you are in life. Also films like Twilight should take note, this is how you do a film containing a love triangle and do it in a way that is not frustrating beyond belief. The Kids Are All Right is, along with the previously mentioned Cemetery Junction is one of those films that in it’s rather clichéd simplicity outclasses films of a similar and unfamiliar ilk.
Overall The Kids Are All Right is an entertaining, amusing, smartly written and well acted film which while not completely fulfilling on some elements of its story may contain more emotional resonance depending where you are in life. A conventional tale with an unconventional twist, The Kids Are All Right is nothing outstanding however an entertaining film that on a smaller scale does things that films on a larger scale simply fail to do. Much like the kids, this film is alright.
One Sentence Summary: Well written, with good performances, the film like the kids is alright.
7/10
By Michael Dalton
This trailer was taken from: “The Kids Are All Right” Trailer HD (Video). April 09, 2010. Retrieved October 30, 2010 from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bdDSqgZ87fM
