The Kids Are All Right: A Two Mother Family Unit

Hello everybody! Today we have an interesting suggestion, The Kids Are All Right.

THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT

DIRECTOR: Lisa Cholodenko

STARRING: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson, Yaya DaCosta

GENRE: Comedy-drama

YEAR: 2010

COUNTRY: United States

Nic and Jules are in a long term, committed, loving but by no means perfect relationship. Nic, a physician, needs to wield what she believes is control, whereas Jules, under that control, is less self-assured. During their relationship, Jules has floundered in her “nine to five” life, sometimes trying to start a business – always unsuccessfully – or being the stay at home mom. She is currently trying to start a landscape design business. They have two teen-aged children, Joni and Laser, Nic who is Joni’s biological mother, and Jules who is Laser’s biological mother. Although not exact replicas, each offspring does more closely resemble his/her biological mother in temperament. Joni and Laser are also half-siblings, having the same unknown sperm donor father. Shortly after Joni’s eighteenth birthday and shortly before she plans to leave the house and head off to college, Laser, only fifteen and underage to do so, pleads with her to try and contact their sperm donor father. Somewhat …

I decided to finally write this review after watching The Kids Are All Right for the second time, as my first viewing was in 2011 for my American Indepedent film studies course. My favorite aspect about The Kids Are All Right is that it is an awesome example of the common two mother family unit that is oh so prevalent today. Also, Annette Benning’s as well. Julianne Moore’s performances were spectacular. It made me actually believe that they were in a homosexual relationship with each other. I can also completely see Mark Ruffalo as an estranged father/sperm donor. Let’s typecast him, anybody?

The Kids Are All Right is definitely far from perfect. I didn’t enjoy Mia Wasikowska’s or Josh Hutcherson’s performances at all. All they succeeded to do was piss me off to no end. Also Mia, why do you look like you are just regurgitating your lines? Your only job is to read lines/put on a show and you just couldn’t do it for me this time. The whole film I just wanted to jump through the tv and hit you and Josh Hutcherson. Get the hell out of here Peeta, you aren’t wanted! On a side note, why does Hollywood think that lesbians can change their way of think so quickly when a hot guy comes by?

PROS:

 

• Annette Benning, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo performances.
• Balance of comedy and drama.
• Interesting take on traditional family unit.

 

CONS:

 

• Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson performances.
• Sexual preference changes.
• This is not the Hunger Games.

 

SCORE: 6.3 / 10

If you have any suggestions for films/TV/Games/Music for me to review, drop me a comment! Remember: Like Media In Review @ https://www.facebook.com/MediaInReview?ref=hl Follow Media in Review @ https://twitter.com/Media_In_Review.