Family Dinner

The Kids are All Right Poster

Nic and Jules

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Annette Bening in Her Finest Role to Date!

If you enjoy incredible true-to-life acting then this is the film you need to see! Its high emotional drama with the perfect mix of laugh-out-loud comedy centering on a family who just happens to have two moms and two teenage kids. When donor dad is brought into the mix, life as this family knew it is turned upside down. Conflict resolution is the quintessential element and the glue that holds this well-crafted script together. The two main leads are three-time, Academy Award Nominee, Annette Bening, and four-time Academy Award Nominee Julianne Moore. Both are amazing in a film filled with love as the nucleus of this California modern family.

Looking back, about 10 years ago, I remember the teacher’s lounge talk regarding a kindergarten child that had been registered at the suburban school where I taught and that the child’s paper work indicated two moms where in the household. The discussion was, of course, positive but also filled with guarded concerns. The Kids Are All Right shows us that, yes indeed, children can be raised by two moms and that the kids turn out actually quite normal.

The director at the helm is Lisa Cholodenko (High Art, Laurel Canyon) from an original screenplay that she wrote with Stuart Blumberg (Keeping the Faith). It comes as no surprise to me that the director and screenplay writer is a woman as so many elements in the film are spot-on; from how moms operate and in particular, how teens react.

Annette Bening stars as Nic, a physician, and Julianne Moore plays Jules, a landscape artist. Joni and Laser (Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson) are their two teenage kids. The story takes place the summer just before Joni is going off to college. Fifteen year-old Laser presses Joni for a big favor, he wants her to find out who their biological father is now that she has turned 18. Both of the teenagers were conceived by artificial insemination by the same donor and are the single child of each of the moms.

Joni’s not so sure about this but goes ahead and finds out. They both secretly meet their ‘bio-dad’ Paul (Mark Ruffalo) and end up telling their moms about him. As the script warns, many times people are very disappointed when they meet their donor. At first, Paul seems really cool, he’s easy going, good looking, charming, drives a motorcycle and has an organic restaurant. What the kids don’t see coming is the longing Paul has for a real family of his own and that he now sees the perfect opportunity to get what he wants.

What is so refreshing about the film is the portrayal of the family in general as they go through their everyday lives and the exceptional true portrait the film paints. I know, I raised three teenagers of my own and their expressions, subtle nuances and reactions were so very accurate it was eerie. Particularly, Nic’s role, she asks her daughter about those dreaded ‘thank you notes’ that are so important but so not on any teens’ mind. Nic also has rules like we don’t approve of riding motorcycles. As an ER doctor you wouldn’t believe the bike accidents she’s seen come into that room. My own family can relate, having a step dad in the insurance business, my children know that we don’t fly in helicopters and we’d never get on a motorcycle, ever. Paul decides to push those rules aside and see just how far he can get with the kids and Jules.

What I found particularly interesting is the way that the teens reacted when Paul’s behavior drops a bomb on the family. Regardless of his smile and charm, you’ll marvel at the maturity of the kids and know that they are indeed 'all right' as they were raised by two loving, supportive parents.

The film also tackles the topic of marriage and tells us that it’s not easy after so many years together. It shows families how to problem solve in a succinct way and simply not throw in the towel. Yes, it’s a process but the final decision may affect so many people in the long run, it’s worth not 'knee-jerking' so to speak. There is absolute joy in a loving family, but when many personalities come into play with all those different agendas, life can stray off the path at times.

Bottom line- An enjoyable film depicting true-to-life family situations, topnotch acting and a wonderful smart script.

Sarah Adamson © July 28, 2010