The representation of the American family has perhaps never been more honest than in The Kids Are All Right. Sure, there’s room for a witty comedy about being married lesbians with kids in today’s society, but this is not a film about being lesbian. Instead we explore the hardships of marriage, and the conflicts between two people who love each other. In addition, this film explores what a family is comprised of, and does it with exceptional style.
Jules (Julianne Moore) and Nic (Annette Bening) are a married couple, raising their two teenagers Joni (Mia Wasikowska) and Laser (Josh Hutcherson), learning how to deal with their comings of age. When the curious kids seek out their biological “father”- sperm donor Paul (Mark Ruffalo), incorporating him into the family that Nic has already established proves tumultuous for everyone, especially for the married pair.
Director and writer Lisa Cholodenko (The L Word, Six Feet Under) gives us a less gritty view of same-sex relationships than some of her previous works; taking time to differentiate love and sex, in a light-hearted and refreshing way. Centering the story around the family house, the dinner table, the indoor environments, Cholodenko carefully delivers messages that resonate with any human being. Portraying values and conversation, interactions and a range of emotions, The Kids Are All Right is an excellent example of storytelling skills.
Stellar performances from Julianne Moore (Children of Men, A Single Man) and Annette Bening (The Siege, American Beauty). Working off of each other, the two women present a couple whose relationship is believable and whose personalities work well with each other. They almost become ambiguous in fulfilling the gender roles- as each take turns channeling the maternal and paternal relationships to their children and to each other. As actors, both women present performances that exhibit the heights of their abilities. Also, a great performance from Mark Ruffalo (Zodiac, Shutter Island) whose accuracy in this film nods to the fact that his star rises, still.
The Kids Are All Right should never be compared to Brokeback Mountain, and shame on those who try to put them in the same sentence. Though both very intricate introductions to the lives of same-sex relationships that encompass much more than sex, this film follows suit- being much more than two women. It’s two women, one man, two kids, one family.
And it’s a much needed reminder that no matter the composition, every family with kids face similar issues, and every family is- at the very least- a bit unconventional.
Rating: 4.6/5
