The Kids Are All Right

(2010)

Dir: Lisa Cholodenko

It would be interesting to see a British approach to a film like this. It probably isn’t the most encouraging statement, but this what I kept thinking whilst watching Lisa Cholodenko’s The Kids Are All Right.

The plot is an odd one. Julianne Moore and Annette Benning are Jules and Nic, a lesbian couple with two adopted children, Mia Wasikowska’s Joni and Josh Hutcherson’s bizarrely named Laser. That’s interesting enough, but when the two brats contact their all-important sperm donor and biological father Paul, played by Mark Ruffalo, things get spicy.

The reason I wonder at a British version is because there is a lot of talking in Cholodenko’s flick. A lot of talking. A lot ‘feelings’. The most humorous moments are from the male characters, Laser and Paul, who retain some of their monosyllabic mannerisms, despite being the two most interesting players. Just what is it like to be raised by two women? It is a sorely underexplored theme, but then Laser and his sister are undeveloped characters. They both have sub-plots that go nowhere, in the favour of redundant and unoriginal romance between Jules and Paul.

This all sounds very critical, but The Kids Are All Right is still an entertaining piece. It ‘s simply that with a unique plot like this, there was so much potential for a hilarious and poignant classic, which it threatens to be at times, but ultimately conforms to Hollywood fodder.

The cast do a good job, with neither Moore nor Benning falling into the trap of becoming the gay ‘Hollywood’ stereotype. Ruffalo is suitably charming and slimy at different times, and it is only the younger members of the cast who feel slight, but that is due to the script, not their performances.

Worth the effort, but give this plot to a director like Mike Leigh and let’s see what happens.

*** ¼ / *****

“The film is all right.”