The Kids Are All Right (Lisa Cholodenko, 2010): USA

Reviewed by Jim Burns. Viewed at the Santa Barbara Film Festival.

The Kids Are All Right is a very smart movie about two kids who were brought into the world through artificial insemination and decide that they would like to meet the  sperm donor. Annette Bening and Julianne Moore  play the lesbian couple who raised these kids in this very well written and intelligent film that is more about the every day struggles of a couple  trying to keep there relationship together as there children prepare to eventually go out into the real world.

Mark Ruffalo plays the donor who has come back into the lives of the kids at their request. Ruffalo’s character is very easy going and laid back, maybe a little too laid back for the liking of the character played by Annette Benning. Benning plays the character of Nic, who is a little less impressed with Paul (Mark Ruffalo) than the rest of the house. Benning’s character is more like your typical controlling husband and Julianne Moore’s character is a bit less stable and in constant search of finding something to do that will give her her own identity and earn her spouses approval.

The acting performances in this film were stellar. Annette Benning’s performance was as every bit as strong as the women she portrayed in this film. Julianne Moore gave a  powerful performance that was equal to Miss Benning’s, and Mark Ruffalo was brilliant in his portrayal of Paul, a self made successful organic restaurant owner who didn’t follow the usual guidelines to success. Nic’s issues with Paul and her jealousy over his rising popularity with the kids, creates for some very interesting  exchanges between these two extremely gifted actors.I think this film will become a bit of a cult classic as time goes on. The story, the always thought provoking dialogue and the performances by all the actors involved made this one of my favorite feature films of the festival.

About this entry

You’re currently reading “The Kids Are All Right (Lisa Cholodenko, 2010): USA,” an entry on Student Film Reviews

Published:
02.15.11 / 4pm
Category:
Films, Santa Barbara Film Festival 2011