The Kids Are Alright (Lisa Cholodenko, 2010): USA

Reviewed by Sanni Frostenson at the Santa Barbara Film Festival 2011.

This film could have been edgy and brought forward a new perspective, or at least a fresh feeling to it. But instead it is more similar to every other feel-good Hollywood comedy. There is nothing wrong with that, but it had me leaving the theater with a slight feeling of disappointment.  I was waiting to see something in the style of Transamerica, or  TV show L-word, also directed by Lisa Cholodenko.

The expectations for The Kids Are Alright have been high from the start and Anette Bening has been praised for her performance as Nic, the more conservative half of a lesbian middle aged couple who have two children together. Her life partner Jules (Julianne Moore) is a more creative and undecided character who is still trying out where she wants to go in life. But her confidence and sense of rebellion grows throughout the movie. Nic on the other hand is a well organized doctor who want things to be stable, and to be in control over the situation. Already here the abrasions in their relationship becomes obvious to the viewer.

Their two children, the older sister Joni (Mia Wasikowska) and the younger brother Laser (Josh Hutcherson), on the other hand seem to be really close. And when Laser wants to meet their biological father, Joni helps him to do so. They sneak away to meet Paul (Mark Ruffalo) without telling their mothers, and especially Paul and Joni seem to really hit it off from the start. Through the meetings with the kids, Paul seem to finally find a deeper meaning in his life, one that he hadn’t expected while donating his sperm many years ago. At the same time Jules starts to feel more and more overlooked, unappreciated and taken for granted by the occupied Nic. So she starts to seek affirmation elsewhere. All these characters interactions turns into a big emotional turmoil before the end, and they all have to look deep inside themselves to prioritize what’s really important in life.

Mark Ruffalo really deserves the ovations he got for his role as Paul, who he portrays with a flare and rough elegance. The performances by both Bening and Moore, and the more unknown Hutcherson and Wasikowska, are not bad either. The mise en scene is typical for a comedy/drama of this type, and there was little that stood out from the ordinary.

The film could as well have been a romantic film about a hetero love story starring Jennifer Aniston  instead, and there are already so many flicks of this kind – like The Break-Up directed by Peyton Reed for example. That does not indicate that it is anything wrong with a standard Aniston movie, but where is the different viewpoint. I’m looking forward to something that stands out from Hollywood standard films; even if it is not as successful at the box office.

But if you only look to be entertained you should go see this movie.  And it is in any case worth to go to the theater if only for the great acting.

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Published:
02.01.11 / 10am
Category:
Films, Santa Barbara Film Festival 2011