The Kids Are All Right (2010)

So... I don't know if it was all the pre-Oscar buzz or all the raving reviews, but I was somewhat disappointed with this film.

'The Kids Are All Right' is the unconventional story of a lesbian couple (played by Julianne Moore and Annette Bening) and their two children (played by Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson). Before the daughter Joni goes to college, her brother Laser convinces her to contact their biological father (Mark Ruffalo), whose donated sperm was used by each of the two mothers. The kids decide to keep the meeting a secret for the time being.

Paul, the donor, takes to the kids instantly. What's interesting is how the kids respond to him. Joni, who had initially shown little interest in meeting Paul, appeared to quickly seek his approval and attention while Laser seemed disappointed in Paul's lack of machismo.

The parents eventually find out what's going on and they form their own relationships with Paul. Bening plays Nic, the slight control freak and overworked doctor who is very fond of her wine, while Moore plays Jules, the free-spirited landscaper. Nic doesn't initially warm up to Paul, which adds further anxiety to an already strained relationship. It is clear things have been rocky between the couple for a while now, which may lead to the (*spoiler alert*) affair between Jules and Paul. The couple eventually confronts the situation, but there is no real resolution. And the kids (who also discovered the truth about their mom's affair) are forced to sever ties with their father, who ends up being banned from their lives as a result.

The movie does have it's funny moments, and Moore and Bening are truly great actresses. The plot just left me wanting more, and I was honestly quite surprised by how little of the film actually dealt with the kids. It also seemed like some of the characters were overworked. We get it... Nic really likes to drink, Jules is a free spirit and Paul is self-centered. For the most part, the plot seemed to center around the volatile relationship between the parents, who were definitely not all right.

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Genre: Drama, Comedy
Synopsis: Two children conceived by artificial insemination bring their birth father into their family life.

Rated: R   for strong sexual content, nudity, language and some teen drug and alcohol use
Running Time: 1 hr. 44 min.
In Theaters: Jul 9, 2010 Wide
Box Office:$20.8M

Distributor:Focus Features
Directed By: Lisa Cholodenko