This Film's More than All Right

The Northeast is still baking in this summer heat, so the movies are a great way to cool off. I saw the remarkable The Kids are All Right, a hysterically funny, affecting, painful yet truthful look at a modern family. Written and directed by Lisa Cholodenko (she shares writing credits with Stuart Blumberg), the dialogue is crisp, sparkling, candid, and oh-so-deliciously witty. Thank you filmmakers for your fecundity (as well as the chance to actually use the word 'fecundity' in a sentence).

The film stars Annette Bening as Nic, a physician/power lesbian type married to Jules (Julianne Moore), a creative earth mother/free-spirit type. Their picture perfect world is turned upside down when their college-bound daughter Joni (Mia Wasikowska of Alice in Wonderland) contacts the sperm donor at the behest of her half-brother Laser (Josh Hutcherson). Their biological father is the mellow Paul (the sexy Mark Ruffalo), a cool motorcycle-riding, organic farmer/restaurateur. His hang-loose demeanor draws the rest of the family in while threatening the controlling Nic. (Side note: Mr. Ruffalo was newly confirmed as the next Hulk in The Avengers movie at Comic Con. I've loved the appealing and talented Mark since You can Count on Me, but I'm not sure I see him as the Hulk. That should be interesting.)

With such an accomplished cast, it is truly an ensemble piece. There might be some award nominations in Ms. Bening's and Ms. Moore's futures. (Annette deserves one just for the scene where she is watching TV with her kids on the couch, bursts into tears as Julianne's character talks about how hard marriage is. It took all I had to control my own inclination to sob hysterically along with her.) They all gave such honest performances that it seemed like I was just hanging out with them, observing. Laughing with them, cringing at awkward incidents, getting teary-eyed at the emotional moments---it all felt authentic. This riotous, heartfelt, and genuine movie is basically about family, love, sex (there's lots of it in the movie), commitment, marriage. It shows the dramedy that goes on in every home everywhere, everyday.


(photo from filmofilia)