I read a lot of movie reviews and watch a lot of trailers. I tend to go with my gut if I’ll like a movie and keep the hype and reviews in context because I can be lead astray (cough Hot Tub Time Machine cough).
And all the hype leading up to the movie I’m about to review was really, really positive. I tend to be skeptical when I hear only positive stuff, but I threw caution to the wind and went to see it anyhow. Let’s see if it was right.
Movie: The Kids Are All RightRating: R
Release date: July 9, 2010 (limited release right now)
Everyday Adventures’ grade: A
Summary: Nic and Jules (Annette Benning and Julianne Moore) are a lesbian couple raising two teenage and interestingly named kids, Joni and Laser (Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson). Things look good on the surface but once Joni and Laser find their sperm donor dad (Mark Ruffalo), things start to crack and dysfunction ensures.
My thoughts: I have to say, I did really like this movie, primarily because of the relationship between Benning and Moore. Yes, you see them kiss and watch adult material (which you don’t see a lot of) but it isn’t about them being a non-traditional couple, it’s that sex doesn’t matter because they face the same relationship issues as any married couple. They’ve been together for 18+ years, the spark is gone, they’re in a routine, each with a biting personality and tendency to communicated incorrectly. And it’s watching them try to do their best, only to find solace in unhealthy things when it gets to be too much. It’s that level of realism I really enjoyed watching.
Oh and Mark Ruffalo as the laid back donor dad is hot. Yes, the scruff, the leather jacket, the bike, the garden and organic vegetables makes him pretty irresistible. At first, he was a bit much but as he wedges a bigger divide into the family and morphs into dad-mode, it’s nice to see him evolve, even if he too is just as flawed as Nic and Jules.
Mia Wasikowska was great in Alice and Wonderland and continues to do good work here, even if her insanely long, stringy blonde hair makes me want to reach for a scissors and cut it off. But I could relate to her feelings of being suffocated by parental pressure and her desire to find her own identity in college. Josh Hutcherson was also good but wasn’t the most evolved character. And honestly, his character was kind of a d*ck. Watch out for small role from an ANTM past season.
Verdict: See it when it comes out in your area. I did really like this and the funny one liners put in there. And it makes me appreciate couples who have been married for a long time because d*mn it does not look easy.
Next up on my to-see list: Despicable Me, Toy Story 3, Knight and Day and Inception!
Did you see any movies this weekend?
I wanna see this!
I finally saw the movie and largely agree with your review. It’s weird – Joni reminded me of one of my brother’s friends … and after the movie, everyone who knows his friend agreed! I think Laser was just misunderstood. Imagine being a boy raised only by women … and then having some dude enter your family life and insert himself as if he’d been there all along. I’d probably be a dick, too. Plus, maybe he was expecting more similarities out of his birth father … and the reality was, they were just very different people. Anyway, great review for an A movie – I concur!
I’m seeing this tomorrow night – super excited! Have been waiting since hearing about all the good news from Sundance!
This looks good. I love Mark Ruffalo, but not as much as Thomas Jane in HUNG.
I HATED Hottub Time Machine. A guy my husband works with said it was like The Hangove only better –> NOT True! You didn’t like it did you?