The Kids Are All Right [MA]

The Allgoods are a close family experiencing the ups and downs of any typical family. 18 year old Joni is starting university and is becoming more distant from her parents, and 14 year old Laser is hanging out with a friend who is constantly getting him into trouble. The only difference with this family is that it has two mums. Having been together for years and deeply in love, Nic and Jules have each had children through artificial insemination. But their already strained family life is thrown into complete disarray when the kids track down and bring home their biological donor Dad. 

This was a wonderfully subtle comedy that had the perfect balanced amount of both comedy and drama. Not to mention its wonderful cast. It was a great, calm film to come home and watch after a long day at work. 

The Allgoods are a close family experiencing all the ups and downs that every typical family goes through. 18 year old Joni is starting university and is beginning to distance herself from her parents, and 14 year old Laser is consistently hanging out with an ill-mannered friend who is constantly getting him into trouble. The only difference with this family is that it has two mums. Nic and Jules are deeply in love and have been together for years, each one having children through artificial insemination. But their already-strained family life becomes completely disrupted and falls into disarray when the kids track down their biological donor father and bring him home for dinner. 

Everything about this film was subtle. The comedy was in the story and the script and it was all subdued and light. There aren’t many films like that around at the moment, everything is all in-your-face and almost literally thrown at you to get a reaction. But this film was very light and was moved along by the strength of its own story and its actors. 

Annette Bening and Julianne Moore star as Nic and Jules. The chemistry between the two seemed really natural, giving proof to the statement “opposites attract”. Annette’s character is uptight and a bit of a perfectionist, which plays brilliantly against Julianne’s character which is relaxed, and a little more free-spirited. The combination of the two great actresses was absolutely perfect. 

Also starring Mia Wasikowska, Mark Ruffalo, and Josh Hutcherson, The Kids Are All Right was a very light and subtle comedy filled with romance, confusion, betrayal, weakness, drama, and marvellous performances. A must-see film, perfect after a long and tiresome day.