The Kids Are More Than All Right

The Kids are, in fact, a refreshing story about a family and a marriage (and I'm not even talking about gay marriage since the movie isn't trying to be an advocate for same-sex unions). The Kids Are All Right directed by Lisa Cholodenko simply wants to tell a story about a family. This family may be unconventional - the mother/father roles are lesbian couple Nic and Jules (Annette Bening and Julianne Moore, respectively) and their teenage children (Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson) are actually products of a sperm donor (Mark Ruffalo) - but they are real.

Before Paul (Ruffalo) enters their lives and upsets the fruit basket, Nic, an overprotective and overbearing doctor, her partner Jules, an earthy and free-spirited "landscape designer," and their kids are one big happy family who act like, well, a family. Rather than abusive parenting and teenage angst (I heart you John Hughes films but only because that's not my reality!) we are given conversations about the importance of writing thank you notes in a timely fashion (if my mother sees this film she will nod her head vigorously in agreement) and moving a college-bound daughter into her new dorm (does she need extra bedding? and make sure she has a desk lamp!). This is what happens after couples say "I do." The credits don't roll because it's not the end of the story. It's just the beginning. It's the happily-ever-after roller coaster of life; an adventure of building a home together through life's bumpy ups and downs and sharp right turns that catch you off guard. Enter Mark Ruffalo.

Oh, if only those teens didn't care about finding their sperm donor dad. Haven't they ever heard of curiosity killed the cat? While Ruffalo is down-to-earth in a sexy "I dropped out of college because I wanted to do rather than learn" kind of way and the kids totally take to him right off the bat, he of course causes the tension that moves the plot along. When the kids introduce Paul to their moms, Nic is hesitant about their new relationship while Jules agrees to landscape his backyard. As Jules and the kids grow closer to Paul, Nic finds herself becoming more and more isolated from the family unit she nurtured and carefully cultivated for so long.

The Kids Are All Right is not only supported by brilliant acting turns from Bening, Moore, and Ruffalo, it also plays with the full spectrum of human emotion from funny (very!) to awkward to concerning to tearful and finally to comforting. It's a winning portrayal of family life at its best and worst, with its successes and failures, and most importantly, its unconditional love for the people who know you better than anyone else.