The Kids Are All Right

By Tiffany Tweedie

Opened July 9, 2010 | Runtime: 1 hr. 44 min.
R for strong sexual content, nudity, language and some teen drug and alcohol use

I have been waiting very impatiently for this one. In part, because I just adore Julianne Moore and Annette Bening. And in part, because I’m so glad that finally a major motion picture is being done about a normal gay couple that really has nothing to do with them being gay!

It’s a peek into a family. The parents (Moore and Bening) have been together for around 20 years or so. Their oldest daughter has just turned 18 and is soon leaving for college. There’s a 15 year old son who’s a pretty typical teenage boy. The kids have decided to try and contact their biological father (the sperm donor.) There’s a whole system in place through the sperm banks that is set up to handle exactly this (it’s been in the news recently, probably because of the movie.) Contact is made and they meet cryo-dad (see what I did, with the frozen sperm and the dad thing! And the play on the bio… never mind.)

This is about a couple who’s relationship has gotten too comfortable, routine, mundane. Who take each other for granted. I think most married couples can relate to that. Then a stranger is thrown into the mix, who invades their homes and lives, uninvited and unwanted (at least to the Moms.) And they’re left trying to figure out how their family still fits together.

The average, everyday, total normalcy of the family is what I think I most enjoyed. Nobody cared about their sexual orientation! Not the neighbors, or the kids friends parents, or the guys at the hardware store. Not one person. They could have been any couple. FINALLY!

I admit, I have strong feelings about this one. I was anxious to take my 19 year old daughter because she is gay and I was really looking forward to such a positive movie for her. She was excited to see it for the same reasons. And it totally lived up to that. She LOVED it. She is a shy, quiet girl and is still coming into her own. This gave her a bit more confidence that maybe, someday, she can have that normal life too. (I got the OK from her before outing her on the Interwebs!)

This movie is sweet and funny and sad. Just like real life. The acting is superb. I didn’t feel like I was watching a movie. I felt like I was eavesdropping on a family. It was THAT good. Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska (Alice in Wonderland) & Josh Hutcherson (Journey to the Center of the Earth) are all fantastic. Just beyond words… AWESOME!

My overall review: One of the best movies I’ve seen in a long time. Just seriously excellent.

WORD OF CAUTION: The R rating is for a VERY good reason. There are some pretty graphic simulated sex scenes here. And gay male porn. Yes, you read that right. Most of it is near the beginning, so don’t think that the whole movie is just a big orgy. But for the more prudish (squeamish!) this might not exactly be your cup of tea. And maybe not something you’d take your mother too. Well, I guess that depends on your mom!

The Kids Are All Right official movie website

You can read more of Tiffany’s writing at Mommy in Real Life.