The Kids Are All Right (2010) ***

The Kids Are All RightAs the size of my expectations so is my disappointment. Seems like I am going to be in a minority on this film which received raving reviews from most critics. The Kids Are All Right could have been a wonderful film about a host of topics; but instead, it ends up saying almost nothing. The setup is smart and intriguing, even if a bit of a novelty – the children of a lesbian couple are contacting the sperm donor whose anonymous contribution brought them into the world close to two decades ago. Topics hinted but hardly explored in this film include the lack of a father role-model for children of a lesbian couple, especially amidst the difficult teenage years; the complexities of exploring one’s biological roots (parallel to issues an adopted child would have had), and of course, the complexities of the mothers’ relationship, which ultimately is not much different than a straight couple’s relationship (the only point I felt the film did convey well). Though mostly acted with fine nuances by exceptional talents including Julianne Moore and Annette Bening, as well as Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson, all in all, the film feels uneven. Some parts are very convincing, humoristic, honest and touching, while other parts feel artificial and staged. The film starts and develops with a firm direction, but then stutters towards the end like a car out of gas. But most of all, there is nothing new in this otherwise to fresh of a setup. Spending over an hour and a half in the cinema just to learn that relationships are complex regardless of the couple’s gender, was not what I expected. Aside from a bunch of great moments I came out of the theater feeling like someone who walked to the top of the mountain just to find out the view is blocked by clouds.