By Le Anne Lindsay (Tinsel & Tine)
Director Level PFS members were invited to a screening of The Kids Are Alright, at the Main Street 6 theater in Manayunk, which meant no parking garage fees or kiosk hassles for me for a change – yay!
To recap the plot of the film, Jules (Julianne Moore) and Nic (Annette Bening) are a lesbian couple who each had a child by the same sperm donor, Paul (Mark Ruffalo). The kids, Laser (Josh Hutcherson) and Joni (Mia Wasikowska, Alice from Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland) are now at an age where they’ve decided they want to find their donor father.
Co-writer and Director Lisa Cholodenko, decided to make it a lighthearted look into the non-traditional family. There’s a social commentary being made; however, entertainment value was obviously the director’s main objective. Which I don’t have a problem with at all; but those looking for a more creative, Indie feel, may feel it’s too studio. Those looking for a Gay film may feel it’s not issue driven. And on the other hand, those looking for a mainstream comedy with two hot (well, formerly hot) stars having sex scenes, may be disappointed. It straddles all three genres, I would say with good balance, but I’m certain many will disagree with me.
After the screening I got to chat with four intelligent movie-goers who also happened to be lesbians. Two were a couple together 14 years, the other two, just friends. One of the friends thought the film was very enjoyable and agreed with most aspects of the plot and the relationship between Jules and Nic. She’s a proponent of adding a mainstream element to some gay films in order to get them made and out to the public. The other friend felt there was way too much heterosexual sex taking place, and she didn’t like or identify with any of the characters. The couple, felt the characters were unlikable by design, to create a certain stereotype, not just the lesbians, but Ruffalo’s character as well.
Jules character is that of an eat organic, create a compost, can’t commit to a career choice.
Nic is the matriarch of the family, a doctor with strict rules on etiquette and discipline. She disapproves of one of her son’s friends and describes him as being “untended”.
Paul is a motorcycle riding, free spirit type, who is just now starting to put down roots with a new restaurant and home.
Joni is a smart, good-girl, now ready to fight for some independence from “Mom’s”.
Laser is on the cusp of being either a decent kid with some abilities as a jock, or being a smart mouthed, screw up.
Tanya (Yaya Dacosta) is Paul’s hostess and “f” buddy, before he meets his kids, which has nothing to do with the plot, but I like this model turned actress and just wanted to give her a shout out.
I didn’t find the characters to be unlikable, neither by impression or design. I thought Moore and Bening were convincing as a couple and both pulled off a slight masculinity that made them credible as lesbians.
Another point brought up in our after film discussion was about the dialogue interjecting too much “Oprah Speak”, they felt although lesbians do have a tendency to process everything to death, this film went a little overboard to illustrate the point.
My main problem with the film was that Paul was made to be the villain, yet he was no more guilty of tearing the family apart than Jules. Although perhaps I’m biased, after all, Mark Ruffalo is my second favorite Hollywood Crush after Robert Downey, Jr., so I can totally see why even a lesbian would have trouble staying out of his bed.
Reminder, deadline is drawing near for the 19th Philadelphia Film Festival (Oct 14-24) create a trailer competition. Click HERE for details. I think it’s great they’ve opened it up to the public this year. Normally, the festivals work with a team of students at one of the Philadelphia Universities. If chosen it really is great exposure for an up and coming filmmaker!
The one thing I adored about the film was how all the humour was not contrived.
It just came out of situations we could relate to. It seemed like the audience, myself included, laughed out loud whenever we found something that reminded us of ourselves or someone we love.
I think this is this year’s Little Miss Sunshine.
I agree. I’m not big on broad comedies, a good story will inevitably come up with humor as part of life.
I read a lot of the critic and community reviews on Rotten Tomatoes (after I wrote my review) and I was pleasantly surprised to see it’s receiving 90% favorable responses! You may be right about it being the next “Little Miss Sunshine”.
It’s interesting, Le Anne. I’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about this film. People keep asking me when we’re going to screen it (and disappointed to hear that we already did).
I read your review and I feel like it defined what makes me hesitant to divulge in these family dramas – generic, predictable characters and story lines….with a slight twist.
Now, I didn’t see the film, but the previews pretty much gave away enough for me to not attend the screening. I saw nothing interesting in it, but its attracted an audience of both film goers and critics that praise it. I guess I have to check it out for myself but again, without seeing it, I feel like I would describe it the same way you did in this review.
Thanks for writing! I hope you do see it and let me know if you see something different.