…The Adults are not

Four and a half years ago, a little movie called ‘The Kids Are All Right‘ came along and changed everything. A movie that gained notoriety because it focused on a lesbian couple and their family, it also gave us a wonderful look into the reality of modern life.

Julianne Moore and Annette Bening play Jules and Nic, a well-established lesbian couple. Nic is an up-tight perfectionist medical professional. Jules is a quiet, and somewhat lonely landscaper. Their children are teenagers, and they struggle with the issues of raising teenagers and a marriage that may have lost its spark.

Mia Wasikowska plays their eighteen-year-old daughter, Joni, and Josh Hutcherson plays fifteen-year-old Laser. Both are conceived through artificial insemination. The teens debate about finding their biological father. Laser is desperate to have a male role model in his life; Joni is looking to find the missing piece of the puzzle.

An inquiry by Joni leads to a phone call from a man named Paul, played by  Mark Ruffalo. He is the sperm donor: the father to them both. Bringing him into their lives brings about changes no one expected. Paul works his way into being a member of the family. He proves to be both a good and bad role model for the children. He teaches them to stand up for themselves. He also crosses boundaries and tears down Nic and Jules’ marriage.

Each character has its strengths. Each character has its flaws. We watch as their insecurities drive their behaviour and drive them to the decisions they make. Each person is a rich, deep, emotional soul that is vulnerable yet strong. This film thoroughly examines these characters’ lives. Dissecting friendships, parental relationships, romance, and the true definition of family, we run the gamut of emotions with them. The lines between friendship and family get crossed, tangled, and even erased.

A deep and honest portrayal of family life, The Kids Are All Right is a movie that stirs our hearts and challenges us to think. What is our definition of love? What is our definition of family? What acts are forgivable, and which aren’t? Do we allow our insecurities to run our lives?

Where do we place the boundaries for others? For ourselves? Are we living in the moment? Are we holding on to past fears and hurts? Are we too focused on the minute details that we are losing perspective of the bigger picture? Who are we, and what do we want to accomplish in our lifetime? Who do we want to have by our side as we go through life?

Thought-provoking and emotional, The Kids Are All Right is a wonderful, powerful, impactful movie. This is a life-changing film