Kristin Reviews The Kids Are All Right

For the record, this review is really only a springboard for a rant. I apologize in advance for any confusion this may cause.

I probably would not have watched The Kids are All Right if there hadn’t been some Oscar buzz attached to Annette Benning and Julianne Moore’s performances.

It’s not that I went out of my way to avoid it – there’s certainly nothing in the premise that I object to – it just didn’t strike me as a “must-see.” So when I sat down to view the DVD, I was looking forward to being blown away by some kick-ass acting in a, possibly otherwise, less-than-perfect movie.

Turns out, I was a) disappointed and b) correct.

The movie is . . . all right.

The story is a little predictable, and the mechanics (directing, cinematography, editing, etc.) are all fine. The script is not awful – it kept my interest anyway. My primary objection? The two main characters (the adults, who aren’t “all right”) aren’t very likable, so it’s difficult to identify or sympathize with their struggles.

The two young actors – the kids referenced in the title – turn in natural, unpretentious performances, and they are likable.

Mark Ruffalo is always pleasant to watch, and he certainly does not disappoint.

And Benning and Moore give their all to playing said unlikable characters which is, frankly, what they’re paid to do. They are skilled actresses, and, although they have appeared in movies I did not care for, I have never had cause for disappointment in their performances.

-Kristin
10.27.2010