The Kids Are All Right

It starts as a very nice comedy, then turns into a very nice drama that relies mainly on the good actors and their spotless performances. The script is also good. I will root for it in the comedy category of the Golden Globes, and I think at least Annette Bening will get an Oscar nomination. 80 % (17.12.2010)

From the black horse of this season emerged a surprisingly unobtrusive film, whose biggest attraction lies precisely in how the critics have taken ownership of it like a mother. Lisa Cholodenko is assigned the traditional academic role of "a pleasant film with family values for this year's nominations," and although I experienced the characters' destinies with full enthusiasm, "The Kids Are All Right" doesn't bring anything that I haven't seen elsewhere. Therefore, for example, the nominations for the screenplay, which seems to have been cut out of a typical Desperate Housewives plot and seasoned with appropriately timeless undertones, seem surprising. What the actors gain for the whole film (everyone is giving their all, but especially Mark Ruffalo shines), is lost in the ending, which doesn't disappoint outright, but leaves a somewhat disappointed and disheartened feeling that nothing substantial and well-rounded was brought to the table. (01.02.2011)

In this film, the process of depicting human homosexuality on the movie screen culminates. At first, homosexuality was an absolute taboo. Later, it did appear on the screen, but in a position like pedophilia has today. In the next stage, filmmakers looked at homosexuals with a hint of understanding. After all, they are sick, they cannot help their disgusting deviation. At the same time, they used gays as props in comedies, so pink sugary gentlemen filled the movie screens. Filmmakers still avoided depicting lesbian relationships at that time because it didn't offer as much comedic potential. What we laugh at seems more humane to us, so this development helped change prejudices despite embarrassing stereotypes. Then came a wave of fighting for homosexual rights. Every activism is dogmatic in its zeal, and therefore it often ends in a way that human sexuality is depicted as a relationship between two men or two women and explicitly as a marginal and peculiar matter in heterosexual relationships. The Kids Are All Right depicts the present when at least in happier countries and areas, homosexuals don't have to be afraid to declare their orientation. However, the director skillfully uses the last controversy that remains about homosexuality - registered partnerships and, above all, parenting. According to the latest surveys, both have problems even in traditionally liberal France. A recently conducted survey showed that about half of the population has difficulties accepting it. Naturally, lesbian women and gay men have had children in all historical epochs because they usually couldn't choose and it didn't leave any deformities on their offspring. A lesbian couple faces a fundamental problem in the film. Their two children conceived through a sperm bank want to know their biological father. It turns out that a male figure was indeed missing in the family, and family crises also affect homosexual couples. The Kids Are All Right is a surprisingly civilized and tastefully made film with an excellent female duo in the lead roles. One wouldn't even say that they are big stars of the silver screen; they have transformed perfectly and are not ashamed of their natural aging. Overall impression: 80%. (28.01.2013)

Mein persönlicher Oscar-Favorit, vor allem Annette Bening hätte ihn nach American Beauty wirklich verdient, damals stand ihr ihre unschlagbare Konkurrentin Hillary Swank gegenüber, nun ist es die schlagbare Natalie Portman. Der Streifen The Kids Are All Right versetzt den Zuschauer in eine gute, aufgelockerte Stimmung, die Schauspieler strengen sich alle sehr an, dazu gute Musik und das System lokaler Landwirtschaft. Ein Film, der wirklich auch dann gut ist, wenn er ernst wird. (27.02.2011)

A beautiful human film about the fact that we are humans and that we make mistakes, but still, we are always humans and we have to find a way to each other. It's not necessarily a film about second chances, but simply about the fact that sometimes we have to forgive ourselves and that family, no matter what form it takes, is simply important. We have to create small groups because we simply can't live without each other. Beautiful, civil acting that suits all the actors, even though Mark Ruffalo really amazed me here for the first time. (03.03.2014)

A brilliant cast, a script that's fairly predictable but contains basically no distractions, some very funny moments, overall a pleasant bit of relaxation and some amusement, with an American moral at the end). Surely there’s something to fall in love with?:) (25.01.2011)