Road to the Oscars - The kids are all right

Director: Lisa Cholodenko
Writer: Lisa Cholodenko, Stuart Blumberg
Cast: Annette Bening, Julianne Moore, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska, Josh Hutcherson
Music: Cater Burwell
Production: USA, 2010
Release Date: 25 January 2010
Runtime: 106 Minutes
IMDB Link: The kids are all right

Plot

Nic and Jules are a lesbian couple who have two teenagers, Joni (18) and Láser (15), they had them by artificial insemination using the sperm of an anonymous donor.

After Joni turns eighteen, her brother fells curiosity and insists on getting in contact with the donor. Without much interest at the begging, she decides to call the sperm bank to set a meeting with Paul (the donor). Later, Joni and Láser meet Paul at his restaurant. They discover he is a normal person with a decent job. They decide to keep in touch with Paul.

Some days later Nic and Jules discover, by accident, that their children have contacted and meet with the donor. They decide that it would be better if they also meet Paul, so they invite him to have dinner at home.

The arrival of Paul to their life will produce many personal changes in all of the characters. The relationship between Nic and Jules is shocked and they will rethink their roles in the family. Láser will realize that his close friend, Clay, is not a good person to hang around. Joni will understand that if she wants to be taken seriously she needs to behave more like a grown up. Paul will understand the hard way, that if he wants to have a family he needs to build it away from them.




Review (Warning it may contain spoilers)

Two things draw my attention from the film: The set-up, a lesbian couple with two teenagers children who wanted to meet the donor of sperm which their mother have been inseminated from; and Mia Wasikowska being one of the principal actress. I remember her from the TV series, In-Treatment, where her acting was excellent.

The movie deals with a very hard and controversial topic, gay marriage. However, the approach to this topic is enjoyable and simple. The film shows that kids of gay marriages can be normal after all, despite what some people think.

Throughout the film, the funny and charming scenes keep the plot going into the right direction. The arrival of Paul to the family will start a series of events that will produce changes in all of them including Paul himself. Despite all the screw-ups, family is what comes successful at the end. It has a very positive and responsible message to people that think that gay marriage is destroying “The Family”.

By Sebastián Nadilo