The Film
A kid seeking out his or her biological parent is a premise that's been done to death -- and that's just in one very special week of Maury. However, there is something truly special about The Kids Are All Right. This indie darling shines, thanks to a great cast, standout performances, and a bit of a unique twist on the typical "who's your daddy?" storyline.
Joni (Mia Wasikowska) and Laser (Josh Hutcherson) are brother and sister, but with different mommies, who just happen to be married lesbian couple Jules (Julianne Moore) and Nic (Annette Bening). Of course, the kids soon have questions about their humble beginnings, and seek out sperm daddy Paul (Mark Ruffalo). That's where problems ensue, and the movie gets truly interesting.
Nic is a complex, cold character; it's hard to believe that anyone loves her, let alone sweet Jules. However, this is more of a testament to Bening, who is a real treat here. Also, it's nice to see Ruffalo take on another leading man role. Even though his Paul is far from father of the year, it's hard not to enjoy his part in the movie, as well as feel bad for this aging schlub.
While Kids was billed as a comedy, it doesn't have any laugh-out-loud yuks, and that's a good thing. It's sweet, tender, and interesting. It also doesn't hurt that there isn't a bad performance in the bunch.
Want to hang more with these Kids? Check out Lexi Feinberg's review of the theatrical release of The Kids Are All Right.
The Picture
The Kids Are All Right is a low-budget picture with a bit of a low-budget image. That's not to say that this 1.85:1 transfer is bad, but it certainly won't leave as much of a lasting impression as the actual movie. It has a bit of grain, but there are also plenty of high points. The colors are both decent and earthy, and there's a nice level of detail, which is most notable in facial features.
The Sound
Overall, The Kids Are All Right is a quiet movie. A lot of the characters here could be classified as "low talkers." That said, the DTS-HD Master Audio track delivers every word clearly, without the need to ever reach for the remote. There are very few background noises, except for the occasional rumble of Paul's motorcycle. While there isn't much else inside the movie, the musical soundtrack does play an important role. It isn't just a bunch of pop du jour. Instead, it's one of those compilations that has you scrambling for iTunes. It's not only good, but each song seems to elevate the movie a bit, without ever drowning out the dialogue.
The Extras
For a movie that garnered so much buzz, the special features are extremely disappointing. Each character gets a blip of screen time in this section, but it doesn't matter. Everything they are saying is just fluffy promotion. There's a little over four minutes with cast and crew giving their views of the movie. Another 3-minute making-of feature comes off more like a clip reel. The most disappointing, however, is that co-writers Lisa Cholodenko and Stuart Blumberg get less than two minutes to explain how one's idea and the other's past sperm donation made for the perfect writing team.
Final Thoughts
While some may be turned off by the subject matter, The Kids Are All Right isn't about politics or gay rights. It's just a good movie. The only thing boring about this release is its weak batch of extras. This Blu-ray release could be a little better, but it's still one that you'll want to pick up.
Product Details
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