13/50x2: The Kids Are All Right

The first time I saw Mark Ruffalo in a film, at least I think it was the first time, was in the Big-like film 13 Going on 30. I can't recall ever seeing him again, but he reminded me of someone (someone that escapes me now).

Since then, Ruffalo has become a pretty well-known actor, who seems to be in quite a few films each year - and will soon be stepping into the role of the Hulk in this year's The Avengers.

I have really enjoyed watching him become such a good actor, and so I definitely found it necessary to check out the well-received The Kids Are All Right.

In the film, Nicole (Annette Benning) and Jules Allgood (Julianne Moore) are a married, lesbian couple who have two children, Joni (Mia Wasikowska) and Laser (Josh Hutcherson).

In order for this lesbian couple to have children, they went went to a 'bank'. Nicole carried one of the children, and the next go around Jules was the mother.

As the children have become older, they begin to get curious as to who may be their real father. As they do some digging they find that Paul (Ruffalo) is the father of both of them.

Paul is a bit 'out there' in life, I would say a bit of a hippie, but when he meets the children they all get along and Paul is excited about possibly being a part of their lives.

The entrance of Paul into the family really turns them upside down, as they begin to realize some of the things that have been going on in their lives - mostly with Nic and Jules.

Nic has been the main provider of the family as a OB/GYN and is also the discipline of the family. Jules is much more laid back and has gone through business after business - now trying her hand at landscaping - and feels unappreciated by Nic.

So with the entrance of Paul and these feelings coming to the surface, would it bring the family closer together or split them apart?

An amazingly well acted film. I have only seen Wasikowska in two films now, but I really think she is an up-and-coming actress. I have come to either love or loathe Moore in films, and here I thought she was amazing. And, I may be wrong, but this may also be the second time I have seen Benning in a film - and again she was a lot like her character in American Beauty. But, that works for her.

Overall, I really enjoyed the movie and it is great to show that there is not much difference between a gay/lesbian household compared to a straight household. Both have difficulties and both worry about their children. Hopefully films like these allow those who feel strongly against same-sex households to change their tune - but of course it is tough to change bigotry.

Grade:

Tuesday's With Movies: 11/16/10

NOTE: This was written for yesterday, but for some reason it did not post.

As I said on the Facebook page, I have decided to start a new running feature on here. A lot of people put their new movie releases and some comments up for the Friday releases of new movies. Well, as I have said in the past, I do not get out to the movies in the theater - so my new releases are actually Tuesday on DVD. So here it goes.

Avatar (3-Disc Collector's Edition): OK, I have the regular Avatar film that was released a few months back. I really want to see it and I have not found the time (it's pretty long) to watch it yet. I will not e purchasing this new 3-disc collection, however. I hate how they release DVDs and then re-release it with more content.





Disney's A Christmas Carol: Wow, I almost completely forgot about this film. I was not really excited about it when it came out last year - but since Christmas is right around the corner and my son has already started watching Christmas movies I am probably going to be getting this one. And kudos to people releasing this movie - waiting an entire year to release a movie on DVD never happens anymore - and I think it may have worked.



The Last Airbender: I so hope that M. Night gets his act together soon. I really enjoyed Sixth Sense and Unbreakable. And, I totally didn't hate Signs. But, his last few films have just been stinkers and from what I have heard about this one - he may have hit rock bottom. I have zero interest in seeing this - not only because people have said it was horrible, but I really don't know much about the actual story anyway. So, this is a no chance for me.



The Kids are All Right: This looks really good. I have heard nothing but great things about this film. Quick rundown: a lesbian couple (Julianne Moore and Annette Benning) gets artificially inseminated by the same donor for their two children. The children get interested and track him down and he (Mark Ruffalo) is introduced into the family. Looks very good and I have to say that Ruffalo is becoming one of my favorite actors - he just selects great roles and knocks them out of the park.



Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore: Um.....no. Even with a small child and having four cats and a dog of my own (one cat of which looks exactly like one of the cats in the film) I have zero interest in seeing this. Something about the first movie (possibly Jeff Goldblum or the fact that I saw it on cable) had me interested in seeing it - this one has shown me absolutely nothing that has interested me. Thank goodness my son really doesn't get to pick out the movies we get.