The Kids Are All Right - but is the Movie?

After seven years in the making, "The Kids Are All Right" was screened and extremely well received at the Sundance Film Festival. This is a tale about a long term and loving, but flawed and perhaps fading marriage.  Nic, the Doctor and breadwinner (Annette Benning), and the "housewife" Jules (Julianne Moore) are the parents of one child each from the same sperm donor. When the eldest child Joni (Mia Wasikowska) turns 18 she's able to inquire on the identity of her father at the request of the younger brother, Laser (Josh Hutcherson) who is 15. They meet the father and the story follows the cast for the summer.

First I need to say that Laser is a stupid name for a kid. Just plain dumb. I enjoy the performance of Mark Ruffalo who plays the father Paul...but how could he manage to keep a straight face when telling a 15 year old "cool name" when the kid is introduced as Laser. I mean c'mon.

"Hi my name is Laser"
"Oh. Cool my name is Transistor"
"Sweet I think to make me they need to use some of you"
"I think my sister Saser makes too much noise" (a saser is like an ultrasonic rather than light based laser)

OR

"Honey I'm not sure if our son is going to be tormented enough in school. He will be in a minority as the child of Lesbian parents but do you think that's enough?"
"OH! Let's give him a name like Laser. That'll help!"
"Can we give him that 'Kick Me' T-Shirt when he's older?"

Anyway...we move on. Critics LOVED this movie. Rotten Tomatoes gives it a 95% based on 200 reviews. So about 7% greater than "The Black Swan" or on par with "True Grit (2010)" or 9% higher than "Inception". I'm glad I'm writing a blog about more than just trying to be a critic. NO WAY is this movie that good. Sorry.

Years ago I went to see "Kiss of the Spider Woman" in the theaters when it was in full release. I went to see it based on critical acclaim. To this day I don't really trust critics. Horrible movie.

"The Kids Are All Right" was entertaining, to a point. A little more comedy would have helped, for me at least. The charming Ruffalo and his relationships with the family could have provided more grist for the humor mill. Instead the comedy is almost like meat in a borderline stew (sorry to any vegetarians) - just enough to keep you interested.

If this wins the Oscar the TV might not survive.