Review of The Kids Are All Right (2010) by Wayne K — 30 May 2016

2010 certainly wasn't short of great films: The King's Speech, 127 Hours, The Social Network, Black Swan. As I recently discovered, The Kids Are All Right more than belongs on this list. The story of a family thrown into turmoil and inner conflict is nothing especially new, but it's done with such warmth, realism and humanity that it never fails to entertain.

The central characters are a homosexual couple, each one with a biological child, living what appears to be a relatively normal life. Rather than saying they have to deal with issues because they're a non-conventional family, it shows that they are a non-conventional who deals with issues.

Mark Ruffalo, undoubtedly one of this generation's finest and most charming actors, brings to life a free-spirited individual who tries to accept new responsibilities, but is unable to change his own carefree, laid back nature.

All of the cast are fantastic, and none more so than Annette Benning. I believed her character within minutes of her being on screen, and every glare, sideways word and tear she delivers feels honest and heartfelt.

She, and everyone else on screen, deserves all the praise they received. A magnificent cast, snappy dialogue and a real feeling of purpose, meaning and relevance, I loved it from start to finish.