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"THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHT" (2010) (Annette Bening, Julianne Moore) (R) Alcohol/ Drugs Blood/Gore Disrespectful/ Bad Attitude Frightening/ Tense Scenes Guns/ Weapons Heavy Minor Extreme None Minor Imitative Behavior Jump Scenes Music (Scary/Tense) Music (Inappropriate) Profanity Moderate None None None Extreme Sex/ Nudity Smoking Tense Family Scenes Topics To Talk About Violence Extreme Minor Extreme Heavy Mild QUICK TAKE: Dramedy: Teenage siblings and their lesbian mothers must contend with the repercussions of the kids seeking out their biological father. PLOT: 18-year-old Joni (MIA WASIKOWSKA) and her 15-year-old brother Laser (JOSH HUTCHERSON) haven't known any other life than growing up with Nic (ANNETTE BENING), a doctor, and Jules (JULIANNE MOORE), who's started a fledgling landscaping business, as their lesbian parents. Laser, who hangs out with troublemaker Clay (EDDIE HASSELL), however, is interested in finding out who their biological father might be. Accordingly, he convinces Joni, who's just graduated from high school and must contend with her friend Sasha (ZOSIA MAMET) sexualizing everything, including their mutual friend Jai (KUNAL SHARMA), to make the request at the donation clinic. As a result, they meet Paul (MARK RUFFALO), a laidback restaurateur who sleeps with his younger employee, Tanya (YAYA DaCOSTA) and initially isn't sure what to make of his two "new" kids. Yet, he quickly takes a liking to them and vice-versa, a development that doesn't sit well with Nic who always wants to be in control. When Jules also ends up getting chummy and then some with Paul, that leads to developments that threaten to undermine the lesbian couple's longtime partnership as well as their relationship with their kids. WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT? Older teens may be interested, as might anyone who's a fan of one or more cast members. WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R For strong sexual content, nudity, language and some teen drug and alcohol use. CAST AS ROLE MODELS: ANNETTE BENING plays a doctor who's a longtime lesbian partner to Jules with whom she's a parent to Joni and Laser. She's very controlling, uses strong profanity, drinks a lot of wine, and isn't happy with the kids seeking out and then befriending their biological father. JULIANNE MOORE plays her more laidback partner who owns a fledgling landscaping business and doesn't have similar problems with Paul (especially as she ends up cheating on Nic with him). She uses strong profanity, drinks wine, and briefly smokes. MARK RUFFALO plays a restaurateur who's surprised to be contacted by his two biological kids who originated with his sperm donation long ago. He drinks wine, ends up having an affair with Jules while also having sex with Tanya, his employee, and uses strong profanity. MIA WASIKOWSKA plays Nic and Jules' 18-year-old daughter and recent high school graduate who wants to break free from Nic's smothering parental hawkishness. She uses strong profanity, drinks and is drunk in one scene. JOSH HUTCHERSON plays her 15 year old brother who sets things into motion by wanting to meet his biological dad. He acts up with Clay (and snorts some sort of drug with him) and uses strong profanity. YAYA DaCOSTA plays Paul's employee who has sex with him and uses some strong profanity. KUNAL SHARMA plays Joni's friend who others think should be her boyfriend, and she briefly makes out with him. EDDIE HASSELL plays Laser's troublemaker friend who acts up, snorts some sort of drug with him, and uses strong profanity. ZOSIA MAMET plays Joni's friend who sexualizes most everything and everyone. CAST, CREW, & TECHNICAL INFO HOW OTHERS RATED THIS MOVIE Curious if this title is entertaining, any good, and/or has any artistic merit? Then read OUR TAKE of this film. (Note: The "Our Take" review of this title examines the film's artistic merits and does not take into account any of the possibly objectionable material listed below). OUR WORD TO PARENTS: The following is a brief summary of the content found in this R-rated dramedy. Profanity consists of at least 37 "f" words, while other expletives and colorful phrases are also uttered. Sexually related dialogue (some of it explicit) is present, as are several sexual encounters (both hetero and lesbian based) with movement, nudity and related sounds, while some gay male porn (barely obscured anal and oral sex) is briefly seen in several scenes. There's some brief violent contact between two teens (shoving and a punch). Lots of wine is consumed, and there's brief drug use, unrelated drug comments, and some teen drinking, while there's also brief smoking. Bad attitudes are present, as is tense family material and thematic elements, while some potentially imitative behavior occurs. Should you still be concerned about the film's appropriateness for yourself or anyone else in your home, you may want to look more closely at our detailed listings for more specific information regarding the film's content. For those prone to visually induced motion sickness, some bouncy, handheld camerawork is seen from time to time in the film. ALCOHOL OR DRUG USE Clay crushes some sort of pill, snorts the dust, and then has Laser do the same. Nic and Jules have wine with dinner. Paul has a drink. While watching a TV show, Nic jokingly tells Jules to remind her not to take heroin in a certain African country. We see various bottles of liquor and such on the bar wall in Paul's restaurant. Clay goes through Laser's mom's bedroom drawers, looking for pot, but Laser says he doesn't think they do that. Nic has wine. Paul brings over wine to Nic and Jules' home, and all three have some with a meal. Nic then has more. About how they met, we hear that Jules' tongue went numb so Nic (as a medical intern) gave her some Valium. Nic then jokes (sexual innuendo) that her tongue started working again. We see Nic pouring wine for herself. Jules, Nic and another couple have wine, with Nic ordering more, but she's alone in that. There's a comment about hemp milk, with Nic stating that's being pushed like crack. When Nic and Jules move to the bar area, we see miscellaneous people with drinks. Jules' worker blows his nose, and upset that she thinks he knows of her affair with Paul, Jules asks why he blows that so much and if he's on drugs. He says it's allergies, but she fires him anyway (for his affair knowledge). Later, she lies to Nic about drugs being the reason she fired him, adding that she thinks it was "blow" (cocaine). Paul has a drink. Tanya states that one table at their restaurant had 5 bottles of wine. Paul and Jules have wine with dinner, but Nic says she's just having water. Later, however, she says she'll have some of that wine and does with them. We see teen drinking at a party, including by Joni who guzzles some and then goes over and passionately kisses Jai (but they stop and nothing else happens). Joni then returns home, obviously intoxicated, and her moms call her on that, with one asking if she drove home drunk (Joni says she isn't drunk, but she obviously is). Nic and Jules have wine with dinner. Nic has wine. BLOOD/GORE About hanging out with Paul, Nic reminds her of the old saying about "Don't sh*t where you eat." Laser and Clay find a stray dog and Clay tells Laser to hold him while he urinates on its head. He starts to undo his pants, but Laser shoos the dog away, thus infuriating Clay who shoves him backwards and calls him a "fag." Laser then shoves him back, followed by Clay punching him. Laser then spits at Clay and walks off. DISRESPECTFUL/BAD ATTITUDE Clay overturns several recycle bins while riding past them on his skateboard. About Paul, Clay tells Laser he thinks he's kind of a "fag," and then asks Laser, "Why are you such a fag?" and shoves him back when the latter won't urinate on a dog. About Paul offering her parental advice, Nic angrily tells him, "I need your observation like I need a d*ck in my ass." Jules cheats on Nic by having several sexual encounters with Paul. Nic isn't nice to another couple (or Jules) while out with them, saying, "Just f*cking kill me" and "I'll f*cking kill myself" about something brought up in the conversation. Jules' worker blows his nose, and upset that she thinks he knows of her affair with Paul, Jules asks why he blows that so much and if he's on drugs. He says it's allergies, but she fires him anyway (for his affair knowledge). Later, she lies to Nic about drugs being the reason she fired him, adding that she thinks it was "blow" (cocaine). Joni returns home, obviously intoxicated, and her moms call her on that, with one asking if she drove home drunk (Joni says she isn't drunk, but she obviously is). FRIGHTENING SCENES None. GUNS/WEAPONS There's talk of a knife during a TV program set in Africa. IMITATIVE BEHAVIOR Phrases: "I'm f*cking fine," "Did you f*cking get it?" "It's f*cking crazy," "Why are you such a f*cking d*ck?" "What the f*ck?" "You've got to be f*cking kidding me," "I can't f*cking believe it," "F*ck you," "Just f*cking kill me," "I'll f*cking kill myself," "I can't f*cking do it," "So f*cking sue me," "I am so f*cked up," "Made me want to f*ck you," "I don't work out my issues by f*cking other people," "Oh f*ck," "F*ck it," "You're a f*cking interloper," "It's really f*cking hard," "It's a f*cking marathon," "Oh sh*t," "Really sh*tty," "Don't sh*t where you eat," "You're a sh*tty person," "Bullsh*t," "Slogging through the sh*t," "Hotties," "She deserves some hot jock sausage," "I love lesbians," "I thought you should have the first taste...of my p*ssy," "Spermster's a hottie," "Don't taint him with your whore juice," "I need your observation like I need a d*ck in my ass," "Slut," "You have got some balls," "She worked her ass off," "Don't be such a bitch, dude," "Hey, Foxy," "Right on," "Shut the front door" (said in place of using the "f" word), "Let's go kick some ass," "Sweet," "All that crap," "If we act like grabby bitches," "Blows," "Jesus! Give it a rest," "That's criminal" (said about food), "One more bite and you'll have to tape it to my ass," "Don't go negative on your ass," "Kind of a fag," "Why are you such a fag?" "Got me a little freaked out," "That's totally gross," "What the hell is going on?" "Bitchin,'" "So dorky" and "My brother from another mother." Clay overturns several recycle bins while riding past them on his skateboard. After snorting some sort of drug, Clay and Laser later wrestle on the floor until Clay's father pulls them apart and puts his son in a headlock to make him stop. Jules has some sort of tattoo on her arm. With Joni videotaping him, Clay tries to skateboard off a flat roof, onto a dumpster, and then onto a ramp. But he falls off the skateboard after coming off the roof and hits both the dumpster and then the pavement hard. We see miscellaneous graffiti. JUMP SCENES None. MUSIC (SCARY/TENSE) None. MUSIC (INAPPROPRIATE) None. PROFANITY At least 37 "f" words (4 used sexually, as is the term "do it"), 17 "s" words, 6 slang terms using male genitals ("d*ck," "dong," "sausage" and "tool"), 1 using female ones ("p*ssy"), 7 asses, 1 crap, 1 hell, 12 uses of "God," 11 uses of "Oh my God," 4 of "Jesus" and 3 of "Oh God." SEX/NUDITY Sasha refers to some non-present people as hotties, says that Joni deserves some "hot jock sausage" and that Joni and Jai should just "do it." Nic and Jules kiss hello. We hear Clay tell Laser on the phone that he (Clay) shaved his "dong." In bed together, Nic asks Jules if she wants to watch a movie, and Jules replies, "A movie movie?" We then see Nic watching a gay porn film (shirtless guys, then male oral sex -- not seen in full, but head movement is viewed -- and then rear entry sex -- 2 views, with thrusting and bare butt views, but not the actual contact that's blocked by a foreground object). During this, Jules is under the sheets on top of Nic, presumably manually or orally stimulating her, and we also hear the sound of a vibrator. During this, the TV volume accidentally goes loud, embarrassing the two. We hear a clinic person comment on Paul donating sperm back in 1991 through 1993. We see several quick views of Paul having sex with Tanya (standing, her on top, him on top), with movement, nudity (breasts and butts) and related sounds (but a sofa in the foreground blocks some of the view). We then see them after sex, with him being surprised the sperm clinic actually used "my stuff." Tanya then asks why, as she does. About meeting Paul for the first time, Joni tells Laser that donating sperm is weird. Nic and Jules chat about Laser, with Nic saying they should sit him down and just talk. Jules then asks a mock question, "What, 'Are you and Clay f*cking?'" Mocking another woman who just chatted with Paul about some vegetables, Tanya says, "I thought you should have the first taste...of my p*ssy." Clay goes through Laser's mom's bedroom drawers, looking for pot, but Laser says he doesn't think they do that. Clay then finds and turns on a large dildo, followed by them finding a gay porn movie that they then watch (a shirtless guy, then a near crotch view, and then male oral sex -- head movement, but no direct contact seen). Jules then walks in on them watching that. Later, Laser asks his moms why they watch male gay porn rather than lesbian. Jules explains that human sexuality is complicated, and that since women's is internalized, sometimes it's better to watch external stuff, and mentions a penis. Besides, she adds, most lesbian porn has two straight women faking it. About how they met, we hear that Jules' tongue went numb so Nic (as a medical intern) gave her some Valium. Nic then jokes (sexual innuendo) that her tongue started working again. Seeing a photo of Paul, Sasha says, "Spermster's a hottie." Joni tells her not to taint him with her "whore juice," and Sasha leaves after making a few more sexual comments. Laser asks Paul why he donated sperm in the past, and Paul jokes that it seemed like more fun than donating blood. Nic passionately kisses Jules, and we then see her (clothed) rubbing Jules' foot while the latter is in the tub (we see a brief and partial nipple view from her). Later, we see Jules in just a towel. About some delicious food Paul has made, Jules says that one more bite and he'll have to tape it to her "ass." He jokingly replies for her not to go negative on her "ass." Jules and Paul suddenly and passionately kiss, clothed and standing, and then stop. About Paul offering her parental advice, Nic angrily tells him, "I need your observation like I need a d*ck in my ass." Paul and Jules passionately kiss, with him grabbing her clothed butt. We then see them up against a wall, with her legs spread around him, followed by her on his bed in her bra and panties. She works on his pants and then is pleasantly surprised by his size (we don't see anything), followed by quick views of them having sex (him on top, her on top, and rear entry), with sounds, movement and nudity (breasts, butts). Tanya and Sasha show cleavage. When Tanya and Paul exit, Sasha states that Paul was giving her the "sex vibe." Joni replies by saying that not everyone wants to have sex with Sasha, and that her comments make her seem like a "slut." That's followed by Sasha saying she's a sexual person. We see a head and shoulders view of Jules and Paul having sex, with her on top, him grabbing her hair, and her pushing his face with her hand. We then see them after sex and he's shirtless while she's under the covers. He then playfully climbs on top of her (we see his bare butt and he's between her legs), but a phone call interrupts them. As she sits up, we see partial breast and butt views. We see Jules and Paul post sex, with him shirtless and her under the covers. We then see a head and shoulders view of her showering, but don't see anything explicit. Tanya says it's nice to see Paul in dad mode, adding that it "make me want to f*ck you" and that she misses their "sleepovers." He then says they can't do that anymore. Nic and Jules passionately kiss while clothed and standing. Nic realizes that Jules is having an affair with Paul, and then later asks her, "You're sleeping with him, aren't you?" Jules starts to say, "I needed..." with Nic jumping in, "What, to be f*cked?" Jules says no, that she needed to be appreciated. Nic then angrily states that she doesn't work out her issues "by f*cking other people." We see teen drinking at a party (where we see miscellaneous cleavage), including by Joni who guzzles some and then goes over and passionately kisses Jai (but they stop and nothing else happens). SMOKING After sex, Jules says she could use a cigarette, stating she hasn't had one since one of the kids was born, but Paul doesn't have any. After later sex, Paul says he bought her cigarettes, but we don't see any (at least until later when she smokes one by herself). TENSE FAMILY SCENES There's some tension between Laser and Nic. Nic and Jules' marriage has rocky moments and then becomes progressively strained. There's some tension between Joni and Nic. Nic realizes that Jules is having an affair with Paul, and then later asks her, "You're sleeping with him, aren't you?" Jules starts to say, "I needed..." with Nic jumping in, "What, to be f*cked?" Jules says no, that she needed to be appreciated. Nic then angrily states that she doesn't work out her issues "by f*cking other people." When they open the door, they see that the kids have been listening, and Joni is then upset with both Jules and Paul, telling the later on the phone, "You're a sh*tty person." We then see that Jules is sleeping on the couch rather than with Nic who's mad at her. Joni is mad at both of her moms. TOPICS TO TALK ABOUT Lesbians, as well as them raising children. Sperm donors. Meeting one's biological parent (from a sperm donation) for the first time. Affairs. Teen drinking (and driving). VIOLENCE After snorting some sort of drug, Clay and Laser later wrestle on the floor until Clay's father pulls them apart and puts his son in a headlock to make him stop. With Joni videotaping him, Clay tries to skateboard off a flat roof, onto a dumpster, and then onto a ramp. But he falls off the skateboard after coming off the roof and hits both the dumpster and then the pavement hard. Laser and Clay find a stray dog and Clay tells Laser to hold him while he urinates on its head. He starts to undo his pants, but Laser shoos the dog away, thus infuriating Clay who shoves him backwards and calls him a "fag." Laser then shoves him back, followed by Clay punching him. Laser then spits at Clay and walks off. Mad at what he's done, Paul throws his helmet at his motorcycle. Reviewed June 16, 2010 / Posted July 23, 2010

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