“LOVE IN THE GENES”
Starring: Julianne Moore, Annette Bening, Mark Ruffalo, Mia Wasikowska, and Josh Hutcherson
Directed by: Lisa Cholodenko
MPAA Rating: R for strong sexual content, nudity, language and some teen drug and alcohol use.
Genre: Drama
Running Time: 1 hr. 44 min
By John Delia
It’s a different kind of love story that deals with family and changes within our society. It’s called The Kids Are All Right and it is very good. The excellent acting and keen direction make the challenging storyline real. If you would like to check out the other side of the coin involving gay relationships, this is the film for you.
Nic (Julianne Moore) and Jules (Annette Bening) have been long time Lesbian companions and have raised two kids with the use of a sperm bank. The teenage children Joni (Mia Wasikowska) and Laser (Josh Hutcherson) are normal kids in a household filled with love. The only negative point between Nic and Jules is their sex life, which has become humdrum. Joni is about to graduate High School and go off to college leaving her younger brother behind. But Laser wants something that has been bothering him most of his life, to meet the sperm donor that has given him life. The two kids contact the sperm bank and request to meet their donor. When the donor (Mark Ruffalo) agrees to meet them, a whole new chapter in the lives of the family begins.
Benning and Moore are brilliant in their roles as the mothers of Joni and Laser. The two women burn up the screen with love and sensuality yet deliver mother figures with assurance. Moore’s ability to show her character’s weakness and the way she has to deal with it is award worthy.
Direction by Lisa Cholodenko (Laurel Canyon) is brilliant taking the subject matter and presenting it as if gay relationships are commonplace. She lays her cards on the table immediately showing the lovers and
motherhood without issue, then starts adding dilemmas. From sexual boredom between Nic and Jules to a possible gay issue that involves Laser, Cholodenko slowly feeds the audience leading up to her big bang. And when it comes, her choice of support characters takes the ball and runs with it providing a surprising and involved movie.
The film is rated R for strong sexual content, nudity, language and some teen drug and alcohol use. The lovemaking is near explicit and the camera catches it all.
FINAL ANALYSIS:Â Excellent treatment of an alternate lifestyle. (4 of 5)