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THE KIDS ARE ALL RIGHTMovie Reviews
Comedy about a lesbian couple whose 20 year relationship is rocked when the anonymous sperm donor father of their two teenaged children enters the picture. Cast:Annette Bening, Mark Ruffalo, Julianne Moore, Mia Wasikowska, Josh HutchersonDirector:Lisa CholodenkoRelease Date:July 9, 2010DVD Release:November 16, 2010From:Focus FeaturesRating:RLength:1 hr 46 min
The Kids Are All Right played to exceptional reviews. • Dana Stevens wrote for Slate, "...leaves you feeling wistful for at least three reasons: because of what happens in the story, because the movie's over, and because there aren't more of them this good." • And Mary Pols wrote in Time, "...a perfectly observed, sexy study of a modern American family... this might be the best domestic drama we'll see all year." More Reviews Below...
The Kids Are All Right Positive Reviews (52 Reviews, reviews below)
Mary Pols, Time: OUTSTANDING "...a perfectly observed, sexy study of a modern American family... deliciously fraught; this might be the best domestic drama we'll see all year."(See all of Mary Pols's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 513 words, 07/09/10
David Germain, Associated Press: VERY GOOD(cg) "Bening dominates... Moore's performance is fearless and moving... while Ruffalo shows off new levels of depth and contentiousness."(See all of David Germain's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 640 words, 07/08/10
Thelma Adams, Us Weekly: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...tart, laugh-out-loud... Lisa Cholodenko ('Laurel Canyon') has crafted an honest, generous portrait of the challenges of American family life..."(See all of Thelma Adams's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 132 words, 07/08/10
Lisa Schwarzbaum, Entertainment Weekly: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...this warm, funny, sexy, smart movie erases the boundaries between specialized 'gay content' and universal 'family content' with such sneaky authority."(See all of Lisa Schwarzbaum's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 401 words, 07/02/10
Peter Travers, Rolling Stone: OUTSTANDING(cg) "The actors are to die for. Bening and Moore nail every nuance of a relationship going adrift. And Ruffalo is dynamite as a man keeping himself at a distance."(See all of Peter Travers's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 207 words, 06/24/10
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Moore and Bening are superb actors here, evoking a marriage of more than 20 years... The film gives them convincing, intelligent dialogue, mannerisms that fit..."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 673 words, 07/08/10
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NEW YORK/LOS ANGELES/CHICAGO/TORONTO (13 Reviews)
A.O. Scott, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...outrageously funny without ever exaggerating for comic effect, and heartbreaking with only minimal melodramatic embellishment."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,137 words, 07/09/10
Elizabeth Weitzman, New York Daily News: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Cholodenko guides her perfectly meshed cast with the gentlest hand, allowing each to delve fully into the wise, open-hearted script she wrote with Stuart Blumberg."(See all of Elizabeth Weitzman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 352 words, 07/09/10
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "Witty, urbane and thoroughly entertaining... peerless performances, lyrical direction and an adventurous script... Fierce, funny, smart and overflowing with love..."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 996 words, 07/09/10
Lou Lumenick, New York Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "...a ruefully funny, beautifully acted comedy of manners and unconventional celebration of gay marriage.... has lots of smarts, lots of heart and an open mind."(See all of Lou Lumenick's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 393 words, 07/09/10
Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune: OUTSTANDING(cg) " 'All right' doesn't begin to describe it. 'The Kids Are All Right' is wonderful.... a triumph of simple technique wedded to complex and satisfying comedy-drama."(See all of Michael Phillips's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 568 words, 07/09/10
David Edelstein, New York Magazine: OUTSTANDING "...the self-satire is so knowing, so rich, so hilarious, so damn healthy that it blows all thoughts of degeneracy out of your head."(See all of David Edelstein's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 807 words, 07/05/10
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Moore and Bening are superb actors here, evoking a marriage of more than 20 years... The film gives them convincing, intelligent dialogue, mannerisms that fit..."(See all of Roger Ebert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 673 words, 07/08/10
J. Hoberman, Village Voice/LA Weekly: VERY GOOD "Serious comedy, powered by an enthusiastic cast and full of good-natured innuendo... a heartfelt poster for family values. Everything new is old again."(See all of J. Hoberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 665 words, 07/07/10
Peter Howell, Toronto Star: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Ruffalo is great as Paul, one of the best characters he's played since he first rose to prominence a decade ago with 'You Can Count On Me.' "(See all of Peter Howell's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 710 words, 07/09/10
Rick Groen, Toronto Globe & Mail: MODERATE(cg) "Turns out that unconventional families can be just as tedious in their melodramatic dysfunctions as any traditional clan."(See all of Rick Groen's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 637 words, 07/09/10
Ann Hornaday, Washington Post: VERY GOOD(cg) "...amusing, occasionally piercing... should strike a warm, familiar chord with everyone who has left home or is facing a rapidly emptying nest."(See all of Ann Hornaday's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 595 words, 07/16/10
Mick LaSalle, Houston Chronicle/San Francisco Chronicle: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...this one has vivid characters, strong performances and flows... But this one also has a good story and, if you're paying attention, a distinct point of view."(See all of Mick LaSalle's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 704 words, 07/16/10
Roger Moore, Orlando Sentinel: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...a superb dramedy about that moment in one girl's life and the unusual parents and nontraditional family she is finally old enough to pass judgment on."(See all of Roger Moore's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 661 words, 07/23/10
Colin Covert, Minneapolis Star-Tribune: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Imagine: a boldly funny film that doesn't trade in meet-cutes and laugh-track jokes, but carefully observes five interesting people colliding like bumper cars."(See all of Colin Covert's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 797 words, 07/16/10
Kerry Lengel, Arizona Republic: EXCELLENT(cg) "The twist is that the formula disappears, like a proper skeleton, beneath the flesh of its charming, prickly, frustrating characters, acted with grace and vulnerability..."(See all of Kerry Lengel's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 596 words, 07/16/10
Chris Vognar, Dallas Morning News: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...acts so blasé about busting open our moviegoing expectations that we easily settle in and enjoy the ride - which is, of course, the point."(See all of Chris Vognar's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 600 words, 07/16/10
Ty Burr, Boston Globe: OUTSTANDING(cg) "Movies like 'The Kids Are All Right'' -- beautifully written, impeccably played, funny and randy and true -- don't come along very often."(See all of Ty Burr's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 941 words, 07/16/10
Steve Persall, St. Petersburg Times: VERY GOOD(cg) "...somewhat brave in an era when gay and lesbian rights of marriage are hot-button political issues. Yet everything is soap opera, rather than soapbox lecturing."(See all of Steve Persall's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 522 words, 07/22/10
Rene Rodriguez, Miami Herald: VERY GOOD(cg) "...the story, so fresh and engaging, reaches a point at which there's no place left to go but into cliché -- but its emotional pull remains consistent to the end."(See all of Rene Rodriguez's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 648 words, 07/23/10
ALTERNATIVE/INDIE PRESS (9 Reviews)
J. Hoberman, Village Voice/LA Weekly: VERY GOOD "Serious comedy, powered by an enthusiastic cast and full of good-natured innuendo... a heartfelt poster for family values. Everything new is old again."(See all of J. Hoberman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 665 words, 07/07/10
Peter Keough, Boston Phoenix: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...charming, uplifting, and very funny... Maybe the most subversive aspect of this 'Kids' is how conservative its family values actually are."(See all of Peter Keough's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 599 words, 07/15/10
Keith Phipps, AV Club: OUTSTANDING(cg) "The film almost seems to melt away as we observe lives being lived before our eyes, with neither the hurt nor the beauty filtered out."(See all of Keith Phipps's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 458 words, 07/08/10
Kevin Kelly, Cinematical: OUTSTANDING "Everyone could probably spot themselves in one of these characters, worrying about their own relationships, or realizing that life might not be what they expected."(See all of Kevin Kelly's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 681 words, 07/09/10
Lauren Wissot, Slant: VERY GOOD(cg) "...like a page-turning novel, smoothly segueing from laugh-out-loud hilarious (Moore especially has her screwball comedic timing down pat) to heartbreakingly poignant..."(See all of Lauren Wissot's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 611 words, 07/05/10
Curt Holman, Atlanta Creative Loafing: EXCELLENT(cg) "...delivers characters and situations exaggerated just enough to be laugh-out-loud funny, but credible enough to feel as surprising and fleshed-out as real life."(See all of Curt Holman's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 552 words, 07/16/10
MaryAnn Johanson, Flick Filosopher: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...one of the best movies about family I've ever seen: what family means, what you do to keep it together, how the ups and downs of it can drive you crazy..."(See all of MaryAnn Johanson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 834 words, 07/08/10
HIGHBROW PRESS (7 Reviews)
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: OUTSTANDING "...thrillingly funny and casually profound... played to perfection by Annette Bening and Julianne Moore... has subtexts that enhance every scene between the two women..."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 835 words, 07/09/10
A.O. Scott, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...outrageously funny without ever exaggerating for comic effect, and heartbreaking with only minimal melodramatic embellishment."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,137 words, 07/09/10
Anthony Lane, New Yorker: WEAK "There are not only glancing moments but whole sequences when the agony of social embarrassment makes you want to haul the characters to their feet and slap them..."(See all of Anthony Lane's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 940 words, 07/05/10
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "Witty, urbane and thoroughly entertaining... peerless performances, lyrical direction and an adventurous script... Fierce, funny, smart and overflowing with love..."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 996 words, 07/09/10
Dana Stevens, Slate: OUTSTANDING "...leaves you feeling wistful for at least three reasons: because of what happens in the story, because the movie's over, and because there aren't more of them this good."(See all of Dana Stevens's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 705 words, 07/08/10
Andrew O'Hehir, Salon: OUTSTANDING "...ranks with the most compelling portraits of an American marriage, regardless of sexuality, in film history.... an overwhelmingly affirmative warts-and-all portrait..."(See all of Andrew O'Hehir's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 879 words, 01/26/10
MOVIE INDUSTRY (6 Reviews)
Rob Nelson, Daily Variety: GOOD (NOT GREAT) "...alright, if not up to the level of writer-director Lisa Cholodenko's earlier pair of new bohemian dramas, 'High Art' and 'Laurel Canyon'..."(See all of Rob Nelson's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 753 words, 01/27/10
Betsy Sharkey, Los Angeles Times: OUTSTANDING "Witty, urbane and thoroughly entertaining... peerless performances, lyrical direction and an adventurous script... Fierce, funny, smart and overflowing with love..."(See all of Betsy Sharkey's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 996 words, 07/09/10
Patrick Z. McGavin, Cinema 24/7: OUTSTANDING(cg) "...one of the most relevant and most entertaining films of the year.... Benning, Moore and especially Ruffalo are at their most appealing, funny, argumentative and liberating."(See all of Patrick Z. McGavin's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 940 words, 07/03/10
A.O. Scott, New York Times: OUTSTANDING "...outrageously funny without ever exaggerating for comic effect, and heartbreaking with only minimal melodramatic embellishment."(See all of A.O. Scott's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 1,137 words, 07/09/10
Joe Morgenstern, Wall Street Journal: OUTSTANDING "...thrillingly funny and casually profound... played to perfection by Annette Bening and Julianne Moore... has subtexts that enhance every scene between the two women..."(See all of Joe Morgenstern's reviews...)(Read the full review...) 835 words, 07/09/10
15.9 Percentage Points Average Difference Between Reviews (Norm is 18.4pp; <18.4pp = More Consistent; >18.4pp = More Mixed)
The Kids Are All Right's reviews are separated by an average 15.9 percentage points. The norm for this measure is 18.4 percentage points. Less than 18.4 indicates more consistent reviews; greater than 18.4 indicates more mixed reviews. In the chart below, each dot represents a review, with the dots at the top more positive than the dots at the bottom. From left to right, the dots represent reviews in big, bigger and biggest publications. Roll over each dot for more detail.
The Kids Are All Right (52 reviews) Roll over dots for each review
Coverage:The Kids Are All Right's reviews cover 98.9% of potential readers (average is 67.9%). Volume:The film's reviews total 31,403 words involume (average is 20,194 words). Length:The film's reviews average 604 words in length (the norm is 517 words).
The Kids Are All Right Coverage, Volume & Length (52 Reviews, reviews below)
Reviews Broke 4 Days Before Release (Norm is 1.2 Release)
The Kids Are All Right's reviews on average broke 4 days before opening. Norm for this measure is 1.2 hours before. The chart below shows reviews on opening day and the days before and after opening; the left side is earlier and the right side is later. The red bars extending above the horizontal mid-line represent more positive reviews, and the red bars extending below represent more negative reviews. The white space/red bar in the middle is The Kids Are All Right's opening day. Click on any bar for a list of the reviews for that day.
The Kids Are All Right (52 reviews, click on bars for reviews)
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