--- title: "The Kids Are All Right: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-kids-are-all-right/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-kids-are-all-right" critics_score: 79 critics_reviews: 18 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Kids Are All Right (2010): what the critics said Critics' score 79 from 18 reviews: 15 positive, 3 mixed, 0 negative. Most critics warmly welcome The Kids Are All Right as a funny, perceptive account of marriage and family life, with praise centred on Annette Bening and Julianne Moore’s convincing partnership. Mark Ruffalo also earns strong notices, while the cast’s natural rapport helps make the household’s tensions recognisable. The reviews repeatedly credit Lisa Cholodenko with balancing sharp domestic humour and sympathy for flawed adults, treating same-sex parenting as part of everyday family life rather than a topic requiring instruction. The disagreement concerns how honestly the film follows through on those complications, rather than the quality of its performances. The New Yorker objects to self-conscious liberal chatter and moralising, while the Evening Standard sees wish-fulfilment where others find emotional truth. Den of Geek finds the handling too safe. The spread runs from enthusiastic praise to qualified approval: reservations about conventional storytelling matter to a minority, but none of the reviews is outright negative. ## Time Out — Dave Calhoun Rating 5/5. 26 October 2010. The critic highlights the warm, wise humour that distinguishes the film, along with its convincing and affecting portrait of modern American family life. It singles out the relatable dynamics of the two mothers and their children as they navigate the arrival of the sperm donor. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-kids-are-all-right-1) ## Los Angeles Times — Betsy Sharkey Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 8 July 2010. The critic describes the film as witty, urbane and thoroughly entertaining, an ode to family virtues in an unconventional household, singling out the peerless performances of Annette Bening, Julianne Moore and Mark Ruffalo along with Cholodenko's lyrical direction and adventurous script. [Read the review](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2010-jul-08-la-et-kids-all-right-20100708-story.html) ## Screen Daily Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 26 January 2010. Festival review. The critic calls the film a consistently amusing delight that cleverly peppers laughs into its examination of the modern family while making the case for accepting gay couples with children. It singles out the expertly constructed one-liners and the realistic, natural rapport among the cast. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-kids-are-all-right/5010027.article) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 28 October 2010. The film is a sparkling, easygoing comedy of emotional difficulty and a witty portrait of postmodern family life. Cholodenko and her cast carry off the complex juggling act of family disruption with sensitivity, wit and warmth. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/oct/28/the-kids-are-all-right-review) ## The New York Times — A.O. Scott Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 7 July 2010. The critic calls the film wonderful and praises its portrait of a liberal middle-class lesbian couple (Annette Bening and Julianne Moore) whose domestic routines and complacency are gently mocked and empathetically observed as their children introduce their sperm donor into the family. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/11/movies/11scott.html) ## Empire — Anna Smith Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 27 September 2010. The critic praises the film as a witty, warm exploration of family life, highlighting its keenly observed portrait of a marriage tested by change and its blend of humor and heart in depicting relatable adult characters. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/kids-right-review/) ## Little White Lies — Adam Woodward Rating 3/4/4. 29 October 2010. The critic finds the film intelligent, sharp and extremely funny, with a cracking cast and healthy Sundance buzz. It singles out the fresh take on family-centric comedy and the shining performances from Annette Bening and Julianne Moore in a sincere, well-observed portrait of domestic life. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-kids-are-all-right) ## Sight and Sound — Sophie Mayer Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). The critic praises Lisa Cholodenko’s film for examining the complications of alternative families with a rare mixture of wit, intelligence, laidback naturalism and sexual frankness. It singles out the naturalism of the performances and scenes, along with the way the story balances family togetherness and individual freedom. [Read the review](http://old.bfi.org.uk/sightandsound/review/5677) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Justin Lowe Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 14 October 2010. Festival review. The film is a conventional romantic comedy about a long-term lesbian couple and their mid-life parenting issues that is respectably entertaining but not exceptional. It singles out the strong performances from Moore, Bening, Ruffalo, and Wasikowska along with Cholodenko’s polished direction for praise. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/kids-are-all-right-film-29203/) ## The New Yorker — Anthony Lane Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 5 July 2010. The critic highlights the film's honest tension between adventure and repose in Lisa Cholodenko's direction, commending the strong performances especially from Annette Bening and Mark Ruffalo, while noting some overly self-conscious liberal prattle and a shift to moralizing in the climax. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2010/07/12/wives-tales) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 60/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The critic views the film as a thoughtful response to family dilemmas but ultimately sees it as wish-fulfilment that is no more honest than lesser comedies about the conflicts it portrays. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-kids-are-all-right-but-are-the-mums-7422313.html) ## Eye for Film — Stephen Carty Rating 4.5/5. 13 March 2011. The film is a poignant, true-to-life character drama about the difficulties of marriage and family life that surprises with its humour and charm. The critic singles out the hugely convincing performances from Moore and Bening as the long-married couple for particular praise. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/the-kids-are-all-right-film-review-by-stephen-carty) ## HeyUGuys — Jamie Neish Fi1m's normalised score 90/100 (inferred from the text). 30 October 2010. The film is a fantastic, charming portrait of family relationships and human struggles that overcomes any obstacles through love. The critic singles out the pitch-perfect performances from Moore and Bening as the lesbian couple and Cholodenko's superb direction and balanced screenplay. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/the-kids-are-all-right-review-2/) ## The Wrap — Leah Rozen Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 1 July 2010. The critic praises the film's honest portrayal of a long-term marriage and family life, highlighting Annette Bening's standout performance as particularly ferocious, funny, and moving. She singles out the realistic depiction of domestic conflicts and relationships as a welcome departure from typical Hollywood fare. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/kids-are-all-right-review-18943/) ## Paste — Amanda Petrusich Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 20 July 2010. The critic finds the film funny and warm, noting that it focuses on love and forgiveness as what defines family rather than getting bogged down in politics. A few narrative hiccups are mentioned but do not detract from the overall positive take on the story's heartfelt family dynamics. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/the-kids-are-all-right-review) ## Digital Spy — Stella Papamichael Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 26 October 2010. Festival review. The critic notes plenty of laughs from the New Age parenting approach alongside sophistication from the cast, but observes that building tension does not fully deliver a gutsy finale; still finds the film consistently heartfelt. [Read the review](https://www.digitalspy.com/movies/bfi-london-film-festival/a281100/the-kids-are-all-right/) ## Den of Geek — Mark Harrison Rating 3/5. 1 November 2010. The critic finds the film worthy of its awards buzz as the best of its indie dramedy type but notes that its foibles and overly safe handling of the subject matter bring it down; praises the stellar performances by Annette Bening and Julianne Moore above all. [Read the review](https://www.denofgeek.com/movies/the-kids-are-all-right-review/) ## The Skinny — Nicola Balkind Rating ★★★. 4 November 2010. The critic calls it a fitting queer comedy-drama with its heart in the right place that offers a fresh, authentic feel through colourful photography and excellent performances; notes it is well-written and deferential on same-sex parenting but by no means groundbreaking. [Read the review](https://www.theskinny.co.uk/film/new-releases/the-kids-are-all-right) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-kids-are-all-right.md