This is an effortless American Indie comedy drama, similar in style to the work of Alexander Payne. Featuring a perfect cast and subtle direction, if this film was in French and staring Juliette Binoche, we'd be waxing lyrical about its perception of human relationships. But as it is, it now remains relatively forgotten. Even here the film is classed primarily as Lesbian and Gay (for its central relationship), but I would argue that the themes of love and family are universal. A film about coming of age and middle age, of growing up and growing old, to enjoy like a fine wine.
This is a really warm and intense relationship drama with comic undertones and five first class performances. A story of a family unit that is threatened by the arrival of an "interloper" in the form of Mark Ruffalo's character, Paul. Annette Bening and Julianne Moore are Jules and Nic a loving gay couple who have two children, Joni and Laser (Mia Wasikowska and Josh Hutcherson). The family is a happy one until Joni on her eighteenth birthday gets the opportunity to know the identity of the sperm donor who is her and her brother's biological father. Hence the arrival of Paul into their lives. He's a free spirited restaurant owner and he brings a conflicting range of emotions into the family. This is one of the best films I've seen in many a year about the twists and turns of a family and how they cope with change. The two children are coming-of-age and the parents are close to crisis all of which makes the introduction of the outsider all the more powerful and with plenty of emotional drama with sadness, joy and redemption all to the fore. A wonderful film and one I highly recommend.