The Kids Are All Right Review

Messages: The movie's central messages revolve around parenting, presenting it as a difficult task, but one with infinite rewards if you do your job right. It suggests that being a parent goes way beyond titles -- what is a mother? what is a father? -- and that it's who you are and how you treat your kids that makes you a good parent (or not). The film also seems to be saying that growing up requires some distancing from our parents -- a dicey transition that can bring out the worst in people, at least for a little while.

Role models: Nic and Jules are devoted to their children, and even though they make mistakes, take each other for granted, and are prone to bickering, they love and respect each other. Paul steps up and embraces fatherhood, despite his unusual path to that role. And although teens Laser and Joni push boundaries, they're aware that their actions have repercussions for which they should be responsible.

Violence: A teenage boy berates and belittles his friend and hits him. Men and women hurt the ones they love both with actions and with words.

Sex: A man and a woman are seen having sex; her breasts are visible, and hisbehind is shown thrusting. Teens watch a pornographic movie that shows men hooking up with each other (their behinds are visible). A woman goes under the covers and performs a sex act on her female partner. A teen girl talks about older men -- and everything else -- in a sexualized manner.

Language: Many uses of words including “bitches," “ass," "s--t," "f--k," "d--k," "p---y," "oh my God" (as an exclamation), and "hell."

Consumerism: Not an issue

Drinking, drugs and smoking: Teens are shown drinking and crushing a pill, then snorting the resulting powdery substance. An adult appears to like drinking a bit too much, and she and her partner bicker over it.