Movie Review: “It’s Complicated”

Seen on: December 25, 2009

The players: Director: Nancy Meyers, Writer: Nancy Meyers, Cast: Meryl Streep, Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin, John Krasinski, Lake Bell

Facts of interest: Meyers previously directed "The Holiday."

The plot: Jane and Jake have been divorced for 10 years. Chaos erupts when the two start having an affair.

Our thoughts: Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin offer a trio of wonderful performances in Nancy Meyers’ new comedy “It’s Complicated,” a simplistic, yet quite charming and overall mildly entertaining film about what happens to a divorcee when she engages in a passionate affair with her ex-husband. 

In yet another refreshing performance, Streep plays Jane, a successful bakery owner and loving mother who’s been divorced from Jake (Alec Baldwin) for a nearly a decade. Their marriage ended because Jake cheated on her with Agness (Lake Bell), a younger woman he later married. Jane, on the other hand, is still single.

Shortly after the movie opens, Jane and Jake run into each other at their son Luke’s graduation festivities in New York, and before they know it, the former couple ends up having hot sex after spending the night talking about  bunch of happy memories over drinks, good food and a wild dancing session.

Their little escapade doesn’t come without consequences, however, as Jake starts to feel more and more comfortable seeing his ex-wife. But while Jake makes it clear he wants to win her back, Jane feels quite reluctant to commit to an affair or a relationship with the man who broke her heart and ended their marriage.

“It’s Complicated” is by far not Nancy Meyers’ best film (that would be “Something’s Gotta Give,” in my book), but as a light comedy targeting an adult audience in the mood for a few simple laughs, it certainly doesn’t disappoint. It’s an entertaining viewing experience, even though it’s clearly not the sophisticated movie I expected.

Nancy Meyers definitely has what it takes to create a compelling story driven by hilarious, heartwarming characters, but this time, I feel she put more effort into building funny characters, thus neglecting the importance of a solid story. To me personally, the plot of “It’s Complicated” failed to win me over.

That said, I didn’t hate this film. On the contrary, I enjoyed most of the film’s simplistic humor, even though I didn’t catch myself laughing as much as in her previous films.  Additionally, the cast does a fabulous job, which clearly boosts the film’s pace and adds a lot of energy and charm.

Streep’s Jane giggles a lot but is very enjoyable to watch on the big screen, while Alec Baldwin’s Jake is irresistible as Jake, the charming ex-husband who rediscovers his feelings for his former wife. Also starring is Steve Martin, who delivers a glorious performance as Jane’s nerdy, flirty architect. The cast really makes this film work.

Are the lessons these characters learn of big depth and surprising? This is where I struggle with the film a little bit. “It’s Complicated” lacks the surprising, profound dialogue I know Meyers is capable of creating, and while it’s certainly not a big issue, it still prevented me from fully connecting with the film.

Freaky quote: "I've never reallt known how to live without you." - Alec Baldwin

The final word: Don’t get me wrong. “It’s Complicated” is an entertaining holiday movie and one of the better comedies of the year, but to me personally, it’s just not as special as previous Meyers flicks. That said, it proves yet again that she has great skills when it comes to working with A-list actors and creating visually pleasing comedies.

Article by Franck Tabouring