Movie Notes: It’s Complicated

February 25th, 2010

= 3 stars

Starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin
Directed by Nancy Meyers

Synopsis

Successful divorcee Jane (Meryl Streep) inadvertently winds up in an affair with her re-married ex-husband, Jake (Alec Baldwin).

The Good

• Streep proves quite funny, displaying a goofy dedication to making this silly movie work. Baldwin is solid as the confused, horny cad, selfishly justifying this indiscretion as not so bad, since they were once married. Yes, he’s a lawyer. Also amusing is son-in-law Harley (Adam Kransky), growing increasingly uncomfortable as he discovers what’s going on between Jane and Jake.
• The comedy formula isn’t that complicated: fifty-year-olds acting as retarded as the guys in The Hangover or Superbad. I laughed out loud at Jane and Jack’s first drunken encounter, his pathetic attempts to wheedle his way back into her life, and a party featuring a hilariously scary tattoo.

The Bad

• Needlessly materialistic and hence unrealistic: Santa Barbara homes, remodeling projects, fancy cars, no money worries anywhere, and everyone seems grossly able to take plenty of time off from work. Jane is a great cook, successful businesswoman, and a great mom — wonder why she needs a man.
• Martin is far too reserved as architect / competing love interest Adam.
• Dramatic conflict arrives far too late and is resolved far too easily, leading to an unsatisfying ending.

Conclusion

Streep and unexpected laughs are canceled out by Martin and a fizzly ending, resulting in a wash, despite how hard I laughed at “going native.” Rental.

IMDB: It’s Complicated
Wikipedia: It’s Complicated
Rotten Tomatoes: It’s Complicated 57%