Review: It's Complicated

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It's Complicated

Writer/director Nancy Meyers (What Women Want, The Holiday) brings another romantic comedy to the screen with It's Complicated featuring veteran actors Meryl Streep, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin. This film about love and divorce puts a spin on the Other Woman story, and will leave most older women either shaking their head in disbelief or hopeful for re-kindled love. 

Jane (Streep) is the mother of three grown kids, and ten years after their divorce is on amicable terms with her ex-husband, attorney Jake (Baldwin). He is remarried to Agness (Lake Bell), a much younger woman who had been Jake's mistress. Jane has hit her stride as owner of a bakery/cafe, and looking to expand the house she'd moved into after the divorce.

When Jane and Jake find themselves out of town for their son's college graduation, things start to get complicated. An innocent meal together with too much wine turns into an affair, leaving Jane as the other woman. Caught in the middle is architect Adam (Steve Martin), who has been hired to remodel Jane's house. Dealing with his own divorce, Adam starts to fall for Jane, but soon realizes he's part of a love triangle. Jane is left with the choice of renewing her love for womanizer Jake, or seeking romance with Nice Guy Adam. What's a fifty-something woman to do?

At first glance It's Complicated might seem to glorify adultery, which isn't a theme that I think much of personally, considering the divorce rate in America. I'm reminded of the adage "if he will do it with you, he'll do it to you," in that it's not surprising that Jake would cheat on his second wife. What middle-aged woman wouldn't be flattered that her ex-husband would choose her over the younger woman he'd left his first wife for?

However, Jane is portrayed as a mature older woman who is conflicted and often horrified in her own actions. Jane and Jake's affair does not impact just themselves, but also their adult children. Having witnessed their parents' divorce along with the tears and heartbreak, the children adamantly oppose their parents reconciliation. Jane does come to her senses eventually, and Jake is left with no one -- but not before her relationship with Adam has been marred.

Meryl Streep gives a reasonable performance in It's Complicated -- but not her most memorable of the year -- see Julie & Julia instead. She runs the emotional gamut through the film, which made me wonder if Jane was supposed to be menopausal in this stage of her life. Alec Baldwin is a great comedy actor, but his acting seemed a bit forced. As a fan of 30 Rock, I know he's capable of a much more relaxed comedic delivery. Even veteran comedian Steve Martin seems miscast as the new love interest. His only shining moments in this film are his comedic ones, not the romantic scenes. John Krasinski as the soon-to-be son-in-law of Jane and Jack delivers the most relaxed and comedic performance of the ensemble cast.

Comparing It's Complicated to a classic French sex farce would be giving this film more credit than is due. The pacing is too uneven, and the stellar ensemble cast is not used even to a moderate level. This film is lightly entertaining, but it's limited appeal is to only those viewers desiring a chick flick -- or should that be a hen flick in this case?