Movie Review: It's Complicated (2009)
A few screws are loose, but I liked it nevertheless
Photo: Universal Pictures
In my book Nancy Meyers is more hit than miss. Of her five directorial outings I have only missed The Parent Trap and would say Something's Gotta Give is the one I liked the least out of the bunch and I still liked that one. I particularly enjoyed The Holiday and What Women Want is a satisfying diversion. That said, I enjoyed It's Complicated more than all of them. Meryl Streep continually proves she is to never be doubted and Alec Baldwin carries over his award-winning "30 Rock" persona to feature film with absolute ease. Baldwin and Streep play off each other as if they had been doing it for years.
The cast includes Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin, Zoe Kazan, Lake Bell, John Krasinski, Rita Wilson and Hunter Parrish. For more information on this film including pictures, trailers and a detailed synopsis choose from the following menu.
Review
"It's Complicated" is a Universal Pictures release, directed by Nancy Meyers and is rated R for some drug content and sexuality. The running time is 1 hour 58 minutes.
The film plays itself out rather predictably in terms of story, but there are moments and bits of dialogue you don't count on that turn this one into something more than just your typical "the wrong side of forty" rom-com. John Krasinski ("The Office") is primarily the recipient of some of the film's more subtle and entertaining moments and he nails each of them despite his character's curious demeanor.
Steve Martin, playing the third wheel and other suitor hoping for Jane's hand, plays something of a soft-spoken role and one I was never entirely comfortable with. However, while a pot-smoking scene shared between Martin and Streep is one of the least subtle moments of the film, I had a lot of fun with it nevertheless.
My only real complaint about It's Complicated is the film's unimpressive opening as Meyers attempts to establish and introduce the core group of characters, but fails to do so as she relies on proceeding scenes to even explain what relation to the family some of the characters are. Meyers's script had already been nominated for a Golden Globe before I sat down in the theater for my first screening, and to see the discombobulated way she lays out the players in this tale is not the sign of a script worthy of notoriety even if she does manage to land some clever one-liners throughout and tell an overall story I enjoyed.
However, I will say I expect several audience members may get annoyed by the characters on screen as their behavior is occasionally baffling. Going back to my problems with the script it was not immediately clear to me John Krasinski's character was not part of Jane's group of children. In fact he's married to Jane's daughter, but as the film plays out I would venture a guess not many of you out there have seen a group of siblings (and brothers-in-law) act like this. Others will likely have a problem with the caricature that is Lake Bell's gold digging mistress-turned-wife and even Streep's portrayal of a 50-something, sex starved woman defined by the men in her life. Then again, I would also say this isn't exactly a film demanding that much scrutiny and if you're looking at it with these complaints it was probably never a film for you.
Meyers delivers a film as stereotypical as you would expect when it comes to romantic comedies today, but she treated it with some semblance of fairness. Sure, we're still sitting back and watching a group of whiny, rich white people discuss their "problems," and, no, these problems aren't exclusive to this demographic as most films would lead us to believe. But the fact the film ends with some measure of backbone, but not without a dose of schmaltz, it won me over enough to recommend it to audiences looking for a brief, romantic escape.
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I find "What Women Want" to be quite offensive, and "Something's Gotta Give" is just average. At least in "The Holiday" you have Kate Winslet. I'm not dying to see this new Nancy Meyers movie, but the cast (especially Streep and Martin) is appealing.
Meryl Streep – that should be enough to get me into the theatre! Brad am surprised you liked The Holiday! i absolutely love it… its a guilty pleasure ! friends often scoff at that suggestion but its a fun movie… i do not however like What women want… but going back – its all abt Meryl!
Actually the John Krasinski character is engaged to, but not yet married to, the eldest daughter. Remember–he and the daughter are at the hotel wedding-planning when… (redacted to avoid spoilers). I agree with you that the laying out of who the characters are in the opening scenes was rather ham-fisted and it took me a while to figure out that he was not another son. Streep and Baldwin were absolutely charming and wonderful, however, and Martin was a sweetheart.
My husband and I thought it was very funny and very realistic.. Crap happens in real life and found it to be fun. Would you rather sit and watch a movie about men in their 30's smoking pot in a garage, with no jobs or brains such as Knocked Up.
I really enjoyed this movie. After the downer (apparently none of the people involved in this film have ever been laid off) of "Up in the Air" it was so nice to have something to laugh at. Meryl Streep was WONDERFUL in this role. As usual. Alec Baldwin continually strutting around in his boxers with his stomach puffed out to make him look fat was quite daring in this age of anorexic chic. The only one of the end of the year films I've seen so far that I'd watch again.
Hate to disagree Brad, but Streep was perfectly believable as a 40 or 50 plus sex-starved woman. Children were the weakest element of the story. None acted like any 20 somethings I know.
Two minor complaints about "It's Complicated"… why would an empty nester put on an addition to her already huge house rather then just remodel? Also, what was the deal with the garden? Who has a garden that huge (or perfect) without a gardener?
Hate it when writers don't bother to research their stories. The two complaints/errors above could have easily been avoided.
@Geri: I don't know why you say you are disagreeing, I said I thought Streep was wonderful.