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Home Subscribe About Us Features News Album Reviews Movie Reviews Past Movies Movie Resources Concert Reviews Book Reviews Top 10 Contact Us	It's Complicated Stars: Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin, Hunter Parrish, Zoe Kazan, Lake Bell, John Krasinski, Rita Wilson and Pat Finn Director/Scriptwriter: Nancy Meyers Universal Pictures Rating: R for sexuality Running Length: 120 minutes Nancy Meyers has written and directed some of the best ro-drama-coms of the last decade. What Women Want, Something's Gotta Give, and The Holiday are all top notch films on every account. Her producing credits go even further back and include Father of The Bride, Baby Boom, and Private Benjamin. So when you see her name attached to a new film that stars Steve Martin and the always amazing Meryl Streep you know it has to be gold, right? Well one thing's for sure, It's Complicated. Here is how it works. Jane (Meryl Streep) and Jake (Alec Baldwin) are divorced. Jake is married to a very young Agness (Lake Bell) and Jane is being wooed by Adam (Steve Martin). While in New York for their son’s graduation Jane and Jake hook up in a moment of revelry. Now Jake wants a fresh start with Jane but is still married plus Jane isn't really sure she wants her husband back and is interested in Adam. So see, it truly is complicated. Throw in the fact that they are trying to keep this all under wraps from their kids, friends and everyone else only makes it more complex. I easily liked this film but not sure I loved it. Like all of Meyers' films it has solid characters who are wonderfully directed. The scenes move along nicely and you soon find yourself caught in its rhythm. She also has a knack for writing thoughtful and humorous romance among older couples. Jane and Jake are both well past middle age and so all the nuances that go with that are not shied away from but rather embraced for what they are. This gives it that genuine feel that resonates through Meyers films and makes them endearing. The acting is top notch and you would expect no less from this ensemble. Still there where a few things that did not set well with me. Mainly; Martin's character is a reserved, quiet architect who is way too serious. When you stifle Steve's outlandish knack for humor he comes across stiff and out of sync. The other is that Alec Baldwin is the same as he is in every other role and that made him hard to like. Even when trying to be sad and loving he comes across as pompous. The reverse actually worked for co-star John Krasinski who plays Jane's son-in-law. Krasinski is always Jim Halpert (The Office) no matter what he is playing but it works for him. He is truly funny in this movie and you like his character immediately even though it is in no way outside his normal box. It's Complicated is rated R for some drug content and sexuality. Although a comedy made for older adults who will get the humor and the wink at growing old it is very tame in language and dialogue. Meyers writes with sophistication and nothing is ever vulgar, sophomoric or gratuitous. Although there a few sexual moments between Jane and Jake they are handled modestly. If you are a fan of any of Meyers past films you certainly will find this one to be to your liking. I am not sure I would give it the Golden Globe nominations it received but I honestly enjoyed it a lot. I give it 3.5 out of 5 brow lifts. A perfect date film or for that “ladies night out”. Those who can appreciate the ins and outs of growing older or surviving a divorce will take much from this. So says Matt Mungle Matt Mungle Review copyright 2010 Mungleshow Productions. Used by Permission. It takes awhile to set up the premise in Nancy Meyers It’s Complicated. Get through the first hour and then sit back and enjoy the second hour when it comes together. Like the old saying of peeling back the layers of an onion to get to the sweet part, the script peels back personality layers to see what failed, what will continue to fail and what will succeed with people who have divorced and tried to move on. Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin are the couple, and only people in the rarified atmosphere of money could carry this off, with a rambling country home and building an addition on to it, also. Today’s economy is not mentioned. The story has Meryl and Alec being somewhat friendly, ten years after their divorce. Their three children were teenagers then, and have their own lives. One is graduating from college, so to plan the party, the family gets together. Meryl now has her own restaurant, still has therapy, and has a Julia Child-type kitchen at home. This is the point that I balk at, since she just did her role as Julia Child. The two roles can’t help but be compared. Julia wins in that category. In the meantime, Alec had an affair during his marriage to Meryl, married the girl (Lake Bell), they separated and are now back together, with Lake trying to have a child. Alec isn’t happy in his new playpen and thinks the grass is greener on the other side, so woos Meryl, his first love and still a friend. They have an affair and there is much humor with Meryl and her friends about Meryl now being “the other woman.” Enter an architect (Steve Martin) who is building the addition to Meryl’s house, divorced , and begins to really like her. As Alec and Meryl fall into their affair, their son-in-law (a hilarious John Krasinski who steals his scenes) finds out and tries to hide it. He is usually at the back or side of the screen, but watch for his reactions. Can this affair be kept hidden? What happens when Alec becomes jealous? Will the collective audience gain five pounds from watching Meryl make chocolate croissants? It’s Complicated is a frothy film that comes together in the second half. It is well-cast, with a bouncy and sexy Meryl Streep, an appealing but hefty Alec Baldwin, and a quietly observant Steve Martin who plays it cool in a likable role. There are romantic meetings, a small bit of stalking, and observations about divorce when two people just can’t let go right away. The film is summed up rapidly and I thought Meryl’s discussion with the children could have gone on a bit longer. That was an elegant scene, when the three kids pile in bed to talk things over, Meryl enters and then son-in-law, John, who seems the wisest of all. There is a big hug and this is endearing. As a couple, Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin have chemistry, and then, so do Meryl and Steve Martin. It is a winning threesome. Copyright 2010 Marie Asner

Nancy Meyers has written and directed some of the best ro-drama-coms of the last decade. What Women Want, Something's Gotta Give, and The Holiday are all top notch films on every account. Her producing credits go even further back and include Father of The Bride, Baby Boom, and Private Benjamin. So when you see her name attached to a new film that stars Steve Martin and the always amazing Meryl Streep you know it has to be gold, right? Well one thing's for sure, It's Complicated.

Here is how it works. Jane (Meryl Streep) and Jake (Alec Baldwin) are divorced. Jake is married to a very young Agness (Lake Bell) and Jane is being wooed by Adam (Steve Martin). While in New York for their son’s graduation Jane and Jake hook up in a moment of revelry. Now Jake wants a fresh start with Jane but is still married plus Jane isn't really sure she wants her husband back and is interested in Adam. So see, it truly is complicated. Throw in the fact that they are trying to keep this all under wraps from their kids, friends and everyone else only makes it more complex.

I easily liked this film but not sure I loved it. Like all of Meyers' films it has solid characters who are wonderfully directed. The scenes move along nicely and you soon find yourself caught in its rhythm. She also has a knack for writing thoughtful and humorous romance among older couples. Jane and Jake are both well past middle age and so all the nuances that go with that are not shied away from but rather embraced for what they are. This gives it that genuine feel that resonates through Meyers films and makes them endearing.

The acting is top notch and you would expect no less from this ensemble. Still there where a few things that did not set well with me. Mainly; Martin's character is a reserved, quiet architect who is way too serious. When you stifle Steve's outlandish knack for humor he comes across stiff and out of sync. The other is that Alec Baldwin is the same as he is in every other role and that made him hard to like. Even when trying to be sad and loving he comes across as pompous. The reverse actually worked for co-star John Krasinski who plays Jane's son-in-law. Krasinski is always Jim Halpert (The Office) no matter what he is playing but it works for him. He is truly funny in this movie and you like his character immediately even though it is in no way outside his normal box.

It's Complicated is rated R for some drug content and sexuality. Although a comedy made for older adults who will get the humor and the wink at growing old it is very tame in language and dialogue. Meyers writes with sophistication and nothing is ever vulgar, sophomoric or gratuitous. Although there a few sexual moments between Jane and Jake they are handled modestly. If you are a fan of any of Meyers past films you certainly will find this one to be to your liking. I am not sure I would give it the Golden Globe nominations it received but I honestly enjoyed it a lot. I give it 3.5 out of 5 brow lifts. A perfect date film or for that “ladies night out”. Those who can appreciate the ins and outs of growing older or surviving a divorce will take much from this. So says Matt Mungle