It's Complicated

Director: Nancy Meyers
Cast: Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin, John Krasinski, Hunter Parrish and Lake Bell
Releasing in cinemas: 7 January 2010
Rated: M

Comedic complications

Life certainly does get complicated for Jane Adler (Meryl Streep) a divorced middle-aged mother of three in this new romantic comedy from writer/director Nancy Meyers. While in New York to attend her son’s graduation Jane reconnects with her ex-husband Jake (Alec Baldwin), who ten years ago left her for the sexy and much younger Agness (Lake Bell). But Jake is growing tired of Agness and her demands. Eager to have another child, Agness is sending Jake to a fertility clinic every other day.

Jane and Jake enjoy a brief fling, but then begin a secret affair. Jane finds herself playing the role of the other woman in an adulterous affair. “It turns out I’m a bit of a slut,” Jane gleefully tells her friends during one of their dinner parties. While Jane feels reinvigorated by the affair, she still feels guilty. But Jane also finds herself attracted to Adam (Steve Martin), an architect who is helping her design her house extensions.

It’s Complicated offers yet another variation of Meyers’ take on the on-going battle between the sexes. Meyers previously gave us films like What Women Want and The Holiday, and she certainly knows the conventions of the romcom genre, especially those aimed squarely at middle-aged women. The romantic triangle plot has been explored in movies before; indeed, It’s Complicated seems like a raunchier version of the type of comedy that Doris Day made with Rock Hudson and Tony Randall in the ‘50’s. There are even a few brief similarities with Meyers’s own Something’s Gotta Give, which featured Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton.

Meyers is aided by the sharp and witty script, and she avoids many of the tired cliches. The film shows that life itself is often messy and there are no easy resolutions to the problems that we often create for ourselves.

Meyers also draws solid performances from her cast. Streep is that age where good roles for female actresses seem to dry up. However, she is busier than ever, and still delivers marvellous performances. However, she seems to be moving away from dramatic roles and playing more lightweight, comedic parts (as with the superb Julie And Julia). Her comic timing is excellent, and she enjoys herself thoroughly here.

Baldwin is undergoing something of a career revival at the moment, especially through his role on hit TV sitcom 30 Rock, and he elicits a measure of sympathy for his character. Cast largely against type, Martin essentially plays it straight here, and brings a vulnerability to his performance as the decent architect. There is a great scene where Streep and Martin share a joint at her son’s graduation party.

Further laughs are provided by John Krasinski (The Office, Away We Go), with his deft comic performance as Harley, Jane’s future son-in-law. He becomes aware of the secret affair, and is not quite sure how to react, especially at a family dinner. Veterans Mary Kay Place, Nora Dunn and Rita Wilson have small roles as Jane’s circle of supportive friends.

Greg King

Read more of Greg King's reviews at filmreviews.net.au