Hola all. Massawyrm here.
The first thing one notes about IT’S COMPLICATED is that it really isn’t. It’s light, breezy, and isn’t the slightest bit hard to follow. The title of course refers to the social situation of the principle actress played by Meryl Streep who begins an affair with her remarried ex-husband just as she meets what might be the perfect man. If you can’t tell from the description that this is a movie made for the 45+ crowd then let me reinforce that now. Unlike director Nancy Meyer’s previous film THE HOLIDAY, IT’S COMPLICATED doesn’t reach very far across the generational comedy gap it is a film very much made for its audience and few else.
That said, for the type of film it is, it is quite cute. My wife and I both found it endearing, if a little flawed, but ultimately didn’t regret seeing it in the slightest. What makes it so watchable is no doubt the cast Meyer’s assembled for the key roles in the film opposite Streep. Playing her ex-husband and rekindled beau is Alec Baldwin who has found a new found fame by reinventing himself as a comedian, and he doesn’t disappoint here, playing a character very much his actual age who is struggling with his pining for the near-perfect life he once had while wrestling with having become the cliché of the divorced old guy with the hot young wife…while finding it increasingly hard to keep up. Steve Martin is the new beau who conversely does better these days in serious roles like this rather than his interminable comedies like this years PINK PANTHER 2. Here he’s the adorable, patient romantic constantly put on hold by Streep’s flirtation with getting back together with her ex.
Rounding out the cast is John Krasinski, who surprisingly comes out looking better than anyone else in the veteran cast. He plays the son-in-law who accidentally discovers the affair and tries desperately to keep everyone else, his wife especially, from finding out what is going on. It’s an old gag, but a good one and Krasinski nails it, breathing new life into what could have easily been a cheap, easy series of one note gags. He’s quite funny and adds a lot of life to some very tenuous moments.
The 40+ Midwest crowd is going to love this. It is for the most part well crafted, funny and charming in all the right ways. Meyers isn’t a fan of cheap gimmick comedy, so most of what you find here is solid character comedy whose only drawback is that it targets life experience that younger crowds simply will not be able to yet identify with.
If the film has one real flaw, it is that Meyers has crafted a female wish-fulfillment film that goes so far on occasion that you might cock your head to the side a little every once in a while. It’s one thing to have your principle live in a beautiful villa, have a successful business and three beautiful children. But we later discover that this is a seaside villa, the business is the hip, wildly successful shop of a master chef and the three beautiful children are so close and loving that during an emotional low point they end up in their pajamas in bed together having a god cry - even the brother. It’s all a bit much; not so much as to make the film ridiculous, but enough that after a while it adds up to being a bit unbelievable, especially for a film that wants to root itself in real world problems.
That said, Streep is Streep, meaning that she manages to keep the character grounded enough without floating off into the land of tinkling piano scores and overtly saccharine sentiments. Cute enough to be seen without embarrassment, but not enthralling enough to recommend to anyone who isn’t instantly excited by the trailer, this is a film you can pass on, but easily see and enjoy if you need to see a film with your folks. I’ve already called my mother and told her to see it, because she’s going to flip for it and then repeat the jokes to me later.
Until next time friends, smoke ‘em if ya got ‘em.
Massawyrm
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