Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin Shine in a Frothy Romantic Comedy
Charismatic actors and well-crafted filmmaking are the key ingredients in It's Complicated (2009), a mostly delectable confection from writer/director Nancy Meyers (Something's Gotta Give). The movie offers big laughs, and stars Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin have good chemistry together as a long-divorced couple who restart their sexual relationship. The characters are likable, there's snappy dialogue and a breezy pop soundtrack, and most grown-ups will find the film enjoyable as lightweight entertainment.
The central character is Jane (Streep), who lives in a charming multi-million-dollar house, owns and operates a thriving business, and has three astonishingly well-adjusted kids in their 20s. It's been 10 years since Jane divorced Jake (Baldwin), a highly successful attorney, and they have finally learned how to coexist amicably. But at their son's college graduation, Jane and Jake tumble into bed together and begin a torrid clandestine affair.
But there are difficulties. One is that Jake has married a lithe-bodied, much younger woman (Lake Bell). Another is that a shy architect (Steve Martin) who's still trying to get over his divorce is falling for Jane. Also, how will Jane and Jake's kids react to what's happening to their divorced parents?
It's Complicated is glossy escapism that won't appeal to everyone. The film is about 20 minutes too long, the characters don't seem like real people, and the movie turns treacly at times. But Nancy Meyers has a ribald sense of humor that gives the film several memorably funny scenes.
Supplementary Materials
The It's Complicated DVD provides a good feature-length audio commentary by writer/director/producer Nancy Meyers, who is occasionally supported by cinematographer John Toll, editor Joe Hutshing and executive producer Suzanne Farwell. Meyers takes seriously the notion that she should share with listeners her thinking in creating the film. She mentions listening repeatedly to Mike Nichols' commentary track for The Graduate. She also reveals the surprising fact that the vast majority of It's Complicated was shot in New York even though the story is set in and around Santa Barbara, California.
The DVD's only other extra is a 20-minute making-of featurette. This is clip-heavy and otherwise consists mainly of cast and crew expressing admiration for one another's work.
DVD Release Date: April 27, 2010
Feature Film Runtime: 2 hours 1 minute
MPAA Rating: R for Some Drug Content and Sexuality