It’s Complicated
Cast: Meryl Streep, Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin, John Krasinski, Lake Bell,
Director: Nancy Meyers
Rating: * * *
An adult comedy, It's complicated has divorcee Jane( Meryl Streep), a successful restaurant owner and mother of three, get re-involved with her ex-husband Jake(Alec Baldwin)who cheated on her and is now married to Agness(Lake Bell) a woman belonging to same age group as that of his daughters.
It’s a complicated relationship alright- more so because Jane also seems to have a soft corner for Adam( Steve Martin), an architect who is designing a dream kitchen for her.
Nancy Meyers’ narrative though fanciful and prettily packaged, appears overdone. The central conceit of a divorced couple sparking-up an attraction that was buried under the burden of a broken relationship and heavy individual baggage, is interesting enough butthe manner in which it plays out, appears juvenile. There are quite a few laugh-worthy moments , the dialogues and sitcom-like situations are energetically fluffed out.
Streep and Baldwin manage to drum-up some positivity to their togetherness but Streep’s pairing with Martin fails to light up the screen. We understand Jane Adler’s need for a man in her life but for her to settle for someone as unassuming and seemingly unattractive a man as Adam, stretched believability to the snapping point. There are quite a few scenes that appear unnecessary to the plot.
The film could have been helped along by some sharp editing for sure. The end of the silly contretemps also appears contrived. Meyers did a great job with her best Something's Gotta Give but here she appears to be floundering in uncertainty. In fact none of the characters seem to know what they want out of life.
For Meryl Streep, this role appears to be a carry forward from her most recent Oscar nominated portrayal of Julia Childs in Julie and Julia. From Chef to delicatessen- not much of a jump for an actress of her caliber!
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