Film: It’s Complicated
Cast includes: Meryl Streep (Julie & Julia), Alec Baldwin (30 Rock), Steve Martin (The Pink Panther 2006), John Kransinski (The Office)
Screenplay/direction: Nancy Meyers (Something’s Gotta Give)
In brief: Jane and Jake Adler are finally learning how to live and let live… 10 years after the their divorce. Of course, watching Jake’s younger wife Agness flaunt her hard abs at Ted and Sally’s party is a bit irksome. It’s not easy when your husband runs off and marries a younger woman. So it’s poetic justice that Jane bumps into Jake and Agness a few days later coming out of the fertility clinic. Jane can just picture Jake being a new daddy! Glorious payback for skipping out on their 3 kids.
Speaking of kids… Luke’s graduation is the occasion for a family reunion in New York. While the kids are off partying, Jane heads to the hotel restaurant for dinner. There she discovers she’s not the only Adler-table-for-one. Jake is flying solo too because of a case of stomach flu at home. What starts out as an awkward encounter eventually turns reckless and lusty. Is this a real affair or just a moment of insanity? Jane thinks it’s insanity. Jake “wants to grow old together.” He’s “so happy!” The kids think it’s great that they’re all together again… but they don’t know how together mom and dad really are. I haven’t even mentioned Adam, the nerdy architect. And the plot thickens.
It’s Complicated is a fun confection of a movie. It’s a funny, lusty romance between two late middle agers, while the new wife with the hard abs (and hard face to match) is clueless. Nothing deep or profound, it’s just a fun, enjoyable movie treat. The performances of Meryl and Alec are worth the ticket price.
3 popped kernels
Popped kernels for the laughs. Good script, great Meryl. Unpopped kernel for the scene with the kids in the bed.
