Movie Review #28 It's Complicated

It’s Complicated (2009) Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin Directed by Nancy Meyers

Nancy Meyers knows how to tap into relationships…specifically adult relationships. Some of her hits include The Parent Trap, What Women Want, and the very good Something’s Gotta Give. I have always liked her as a writer and she is becoming a very brilliant director, so I am sensing an Oscar for Nancy in the future…but not for this film. It’s Complicated is a good movie, it has some very, very funny moments (nude Alec Baldwin…always funny), and it also contains some very poignant moments that many people (divorced couples, children of divorced couples) will be affected by. Nancy is a genius at making films that you can have fun at, and yet still learn something. I really like and recommend this film, maybe not her best (Something’s Gotta Give with Jack Nicholson so tough to beat) and I would say if you have the time, go to the theater and see it, because watching Steve Martin accidently run into a hairy nude Alec Baldwin is about as priceless as it gets.

It’s Complicated follows the story of Jane (Meryl Streep) who is divorced to the now remarried Jake (Alec Baldwin…who should have been doing comedy since day one…except for his great Jack Ryan performance from The Hunt for Red October…and of course his Casino owner role in The Cooler). Jake and Jane get involved after a drunken night at a bar. This starts an ongoing affair that is both hilarious and shocking. Coincidently as this is happening Jane meets a very nice Architect named Adam (the always good and underplayed Steve Martin) who she starts to see. This of course makes it quite complicated, throw in the kids in the family and the poor fiancé of the oldest daughter (the actually good…the first time I have ever liked this guy…John Krasinski)…and you get the title. Everyone is good in this, from the kids to the parents…the chemistry between Baldwin, Streep, and Martin is great. Check this one out right away.

(The Shawshank Scale 1-10) Great cast, well written, and quite touching at times…this film deserves a very good 7.0 and although I may not go out of my way to rewatch it, if it is on TV I will most likely stick around enough to laugh at poor Alec Baldwin’s repeated misfortunes.

Food For Thought: Aside from award collecting Streep has The Ice at the Bottom of the World coming in 2010. For Baldwin he is on every Thursday (on the dysfunctional NBC) on the show 30 Rock which he is great on, and he also has Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore coming in 2010, for which he lends his voice to. For Martin (who we need to see more of) has a film called Topper out later this year. In addition to that both Baldwin and Martin Co-Host The Oscars…which should be great…and hopefully much better than the crappy Golden Globes.