It’s Complicated

You know it’s great to see a romantic comedy that doesn’t have twenty somethings prancing around trying to get laid. Maybe it’s just because I’m betting older but I found this movie to be a breath of fresh air.

Jane (Meryl Streep) has been divorced from Jake (Alec Baldwin) for 10 years but when his new marriage is on the rocks, he starts to have an affair with her. As if being her ex’s mistress isn’t tough enough, Jane finds herself drawn to Adam (Steve Martin), a smitten architect.

Meryl Streep is strong as always as the other woman and gives a truly great comedic performance, although she was nominated in the Academy Awards for her more Oscar friendly role in Julie & Julia. Alec Baldwin can’t do any wrong in my book these days, he’s the best thing in the TV show 30 Rock, and he’s the best thing here as the man who doesn’t really know what he wants out of his relationships. Steve Martin has the thankless role as the straight man to Baldwin’s over eager man-child. He hasn’t done a funny movie in years but takes a good stab here, especcially with a pot smoking scene with Meryl being one of the funniest things I’ve seen in months.

Written and Directed by Nancy Meyers, who has made such rom-coms as What Women Want, The Holiday and Something’s Gotta Give. She’s very comfortable doing these types of films. She’s able to juggle a stellar cast with a very grown up subject matter which in anyone else’s hands would have fallen flat but it is held together nicely here.  The movie clocks in at about 2 hours and it feels a little long and the ending seems bit rushed. The movie also takes a swipe at the subject of age, with Meryl attending a cosmetic surgeon early on to get a consultation but like a fine wine, these actors are getting better with age.

It’s Complicated is in Cinemas now.