'It's Complicated' Movie Review

It's Complicated is anything but complicated. It's the same old tired romantic comedy recycled with older actors in place of the usual 20 or 30-somethings, and with an Oscar-winning actress charged with holding everything together. Meryl Streep still looks great and could most definitely be at the center of a love triangle, but It's Complicated is too generic to truly utilize her talents. And the fact there's zero, zip, zilch chemistry between Streep and one of her onscreen beaus, Steve Martin, just further damages an already limp rom-com effort.

Writer/director Nancy Meyers is no stranger to the genre, having directed The Holiday, Something's Gotta Give (with Streep), and What Women Want. Meyers also wrote Father of the Bride (with Martin) and Baby Boom, so she's very familiar with romantic comedy conventions. It's Complicated fits the mold too snugly, and only a pot-smoking escapade offers something not entirely over-used. We've seen everything that happens in It's Complicated so many times now that any rom-com fan could have written this script from pulling together bits of their favorite romantic storylines. What does set this apart is, again, Streep. Unfortunately, one of the best actresses alive today doesn't ever seem completely at home as the film's central love interest.

The Story

Jane (Streep) is about to get her first taste of a completely empty house. Her last child is moving out and since she's been divorced from the father of her three children, she hasn't been involved in any real relationship with a man. 10 years have gone by since Jake (Alec Baldwin) had an affair with a younger woman, Agness (Lake Bell), which led to a divorce, which led to the marriage of Jake and Agness. Despite the affair, Jane and Jake are able to behave amicably during family get-togethers.

They can chat civilly, yet Jane and Jake are definitely a thing of the past - or so Jane thinks. But when they find themselves at the same hotel celebrating their son's graduation, the long dormant spark rekindles. Jane and Jake sleep together, and now it's Jane who's the 'other woman'.

Jane had no intention of starting up an affair with her ex - it just happened. Things get further complicated when Adam, one of the architect's involved in the remodeling of Jane's house, falls for his client. Jane then has to figure out who she really wants to be involved with while trying to keep the news of her affair with Jake a secret from their kids and from Adam.

The Cast

Streep's not used well in It's Complicated. She's given a character to play rather than one to lose herself in. Baldwin's fine, but he's also given lines to say rather than actual conversations to get into. The weak link in the group is really Martin who doesn't connect with Streep and feels completely out of place as part of the love triangle.

The Bottom Line

It's Complicated is as middle-of-the-road as you can get. It doesn't even attempt to break new ground. Instead, Meyer's sticks to familiar footing. The set-up is pretty silly, but Streep gamely tries to bring some magic to a role that's just not that interesting. Unfortunately, even Streep can't elevate this romantic comedy to anything other a fluffy, forgettable entry into the popular genre.

GRADE: C+

It's Complicated was directed by Nancy Meyers and is rated R for some drug content and sexuality.

Theatrical Release: December 25, 2009

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