My friend Libbie decided last week that the time was ripe for another
girls’ movie night with my mom. The consensus was that we wanted
something light, but preferably not too juvenile, so we decided to give It’s Complicated, a romantic comedy focused on characters in their fifties and sixties, a try.
My first thought as we began to watch the movie was that it reminded me of Something’s Gotta Give,
the 2003 comedy starring Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton as very
different people brought together under unusual circumstances. I wasn’t
that surprised, then, when I learned that both movies were written and
directed by Nancy Meyers, who also helmed 2006’s The Holiday.
The premise of It’s Complicated
involves a divorced couple who, ten years after infidelity separated
them, rekindle their passion for each other on a trip to see their son’s
college graduation. Alec Baldwin is Jake Adler, a rogue who is no
longer so thrilled with his youthful wife Agness (Lake Bells), who has
become an insufferable nag and whose son from another relationship runs
him ragged. He has no moral qualms about cheating on his second wife
with his first; indeed, it seems that a part of him wants to pretend
that the last ten years never happened.
Meanwhile, although
Jane (Meryl Streep) resents Agness, she feels guilty about the adultery.
What’s more, she can tell that even as Jake rediscovers his old
affection for her, the narcissistic characteristics that caused such a
problem in their marriage are still very much in force. She has spent
the past decade building a life for herself, becoming truly independent
and successful as a pastry chef, so Jane is uneasy from a moral
perspective and because she fears getting hurt again.
Jane and
Jake have three children, all of whom remain unaware of their parents’
dalliances throughout the majority of the film. I was familiar with none
of those youthful actors, who didn’t have to stretch themselves much as
their roles were fairly minor. However, I found the closeness of the
characters sweet; it was refreshing to see a movie in which young adult
siblings all get along so well.
By far the most interesting
member of the younger generation is Harley, who is engaged to the older
Adler daughter. The unassuming, affable charm that makes him so lovable
on The Office
is very apparent here as subtly comedic John Krasinski portrays this
man who feels like one of the family and who has been burdened with the
accidental knowledge of what the Adler parents are up to. Equally
likable is Steve Martin in the uncharacteristically mellow role of Adam,
a gentle architect who begins to fall for Jane as he works on an
addition to her house.
The slowly developing romantic
storyline between Jane and Adam is very tender and easy to root for,
though Meyer left me guessing for most of the movie as to which suitor,
if any, Jane would ultimately choose. While Streep and Martin both bring
a mature sweetness to their roles, Baldwin is just bumbling enough that
it’s possible to sympathize with him when he’s being outrageously
inappropriate. There’s a bit of lurid language, mostly among the women
in Jane’s circle of longtime friends, but the movie never gets graphic,
and nudity only figures into one scene, where it is used to great comic
effect. Indeed, this particular scene had my mom in stitches, as did an
extended sequence involving the main characters sharing a joint at a
party and acting extremely loopy as a result.
After the movie
was over, Mom said that she didn’t think Libbie and I appreciated the
movie quite as much as she did. I do think that It’s Complicated
is probably funniest and most poignant for those who are closer to the
ages of Streep, Baldwin and Martin, but I found it funny and
surprisingly sweet overall and was glad to see at least some
acknowledgment of the negative consequences an affair can bring about,
even if it is between two people who were once married to each other.
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