Review: It’s Complicated
Posted by Lucas Nochez on January 15, 2010 · Leave a Comment
When someone submits and agrees to indulge themselves in a Nancy Meyers film, it ignites this certain sense of familiarity – a picturesque IKEA universe, bubbly fumbling characters, light-hearted fun and laughs and a strong subliminal estrogen-driven perspective – they must be alright with that. Nancy Meyers may not be the next auteur extraordinaire, but nonetheless, it seems quite unfair not to consider her an auteur either. Meyers’ films offer a sense of female empowerment, placing many women in relatable situations of mature love, divorced emotions and exuberantly romantic over-the-top love triangles. It’s Complicated is no different. Although at times her female conversation circles fall flat, and allude to talks of just sex, love and happiness, Meyers is a fun director who makes polished bubbly movies. Yes, for men too.
It’s Complicated follows Jane (Meryl Streep), a divorced entrepreneur whose children are growing older and evacuating the home she once shared with her ex-husband Jake (Alec Baldwin). Slowly but surely with the departure of each of her children to schools and new families, Jane finds more and more time to herself; whether it be extending the architecture of her home and family bakery or her garden and love-life. Jane finds a considerable amount of time for her ‘girl-nights’ and trying to figure out what she wants with her therapist. It is not until her youngest son Luke’s graduation (Hunter Parrish) where her ex-husband’s feelings start becoming apparent. Jake, in the meantime, married to a much younger woman and sharing an obnoxiously demonic child, finds his life meaningless between all the fake social events and the daily trips to the fertility clinic. It is not until one night in New York at their son’s graduation that Jake and Jane coincidently meet at a bar, eventually share dinner, some dance moves, have some laughs and a little too much wine. Jake and Jane eventually engage in an affair, and for the first time, Jane finds herself happy and equally confused. Although the affair with her ex-husband ensues, Jane meets a subtle, genuine architect Adam (Steve Martin) whose is assigned to designing the extensions on her home and bakery. Adam and Jane eventually start to become comfortable with one another and the choice for Jane between her ex-husband and her new man lingers.
In each of her films, Meyers always finds a way to relate to her audience, especially women in divorced limbo who find the situations in her films so real. In some ways, Meyers’ female protagonists are so strong, hard-willed and determined, yet they shatter with the absence of love and a man in their lives. This is perhaps one of my biggest problems with Meyers’ films, her women are accomplished and beautiful yet almost completely hopeless and misguided without love in their lives.
Streep gives another one of her popcorn loving performances, and although a popcorn performance from an actress like Streep is an award-winning performance for most other actresses, Streep is just captivating in the film. Streep each and every year refuses to hide from the press and media and submit to Hollywood pressure, but instead decides to show off all her natural beauty — and this film is no exception. Her visible age and undeniable sense of beauty really allow her to shine on screen, like Diane Keaton in Meyers’ previous film Something’s Gotta Give.
There are many cute moments and guilty pleasures in It’s Complicated which is, of course, to be expected. One of the main headliners of the film that I found most irritating and unsuitable was Alec Baldwin as Jake. His character had no charm, garnered no sympathy from the audience and seemed to mimic his character from the hit show “30 Rock”. On the other hand Steve Martin and his character seemed to be pitch perfect for the film; the mix of his comedic quirkiness and awkward mature sexiness blending with Jane’s elder beauty and serious persona. Martin provided the film with its most sensitive moments and hearty scenes.
Like all of Meyers’ films, she provides an expansive list of social commentaries that, for the most part are quite relevant to present day society. It’s actually quite refreshing to look back and see how much her commentaries relate to the years of her films; from her Internet based romantic comedy in Something’s Gotta Give to her look at independent professional women on the go in The Holiday, Meyers hits the nail on the head with her commentary on the obsessive culture of walking human cell-phone beings. It is almost like looking at flesh androids. Meyers’ take on love today and the impact the cellular generation has had on finding someone special.
Overall it is quite easy to see that this movie is not for everyone. Many of the youth of today of today found it impossible to relate while my divorced aunt cried and applauded Meyers’ take on the challenges of divorced women. I have to admit, I have always had a soft spot for Meyers’ films, because although I know her films hardly induce any thought-provoking enigmas circling my mind for days after, she does allow me to enter a white-washed, Crates and Barrel Hampton-style world of romantic bliss and high class living. Once the film starts, I can forget the occasional cheesy and cheap bit of dialogue and entertain ourselves with Meyers’ easily lovable characters and imaginative scenarios.
It’s Complicated reveals that in fact, it is not as hard as it looks. It’s a refreshing and somewhat formulaic take on aging love. Meyers reminds the uptight, snobby film society of the world that sometimes going to the movies is just plain fun. Although the film earned an R rating from the MPAA for a harmless marijuana smoking scene involving Jane, Adam and Jane’s son-in-law Harley (John Krasinski in the best bumbling and goofy son-in-law role in years), the film has its fair share of laugh-out-loud moments. Sometimes there is nothing complicated about having a good old laugh at the movie, and It’s Complicated is sure to conjure up many of those.
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