It's Complicated (2009)

director: Nancy Myers

writer: Nancy Myers

starring: Alec Baldwin, Meryl Streep, Steve Martin

genre: Comedy, Romance

The previous month i had written a review about the best romantic comedy of the year. I mentioned there how a romantic comedy can personally attract me. My examples were primarily, for the characters situations to be similar with my own. Well it cant always be just that. But also a more realistic plot, some inteligence and an overall point to the story. It's Complicated is a adult romantic comedy meant for people over 30 or 40 years old. Its funny and dosent for any step of the way think you the audience as a moron to believe that anything that happens on a cinema screen is possible.

The film follows Jane (Meryl Streep) and her single life after her 10 year divorce from her ex-husband Jake (Alec Baldwin). Both are lucky to have 3 glorious kids. One of which is graduating from college. By chance they meet again at the hotel before of their kids college graduation. And as you guessed old sparks of love come back. Weirdness and guiltiness are the first reactions. But isnt always that simple. Jane having after a while, a youthful experience, still dosent realize the consequences. In the meantime she does meet a very nice architect Adam (Steve Martin) who is going to help renovate her home. So new sparks do fly. It will be up to her to realize what she truly desires. Her old flame which everything had gone wrong and could go wrong again or the very nice architect who could do no wrong.

Nancy Myers has had one hell of a career. Making some of the best adult romantic comdey films of the last two decades. None of them were perfect. But most were of a very good quality and entertainment. Most of us liked What Women Want, and who can complain about Something Gotta Give. All her films for their cliches, and happy endings all had great performances, funny plots, with funny situations. Also the fact that all her films put beloved actors in memorable situations. Gibson hearing women, Baldwin naked scene her and Nicholson's naked scene in Something Gotta Give. All of those scenes gave us lots of memorable and funny moments. She still hasnt made a masterpiece in my opinion but deserves acknowledgment for understanding the genre and what an audience wants and deserves.

Here in her new film, she continues with her trend of a serious and adult romantic comedy. This time its the story of a divorced couple that still have a spark of love between them. It's a interesting question she puts to us. After hatred, turmoil and divorce, could two people who once loved each other, love again? Well that all depends. And the film doesn't offer a insane way of implementing the idea. All the problems of Jane and Jake are realistic. He's seen what hes lost and she doesn't know who to go for. Life isnt perfect as the film shows and the fact that feelings aren't always easy to decipher. Because pressure, excitement and guilt all play big roles in our life for better or for worse.

In the end this is a Hollywood system film, made by one of the few system directors that actually has good feel of the genre. Anybody over 40 and women will surely eat this film up. I recommend this film to anybody in the mood to warm their heart up with Alec Baldwin's naked body. Hey oh!

Personal Rating:

Review by Paul