IT’S COMPLICATED (USA 2009) **
Directed by Nancy Meyers

Nancy Meyers is well known for her romantic comedies like THE HOLIDAY, SOMETHING’S GOTTA GIVE that somehow radiate a good feeling that warrants her films a Christmas opening.  Her new feature IT’S COMPLCATED falls in the same category – so festive it is that Meryl Streep smiles more than half the time, even though her character is upset or sad.

Streep plays Jane, a divorcee of 10 years who has finally got over her separation with husband Jake (Alec Baldwin), now married to luscious bombshell, Agness (Lake Bell).  Trouble is that a graduation brings both together resulting in Jake courting her again.  The raison d’etre given?  Both have matured into beings that each desired at the early years of marriage.  Added with good sex, Jane and Jake make the new perfect couple – much to the chagrin of their 3 grown up children.  The complication arises in the form of Jane’s architect suitor Adam (Steve Martin).

Evident from the first reel, Meyers’ IT’S COMPLICATED displays America to ridiculous extravagance.  All the characters are rich and beautiful.  Streep looks much younger than her age and all her children are model perfect.  She owns her own successful bakery, can cook or bake any item on the menu (and on the spot) and she has her own architect for hire.  Jane’s home is enormous and the art décor is exceptional.  Wonder who designs her interiors?  Cecil Be Demille?  The result of all these are characters that exits in the Nancy Meyers world that no one really cares about. 

Meyers’ script was nominated for a Golden Globe.  One to admit, at least that she should be given credit writing her own film instead of relying on some remake like the recent EVERYBODY’S FINE.  IT’S COMPLICATED is not really funny, but there are sufficient amusing parts, aided immensely from the talented cast.

Streep smiles through her entire role, Martin too sedated but Baldwin steals the show not only from his desperation but his derring-do in a brave nude display of his hairy, overweight body.  The funniest segments involve Jake’s wife (Lake Bell – the sexiest thing in movies this year) and her unbearable son Pedro.  Too bad, they did not command sufficient screen time.

Will Jane get back with Jake, her husband or pursue Adam, her new beau?  Nobody really cares.  If the film concentrated more on the plot than easy laughs, the film might have at least connected the viewers with the characters.  I am sure that it is not too complicated a task in scriptwriting.