The Nancy Meyers fantasy of an almost 60-year-old women being pursued by two attractive men near her age is pretty simple and somewhat predictable. But how can you not like a film in which Meryl Streep (Jane) gets to say, “Turns out I’m a bit of a slut.” Oh yeah, and she gets to be a slut with Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. As unrealistic romantic comedies go, It’s Complicated isn’t, but it is a whole lot of fun, mostly due to the performances of the three leads.

Jane has been divorced from Jake (Alec Baldwin) for over ten years. He is married to Agness (Lake Bell) the scary, younger woman who broke up his marriage.  Jane seems to be doing pretty well without him as she remodels her lovely house, works in her thriving bakery business and dines with her friends. When Jake and Jane attend the college graduation of their youngest son, they share drinks and laughs and soon begin an affair. Jake is ready to escape from his tattooed fertility-obsessed spouse and misses his family. But Jane feels guilty and is attracted to Adam (Steve Martin), the nice architect who is pursuing her. It is not exactly Sophie’s Choice, but what will Jane do?

Streep gives her usual stellar performance, and makes the privileged Jane likeable. She shows authentic vulnerability as she hesitates before undressing in front of Jake (“the last time you saw me I was in my forties.”) and when she visits a plastic surgeon to discuss her droopy eyelids.  Streep makes Jane’s insecurities seem real, and that makes her all the more appealing.  I understood why Jake and Adam were so entranced by Jane. Alec Baldwin’s Jake is goofy and unapologetic as he pursues his ex-wife. One of my favorite scenes is Jake spying through a window at Jane and Adam. When Adam laughs, Jake imitates his laugh with sarcasm and exaggerated facial expressions.  Despite the fact that Jake is a bit of cad, Baldwin makes Jake fun to watch and Jake’s warmth for Jane and their children seems sincere. When Jake engineers a night of movies and popcorn with their adult children, he mouths to Jane, “I am so happy.” His sincerity and wide-eyed expressions are both funny and endearing. Steve Martin gives an uncharacteristically understated performance as Adam, the quiet architect. We see a hint of the wild man when Adam dances with Jane at a party, but for the most part Martin is serious and sweet.  Watching Streep, Baldwin and Martin interact is a real treat, and the party scene is one of the film’s best.

One of the most romantic scenes in the film has Jane in a bubble bath while Jake eats her homemade lavender ice cream nearby. Continuing the mixing of food and romance, equally enjoyable is watching Jane and Adam making chocolate croissants at night. Streep and Baldwin are convincing as the ex-marrieds who have known each other for most of their adult lives. Their easy camaraderie is enjoyable to watch, and credit goes to Baldwin for making Jake so appealing that I was unsure whether to root for Jake and Jane or Adam and Jane.  Much has been made of the scene where a “naked” Jake confronts Jane and is discovered by Adam; the scene is juvenile but amusing. The funnier scene has Jane and Adam attending a party given by Jane’s adult daughter.  Jane and Adam giggle with teenage delight after smoking a joint as they hide from Jane’s children and Jake. I liked that the adult children were the tame guests as Jake, Jane and Adam get wild.

The behavior of Jane and Jake’s adult children Gabby (Zoe Kazan), Luke (Hunter Parrish), Lauren (Caitlin Fitzgerald) and future son-in-law Harley (John Krasinski) is less than convincing. They all act as if they are small children still hurt by their parents’ divorce and disapproving of Jake and Jane’s possible reconciliation. This makes it difficult to see them as more than caricatures, and makes them less empathetic than the film’s three main characters. Although these actors are appealing, the plot points involving these characters are the weakest part of the film.  

Yes, we can see the ending way before it arrives. Yes, women who are Jane’s age do not often get to choose between the likes of Baldwin and Martin. Yes, Jane seems to have no financial worries, a great job, a beautiful house and nice children. Yes, I was aware of all of this while watching It’s Complicated, but still, it made me laugh and made the cold winter night a little warmer.

It’s Complicated.  Directed by Nancy Meyers.  Meryl Streep (Jane), Steve Martin (Adam), Alec Baldwin (Jake), John Krasinski (Harley), Lake Bell (Agness), Zoe Kazan (Gabby), Hunter Parrish (Luke) and Caitlin Fitzgerald (Lauren) Universal Pictures, 2009.

 

Gail sees a movie appears every Wednesday.

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