Writer-director Nancy Meyers returns with her trademark gentle warm comedies focusing on the emotional complications faced by older adults in life in “It’s Complicated”. Previously, she’s garnered huge in the box-office as she accomplishes what no other filmmaker had ventured into in Hollywood: movies targeted specifically for middle-aged audience.
The film takes audience into the complicated journey of bakery/restaurateur Jane Adler (Meryl Streep), mother of three grown kids as she begins to recuperate from a divorce ten years ago. By turn of events, unexpectedly, she rekindles her relationship with ex-husband attorney Jake (Alec Baldwin) during an anniversary party on the West Coast and the graduation celebration of their son. A decade ago, the couple were separated when Jake left off and married to a younger woman Agness (Lake Bell). Things turn complicated when during the party, influenced highly by a wine-fuelled meal, the evening transitions from laughter and celebration to an unplanned drunken affair between the two. Jane now finds herself in an unusual situation where she becomes the other woman to the newly remarried Jake. Complicating things even more is another divorcee Adam (Steve Martin),the architect hired to remodel Jane’s kitchen as he falls in love with her and becomes a part in the unusual love affair.
The fascinating turn of events are witnessed by firsthand by their kids (Caitlin Fitzgerald, Zoe Kazan and Hunter Parrish), a soon-to-be son-in-law (John Krasinski), and gal pals (Rita Wilson, Mary Kay Place, Alexandra Wentworth, Nora Dunn). Their shocked and amused reactions are sources of major laughs in the film.
Divorce is given a new vibe and perspective in this romantic comedy centering not on the divorce itself but on the unusual event of getting back together. Many would find the screenplay crafted by Meyer as highly entertaining and funny with the unusual premise of role reversals from wife to other woman and the happily divorced couple becomes entangled again in more ways than they had expected. There are many moments of these delicious dark humor delivered by Streep and Baldwin in tip top shape delighting audience to the core.
Actors Streep and Baldwin step up in their roles and deliver performances to remember. Though comedy is not Streep’s comfort zone, she delivers Jane in a warm, winning, and looser manner than ever. Many would notice how relaxed she is in her role as she ditches her usual mannerisms. Most of the time she’d be seen baking perfect double chocolate layer cakes as aphrodisiacs. Baldwin meanwhile portrays the sinner husband believably with his comic charm and flexibility. Together the two offer terrific chemistry on-screen.
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