Life is notoriously complicated. Whether it’s trying to finish those pesky taxes the day before they’re due, trying to fix that noisy, leaky faucet or shedding those final 10 pounds, even the arguably mundane parts of life can be tough. But for Jane Adler (Meryl Streep), her relatively simple existence as a Santa Barbara divorcee becomes a lot more — you guessed it — complicated when she begins to sleep with a married man. Things get really messy when that man turns out to be her ex-husband, Jake (Alec Baldwin), who falls for her all over again.
It’s Complicated certainly lives up to its title, but Jane’s complications are all ones we’d take in a heartbeat. She has a beautiful home, a stress-free job as the owner of a popular bakery and she’s courted not only by Jake but also by Adam (Steve Martin).
The movie’s barely disguised wish-fulfillment fantasy is just one of the many reasons to watch it. You’ll have to act fast, though, as It’s Complicated is scheduled to leave Amazon Prime Video at the end of April.
The Movie’s Plot Isn’t That Complicated
Written and directed by Nancy Meyers, It’s Complicated’s story is pretty simple. After seeing the last of her three children leave for college, Jane discovers she’s a lonely empty nester. That’s probably why she tentatively agrees to having an affair with Jake, who cheated on her years ago and married his much-younger mistress, Agness (Lake Bell). It’s karmic revenge for Jane — now she’s the Other Woman. “I think I’m a little bit of a slut,” she laughs to her friends.
Things get complicated (there’s that word again!) when a flirtation with Adam, a kindhearted architect, becomes something more serious and Jane must choose between reliving her past with Jake or forging a future with Adam. Unlike one of Streep’s earlier movies, Jane’s dilemma isn’t really a Sophie’s Choice — wouldn’t you want to be caught in a love triangle like this one?
A Love Triangle You Can’t Help But Love
Meyers has always specialized in creating roles for actors of a certain age, and she gives three meaty parts to three actors who bring their A-game here. Streep shows a softer, more vulnerable side in this movie, conveying Jane’s not-so-secret desire to let her hair down and have some fun. It’s a loose, surprisingly sexy performance from the veteran actress, and her joy at playing Jane is infectious.
The focus isn’t on Baldwin and Martin as much, but when it is, they match Streep’s laid-back vibe. Baldwin lampoons his matinee idol image and isn’t afraid to strip down and rub his potbelly to get a cheap laugh. Martin’s Adam is more uptight than his romantic rival, but even he loosens up to Jane’s charms — his pot-smoking scene with his new girlfriend is one of the film’s highlights.
The Kids (And Friends) Are Alright
The film’s supporting cast primarily consists of Grace and Jake’s grown children and Grace’s female friend group. In the latter, Rita Wilson, Mary Kay Place and Alexandra Wentworth make the most of their limited screen time as three friends who lend their supportive shoulders and witty observations to Jane. They function as a comical Greek chorus commenting on Jane’s actions, except with more white wine and beige clothing.
Among Jane’s children, Lauren (Caitlin FitzGerald) and her fiancé Harley (John Krasinski) get the most screen time, so it’s no surprise that they are the most memorable of the Adler clan. Krasinski, in particular, has a nice comedic sequence when he discovers Jane and Jake sneaking into a hotel to continue their affair, which he has to hide from an unsuspecting Lauren. When he sees the paramedics rushing into their room, his panic mounts, and his desperate attempts to get Lauren out of the hotel are some of the film’s funniest sight gags.
A Picture Perfect World
While It’s Complicated deals with the messy themes of divorce, adultery and even drug use, it’s set in a brightly lit Southern California utopia that only Meyers could conjure. The director is famous for creating escapist fantasies populated with large, expensive homes with impressive kitchens, and It’s Complicated doesn’t shy away from showing a world that’s just a little too perfect to actually exist.
That’s OK, though, because it’s what you expect from a movie like this one. It’s Complicated invites you to forget your everyday problems and laugh at the ridiculous things rich people do when they fall in love (and lust). Realism has no place in a film like this, and there’s nothing wrong with that.
Gone Too Soon?
It’s Complicated is leaving Amazon Prime Video on April 30. While it will probably show up on some other streamer, why wait and deprive yourself of a fun comedy that showcases three great actors having the time of their lives? The movie is perfect to watch as the spring season is in full bloom, and it may just inspire you to begin your own “complicated” love story.
It’s Complicated is streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
