Meryl Streep Shines in this Modern Role, but what about That Jerky Ex-Husband?

Viewing Meryl Streep in a role playing a normal American mom/ex-wife is certainly not the norm as Streep’s roles have been anything but run of the mill. In It’s Complicated, she plays a fairly ordinary ex-wife/mom and it’s refreshing. Of course this mom has a successful business, a group of wonderful girlfriends as well as 3 caring adult children and 1 compassionate soon to be son-in-law (John Kawsinski ). The item she’s missing is a new man in her life and she decides to give that another try. As a twist of fate may have it, she ends up dating her ex-husband, played by (Alec Baldwin) who is married and raising a son. As this isn’t enough chaos to the plot, she starts dating her architect, played by the talented Steve Martin.

Nancy Myers is the writer and director of this romantic comedy and has given us many wonderful films in the past: Father of the Bride 1991, Something’s Gotta Give 2003, The Holiday 2006, andThe Parent Trap 1998. I applaud her effort in bringing Streep into her repertoire and was looking forward to the film as the trailers looked great. I adore Meryl Streep and gleefully viewed her onscreen in this role. I suppose my disappointment was with the casting of Alec Baldwin as Jake. He’s great on TV, but this was his first major film and I felt he was in over his head. At one point, during a bedroom scene, he simply looks away from the camera and stares off into space.

The story was contrived as well and didn’t materialize as believable. Meryl Streep’s character (Jane) didn’t appear to be the type to date her ex-husband, especially when he’s married. Her moral compass wouldn’t allow the situation to happen. Jake is a schmuck and should never have had the chance to try and win his ex-wife back after all the hurt and shenanigans he pulled in the prior marriage. The story line didn’t seem fair to Jane or her children and I suppose that’s what bothered me the most. Yes, it was funny seeing the two drink too much after a graduation ceremony and end up in bed together, but that’s where reality should have set in and each should have gone back to their own lives.

The subject matter of divorce is fairly typical given the divorce rate is currently at 50% in the United States. A painful topic for all involved and certainly an important one, however, seeing the growth that Jane had made in her life without jerky Jake made me want to scream when she allowed him back in. We also don’t know if she will be the one to get hurt again and given Jake’s track record, she probably would.

Steve Martin played a vulnerable divorced guy who is shy and reserved. This role indeed is a stretch for him. He’s great on-screen and so easy and comfortable with Streep, I would have enjoyed more scenes with the two of them.

John Kawsinski is hysterical in the film and has a wonderful presence. His performance in (Away We Go 2009) was fantastic. I look forward to seeing more of him on-screen.

Bottom line, and it’s not too complicated; this film simply didn’t work for me.

Sarah Adamson © January 2010