Meryl Streep, the over-actress; 'It's Complicated'
Exes Jane (Meryl Streep) and Jake (Alec Baldwin) drown their differences. (Universal Pictures)
It's Complicated
Running time: 118 minutes
MPAA rating: R (adult situations, nudity, drugs)
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It's been said more than once that the great actors could read from a telephone book and keep audiences entertained.
"It's Complicated," a cliché laden romantic-comedy, is good for a couple of solid laughs, I'll admit. Otherwise, three very good actors -- Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin -- might as well be reciting ads from the Yellow Pages in this lovers' triangle yawner.
It's not complicated, it's a major misuse of multi-Oscar winner Streep, who plays a well-adjusted California divorcee named Jane.
A Santa Barbara bakery/restaurant owner, Jane is lonely and flirting a little with Adam (Martin), her remodel-the-home contractor. Life does take an abrupt turn when Jane hooks up -- and I do mean hooks up -- with ex-husband Jake (10 years removed) on a trip to New York to celebrate the graduation of one of their kids.
I've been intensely evaluating movies longer than I care to remember. With the possible exception of Carrot Top and confetti-tossing Rip Taylor, I can't remember anyone overacting to the extent Baldwin and Streep (Yes, Meryl Streep!) do under the misdirection of writer-director Nancy Myers.
If almost any other trio of actors were involved, I would quickly write off this contrived, run-of-the-mill exercise in romantic-comedy frustration.
There's a problem with doing that because ... well, this part is a little complicated.
Even when Streep (Yes, Streep!) and Baldwin are misfiring, they are still two of the most interesting actors of their generations. I don't include Martin in the grossly overacting category. Even though he falls back on the old "happy dance" at one point out of what I suppose is utter desperation, Martin pretty much maintains his acting dignity.
Not so with Baldwin and Streep. For whatever reason, they buy into the Meyers life-as-a-fairy tale scenario completely. Perhaps Martin is spared because he empowered those semi-awful, sugary sweet "Father of the Bride" movies Meyers co-wrote in the '90s.
In her defense, Meyers has made some decent films. "What Women Want," starring Mel Gibson as a confused man who can hear women's thoughts, was one. "Something's Gotta Give," pairing Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton (who shared the screen in the "Bride" flicks with Martin), was somewhat entertaining as well. At least more fun than this.
There's probably no way devoted fans of Streep, Baldwin or Martin will pass on this one. Unless you simply must go, however, move on to better holiday movie offerings.
"It's Complicated," a cliché laden romantic-comedy, is good for a couple of solid laughs, I'll admit. Otherwise, three very good actors -- Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin -- might as well be reciting ads from the Yellow Pages in this lovers' triangle yawner.
It's not complicated, it's a major misuse of multi-Oscar winner Streep, who plays a well-adjusted California divorcee named Jane.
A Santa Barbara bakery/restaurant owner, Jane is lonely and flirting a little with Adam (Martin), her remodel-the-home contractor. Life does take an abrupt turn when Jane hooks up -- and I do mean hooks up -- with ex-husband Jake (10 years removed) on a trip to New York to celebrate the graduation of one of their kids.
I've been intensely evaluating movies longer than I care to remember. With the possible exception of Carrot Top and confetti-tossing Rip Taylor, I can't remember anyone overacting to the extent Baldwin and Streep (Yes, Meryl Streep!) do under the misdirection of writer-director Nancy Myers.
If almost any other trio of actors were involved, I would quickly write off this contrived, run-of-the-mill exercise in romantic-comedy frustration.
There's a problem with doing that because ... well, this part is a little complicated.
Even when Streep (Yes, Streep!) and Baldwin are misfiring, they are still two of the most interesting actors of their generations. I don't include Martin in the grossly overacting category. Even though he falls back on the old "happy dance" at one point out of what I suppose is utter desperation, Martin pretty much maintains his acting dignity.
Not so with Baldwin and Streep. For whatever reason, they buy into the Meyers life-as-a-fairy tale scenario completely. Perhaps Martin is spared because he empowered those semi-awful, sugary sweet "Father of the Bride" movies Meyers co-wrote in the '90s.
In her defense, Meyers has made some decent films. "What Women Want," starring Mel Gibson as a confused man who can hear women's thoughts, was one. "Something's Gotta Give," pairing Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton (who shared the screen in the "Bride" flicks with Martin), was somewhat entertaining as well. At least more fun than this.
There's probably no way devoted fans of Streep, Baldwin or Martin will pass on this one. Unless you simply must go, however, move on to better holiday movie offerings.
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