It's Complicated

What it's about:

Jane Adler (Meryl Streep) has been divorced for ten years and is finally on her feet again. But after a drunken one night stand with her now remarried ex-husband Jake (Alec Baldwin), they launch into an affair that leaves Jane questioning everything, including her feelings for her nerdy architect Adam (Steve Martin).

What we thought of it:

Romantic comedies are so hard to get right these days. Not even a gorgeous or all-star cast (as in the case of Dear John and Valentine's Day) can save this genre from death by cliché. It's just all been done before. But this one's different. 

It's probably due to the amazing acting talents of Meryl Streep. She's so malleable. Just one lift of an eyebrow conveys a page of emotion and elicits roars of laughter. Plus, she looks damn good! You can't take your eyes off her and her seriously stylish wardrobe.

Jane Adler is an admirable character. She embraces every facet of her personality; the mother, the lover, the adulterer, the re-imagined older woman. While at some point she has to decide on one path, she thoroughly (and hilariously) test-drives all of them to make an informed decision. The only part of her rediscovery that grates a little is that she feels the need to apologise to her grown-up kids for having an affair with their father. It's none of their whiny business anymore.

Then there's the comedic resurrection of Alec Baldwin. Who knew he was funny until he became Jack Donaghy in 30 Rock? He totally looks the part of Jake Adler, the rich, older businessman who's 'upgraded' to a younger wife and is just waiting for the next heart attack. Despite being a total jackass, his humorous attempts at winning back his ex make him endearing. That's until you see him naked. Urgh.

Poor Steve Martin is totally underused as the goofy architect Adam. He gets one scene to really let loose and he does it well, but for the rest of the movie he's just the other guy. Let's hope he doesn't let Alec steal the show when they co-host the Oscars this year.

Speaking of stealing the show, why doesn't John Krasinski get more leading roles? He's got this quirky indie charm and his comedic timing is spot on. Here he plays the family's fifth wheel and the eldest daughter's fiancé, Harley. He's possibly the best thing about this movie, after Meryl, that is.

Watch out for some belly-clutching WTF scenes and a surprisingly satisfying ending. It seems for most, making a good romcom is complicated, but not for writer and director Nancy Meyers. It's Complicated is one of those easy, genuinely funny movies that you can indulge in without being distracted by bad actors, slapstick gimmicks and corny music (this soundtrack is fabulous, by the way).