While there are some good laughs in It’s Complicated, the latest from writer-director Nancy Meyers, the film is actually done in by a surprising culprit of bad overacting—none other than the ever-reliable Meryl Streep.
I could not stand Streep here. The movie is bubble-headed, and she treats it like bad Shakespeare. While others in the cast—including Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin and a very funny John Krasinski—seem to know they are in a silly movie, Streep kills the fun when she talks. Where’s Diane Keaton when you need her?
Streep plays Jane, a divorced mom who is forced to mingle with her ex-husband, Jake (Baldwin), and his new girl, Agness (Lake Bell). Jake, who is not having fun with his much-younger wife, notices that Jane is still kind of hot. The two slam a bunch of cocktails and wind up in a hotel room doing unspeakably nasty things, which are punctuated by Jane’s profuse vomiting.
And so begins the affair, which is further complicated when Jane catches the eye of architect Adam (Steve Martin), who is planning her house extension. She begins dating Adam, sort of, while sexing it up with Jake. Jake becomes increasingly jealous, which makes him a hypocrite, because he’s cheating on his wife. Hardee-har-har.
I’m a big fan of Meyers’ Something’s Gotta Give, another film about the sexual antics of middle-age folks that starred Keaton and a little guy named Jack Nicholson, in fine form. This film borrows some of the same gags (i.e., older people being naked), and they still work. I just couldn’t get past the shrill Streep.
As for her leading men, they fare much better. Baldwin is equal parts slimeball and loveable goof as Jake. He doesn’t seem to be taking his part seriously at all, and that lack of seriousness works. Martin goes the aw-shucks-sweet route, but when he gets the chance for slapstick during a pot-smoking sequence, he kills.
Then there’s Streep, who seems to think she’s shooting for another Oscar with this one. Lighten up, Meryl! The movie’s stupid, and you’re not. Sometimes, it’s OK to be stupid! Her character comes off as a major whiner, yet she’s being pursued by Baldwin and Martin, and she lives in an awesome house. It’s hard to really feel sorry for her.
And what’s with the kids in this movie? Jesus, there are no kids this happy anywhere on the planet; I don’t care how rich their parents might be. The oldest son in this movie had me laughing; problem is, his part wasn’t supposed to be funny.
I did laugh hard at the pot-smoking stuff, especially when Krasinski’s future-son-in-law character stumbles upon Streep and Baldwin sneaking a joint in the bathroom. Krasinski, who doesn’t stray far from his Jim “The Office” Halpert mannerisms, might just be the funniest person in this movie.
Am I surprised to be knocking Streep? You bet I am. She’s capable of dialing down her intelligence and acting tricks for movies; after all, she was great in the otherwise lousy Mamma Mia! But there are just too many times in this movie when she over-emotes.
The film stands as proof that the best performers can have a bad day (or however many bad days it takes to make a movie). Being that Streep plays the main character in the film, I have a hard time recommending it. So … if you hold your thumb up and cover Streep’s whiny character for the movie’s entire running time, that might make it worth watching.
This article appears in Dec 31, 2009 – Jan 6, 2010.
Streep is awesome and you have no clue about the acting!
“Sometimes, it’s OK to be stupid!” – I’ve never heard something so stupid…. Pathetic!
Bob Grimm…I’ve never heard of you or read an article written by you before (thank god) but after reading this it is clear to me and every other reader that you 1) are an appallingly awful movie critic 2) have no sense of what is a good or bad performance. “Her character comes off as a major whiner, yet she’s being pursued by Baldwin and Martin, and she lives in an awesome house. It’s hard to really feel sorry for her.” – It’s hard to feel sorry for a woman who is divorced, lonely, and having a difficult time finding love. Not only do you not know what you are talking about but it comes across from your writing that you have very little sympathy for other people and their problems. These issues can cause people serious pain so no she was not overreacting but rather staying true to character. Please don’t try to write another article critiquing a movie or performance because you are pathetic just as someone else posted above. Have a great day. Happy New Years.
Hi Bob…I couldn’t disagree more about your comment about Ms Streep’s performance. Although the material was a bit clumsy and Myer’s treatment of the subject was very white bread, La Streep sailed wonderfully through the film adding depth and dimension to what could have been a very bland character. It was great to see her being a contemporary woman again and a very real one at that. Never mind the stitched up awfulness of ‘Doubt’ and the annoying flutiness of ‘Julie and Julia’. I felt Ms Streep had really come home with this performance. Your assessment is way off the mark here on this one. cheers Paul