Film Review: 'It's Complicated'

pettyfog · May 10, 2010

Saw this yesterday during local family 'Mothers Day' get together.

Some of you might remember I hate sappy chik-Flix, that's what this one looked like but it isnt.

Here's how I wrote a 'user review' for IMDB:

It's Complicated is Complicated

I don't like obvious, pandering Chick-Flicks. In fact I hate them. This
isn't a 'Chick-Flick' unless your definition almost solely depends on
the plot's perceived point of view.

This film is a masterpiece of social commentary because the writing and
the characters allow the human relationships to develop far deeper than
included in the screenplay, once you start to wonder about the real
people.

In the opening scenes, I found myself wondering about the casting as
much as thinking about the plot set-up.

Streep I understand. Someone has to play the role, and Diane Keaton's
now a stereotypical caricature in this element.

Baldwin.. WHY? He's far from sympatico in almost every movie he's been
in, exceptions being Hunt for Red October, Great Balls of Fire {he made
Jimmy Swaggart human tho you have to dig it out of the script bias} and
of course, Beetle Juice.

John Krasinski.. Why? Though he's getting the recognition he deserves,
he plays the prospective son-in-law in what shouldn't be more than a
sub-plot.

Steve Martin.. he's done small but key parts before and it seemed
apparent that this would be another of those. But there's others that
are more pleasing to the integration of what this movie SEEMED to be.

The answers became apparent later on.

The main characters, Streep, Baldwin and by extension Martin are ALL
successful by almost any measure. Except one. That being their marital
past. The scenario is that the last of the brood is about to strike out
on his own, bringing the parents together and raising the question in
their, especially Streep's, mind.. Where Do I go From Here!

Baldwin sees his family and wonders why he left them for a 'trophy
wife' who brings the baggage of raising yet another brood. He realizes
he really doesn't want to go through that again, because he doesn't
relate to kids at all until they are full adults. And that's part of
the plot throughout. - It's important to understand that 'Pedro' is
portrayed how he's seen by the main characters, not how he really is.
The kid couldn't possibly be that bratty because the glimpses we see of
Agness portray a reasonably well-adjusted woman, not a self-centered
narcissist. So the REAL motivator for Jake is he wishes he hadn't taken
the easy way out and he doesn't want to go through all that again.

Streep's Jane is set on the need to attain the accouterments of
personal success that everyone wants in Life's middle stage: A huge
personal workshop to indulge her passion, which to her is an
over-indulging kitchen, and a nest with a view fitting her self-image.

Martin is portrayed as Streep's counterpoint. He also was left alone
and wonders what he did wrong, and spent years until he realized he did
nothing wrong, Stuff Happens. He's a 'nerd' because he sees himself and
his vocation as one and the same, yet he obviously is successful by
understanding others' wants and needs. It just took him a long time to
realize that from his personal life, and that is also key to the end of
the film. -This is NO cameo or small part!

John Krasinski.. ah, deeper into the movie he becomes a key plot
element because he's the indicator for family loyalty. He has a
connection with the well being of the family even though he's not
officially a part of it yet. And that shows that, whatever the
characters' personal peccadilloes, the kids grew up as far from
dysfunctional as you can get.

For the shallow, there's the obvious fun stuff.

Ewww: We have to see Baldwin nude. Ahhh: We Don't have to see Streep
nude

Ewww: Old peepul have sex, and freakin THINK about having sex. Ahhhh:
We don't care about young peeps having sex. In fact, according to this
movie, they may not even have sex at all. - That's a delicious plot
twist, isn't it!

Hahhaaaa: Old Peepul smoke dope. From the most potent joint ever made
by man! Huh? Well, whatta we know about grass. The reaction's purely
personal, and situation dependent. Jane takes her first hit in thirty
years and immediately goes into stoner mode BECAUSE she's so nervous
about her date with Adam. Hahhaaa! Turned 'Something's gotta Give' on
its head. Nothing REALLY wrong with Jake, just over-excited. Take that
Jack, you weenie!

There's even more little 'Easter Eggs': Martin and Streep sitting in a
Swing. My kid says 'Hey! Look at that.. obviously they threw that swing
up at the last minute.' Later it seems possible that the swing itself
is a 'fun bit' when you see the 2 end of swing Views, vs the 2 cam
views from 'Inside the Swing'. There's lots more but it would take
forever and we have to see the thing several times to dig 'em out. Even
the scene from the staked out 'addition' is well done and shows exactly
the right elevations, though it seems stupid and wrong at first.

Summary: This is a deliciously deep romantic comedy that should be
enjoyed by anyone who bothers to actually get involved. Nancy Meyers is
a cinematic genius if for nothing else than her particular viewpoint
and the ability to express it at so many levels, including attention to
detail.

I give this film.. again FILM, not Movie!... 8.5. I just happened to
see it on 'Mother's Day' and it was perfect for that.
Click to expand...

- Good for any other time you're with your adult extended family, too.

Any of you who pride yourself as a film buff, rather than a movie fan', see if you dont agree.
BTW: Look at the IMDB USER RATINGS breakdown.
That 'by age', 'by gender' breakdown is amazing. It really IS possible to make 'a movie' with something for everybody.

Like I said 'Nancy Meyers is a genius'
- and you'll never want to see Keaton and Nicholson's 'Something's Got To Give' again, except to affirm it is really inferior to this one.

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Film Review: 'It's Complicated'

pettyfog Well-Known Member

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Film Review: 'It's Complicated'

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