Ryan McNeil
When the credits rolled on IT’S COMPLICATED, a thought came to my mind. It’s the same thought I’ve been having every Thursday night at 10pm for the last three and a half years…
When the hell did Alec Baldwin get so friggin’ good???
IT’S COMPLICATED is the story of The Adlers, Jake (Baldwin) and Jane (Meryl Streep). They have been separated for ten years, and he has even gone on to re-marry a much younger woman, Annalise (Blanchard Ryan). Everybody is brought back together when jake and Jack’s youngest son graduates from university. During a night alone, Jane and Jake find that somewhere down deep the embers are still burning and steal away for a romp in the sack.
When they all head back home, we’re led to wonder if things will go back to normal. Jane is busy running her restaurant, building an amazingly unnecessary extension on to her gargantuan house, and taking a slow shining to her architect Adam (Steve Martin). Jake meanwhile goes about his lawyerly ways, is trying to be a stepdad to Annalise’s son Pedro, and even going about fertility tests.
Nope – none of this is enough to satisfy the Adlers, and indeed their affair continues. They aren’t together, they both have interests in other people, they’re having fun while it’s happening, though they’re desperate for their three kids and future son-in-law (John Krasinski) not to find out. Indeed…it’s complicated.
As I mentioned earlier, Alec Baldwin is really the reason to see this film. He might actually be the only reason to see this movie. He has perfected a manner of delivery that finds the sweet spot between sincere and sarcastic, and as Jake he gets to put that talent to use time and time again. There are precious few 51 year-old actors who could actually say “O-M-G” out loud and not seem silly. Baldwin is one of the few. Both in his facial expressions and the playfulness he gives his dialogue, Baldwin gives what is a rather pedestrian plot a fighting chance.
Speaking of that plot, it felt stale early on and only got worse as time went on. The idea of divorcées finding out that there’s still a spark after being apart for ten years is a pretty good idea. I have to wonder if the movie focused on just that relationship, and didn’t distract from it with Steve Martin this movie might have worked better. Jake and Jane have a palpable chemistry, and already have to work around their children and his wife to have their trists. Giving Jane a boyfriend really only seemed to distract from the excitement.
Making matters worse is the fact that a big turning point in this little love triangle is fuelled by a marijuana high.
Really? People acting goofy after a few tokes?? That’s the best we could do??? Alright…
In many ways, it’s all downhill from there, which is unfortunate given how much fun I was having early on. The movie wastes all the goodwill it builds on all the stellar acting, and pushes us somewhere boring, stale, and … by the time it’s all over.
All told, I did like the movie, but by the slimmest of margins. Baldwin won me over, as did John Krasinski and Meryl Streep – who can seemingly do no wrong these days. While it’s true that movies like IT’S COMPLICATED aren’t my first choice, I wouldn’t say that I’m above them, especially when they are done well. This particular comedy, aimed at a very specific demographic, is done “well enough”…but could have been done so much better. When the dust settles, Baldwin really saves writer/director Nancy Meyers bacon.
I hope she bought him a car to say thanks.
Glengarry Glen Ross. That's when Baldwin got good. Too bad he's quitting acting. What a lame trend this is becoming.
I second Aiden's comment. Baldwin's scnee in Glengarry Glen Ross showcased how strong his acting-chops are.
I was on my way to see Avatar, didnt make it, so I ended up seeing this film, which is the kind of film I normally wait to watch on DVD. If ever.
But still, the previews I had seen for it made me think "it looks watchable" so I gave it a shot.
I ended up having a good time. The movie kept me guessing all the way through about who Meryl Streep was going to end with. Steve Martin only made things all the more watchable.
A cool movie whos only downside (in my opinion) is that it got a little too sappy with the whole thing of the mom having to explain everything that was happening to the kids…and all that.
But aside from that? I had a blast! And as you say, Alec Baldwins sleaziness in this movie is one of the best things about it.
Your question about "How did Alec Baldwin get so good?" can be followed by my question "How did Alec Baldwin get so FAT?"
@ Aiden & Cheshire… Strange though, it seems like in between GLENGARRY and … let's say THE COOLER, the guy did a whole lot of crap.
Maybe I should have asked, when did Baldwin get an agent who was able to help him pick such awesome parts?
@ TFC… I'm guessing that you ended up picking this film for start-time-convenience…cause it couldn't be more different than AVATAR!
Like you, I still had fun – silly plot devices included – and I chalk it all up to performances. Martin wasn't really doing it for me, but he still seemed to have fun…which in turn was fun to watch.
I really have to admit I have no desire to check out this film until DVD. I was so psyched about Martin, Baldwin, and Streep but the commercials and lackluster reviews completely took the sails out. Maybe I'll notch this up to a cheapo theater view?
“When the hell did Alec Baldwin get so friggin' good???” when he started to put on a few pounds and his looks started to fade. I think the truth is he could always act he is just getting better parts now. If you look back, he is by far the best of the three Jack Ryans’s, he had to play it straight in Beetle Juice for Michael Keaton’s part to work and although Malice was a pretty crap film he was good at times in it.
Or the short answer: Glengarry Glen Ross. Still hi best film. See the clip in my David Mamet blog from last month:
http://fandangogroovers.wordpress.com/2009/12/12/david-mamet/
Mad Hatter, yeah, I was like okay what else can we watch, all the other choices seemed uninspired, so I went with this one cause the previews for it and the cast pulled me in.
Baldwin is always great, who knew he was going to end up being such a comedian!? I love his appearances on SNL, whenever he is on, he always cracks me up!
Martin was playing it cool. He wasnt going to over the top crazy, he was in control, even when they were smoking pot, which I thought was going to be a scene where he was going to go crazy in.
About the weed in this movie, it seems like now, every other movie is commenting on weed. Basically on a lot of films I have wathed recently, I noticed they make it look like its something silly and fun and that it shouldnt be illegal. But that it shouldnt be abused as well.
For example, that scene in which they are smoking as they drive, and shes holding up the joint and the cops pass, that was saying, "pot is fun, but goddamit, why is it illegal!?"
The Family Stone is another film that does this, have you seen The Family Stone? I remember liking it, its kind of christmassy, about a family learning to cope with cancer and death…and they all smoke weed together.
What say you about this? Hey, Im planning a blog soon on Cannabis Cinema, maybe you can comment on this there as well! Be on the look out for it.
This isn't the kind of movies I watch at the theater, either, but it sounds like a worthwhile flick. My friend couldn't stop raving about it, as evidenced in her glowing review in my Everyone's a Critic series. Hmmm, maybe another reason Baldwin is good here is that Meryl's overflowing talent is rubbing off on him? 🙂
Anyway, just want to comment that I really like your 'Last Movie I Watched' feature on your sidebar. Great idea and let your readers in on what review is coming next.
I'm really not too keen on Baldwin as a comedian, he seems to have perfected the exact form regardless of the character. But he was good in the nineties, especially in that A Streetcar Named Desire adaptation. Certainly, he's no Brando…but…
I'm not too excited to see this. I just might wait till the DVD.
i so need to see this movie!! well just wanted to say hello…miss u 2 so much…xo
@ Univarn… Save the cheap theatre night for something a bit higher up the food chain. Do see this one, but wait 'til dvd.
@ Number Six… The roles you mentioned are indeed good ones, but I think you've hit the nail on the head when you mention his looks fading. Very astute observation!
@ TFC… Funny you bring up the weed, since that was the one device that actually got on my nerves. Don't get me wrong, I believe it's damn time it started getting decriminalized, but it felt like Martin & Streep were giggling a tad too much for me.
Looking forward to the grass-a-thon though.
@ Andrew… Not to stray too far off movie talk, but what do you think of his work on 30 Rock?
@ Carolina… Hey bella, good to hear from ya. Miss ya already! Get out there and have fun at the movies, but hopefully you pick somethin a bit better than this.
@ RTM… Not sure if anyone was "rubbing off", I do however think that Meryl & Baldwin had a chemistry that nobody could have really forecasted. I'd pay to see them in something else sometime soon.
Thanks for the feedback, but I gotta be honest – what's in that spot on my sidebar doesn't always get reviewed. I watch a lot of dvd's – many flicks that I've seen before – and I don't usually write about 'em. So while there is indeed a review coming for A SINGLE MAN, that image will likely change soon to LA STRADA…which I hadn't planned on writing about.
All the same – it gives me a smile that someone noticed that!
His work on 30 Rock is is good. Of course being someone firmly in The Office camp, 30 Rock can seem like a nemesis sometimes. But he and Jane K. act rings around their costars most of the times – especially Fey who is a great writer sure, but sometimes painful as an "actress". Still can't believe she has an acting Emmy.
he was great in Bio-Dome and Sliver
@ Ross… Actually took me a minute to get the joke – good one!
@ Andrew… Fey is good, but even she admits it's because Baldwin makes her better. By the by, Missus Hatter and I have a running joke that I married Liz Lemon.
I dug him in State & Main, but I dug everyone in that, pretty much! lol
Still, if I were to see this, it would be for Meryl. I'm going through a phase.
– Suzie
Thanks for a great review – we saw this film last night as it was all that was about to start when we got to the cinema and it was a nice if rather unremarkable film.
Not the usual type of movie we go and see, but pleasant enough to watch.
Alec Baldwin was fab!