DVD Reviews

It’s Complicated - Blu Ray Review

By June L. Apr 27, 2010, 16:36 GMT

Two-time Academy Award winner Meryl Streep, Steve Martin and Alec Baldwin star in this hilarious look at marriage, divorce and everything in between. Jane (Streep) has three grown kids, a thriving Santa Barbara bakery and an amicable relationship with her ex-husband, Jake (Baldwin). Now, a decade after their divorce, an innocent dinner between Jane and Jake turns into the unimaginable - an affair. Caught in the middle of their rekindled ...more

Imagine a dream cast of Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, and Steve Martin, ably assisted by a fine group of young actors led by John Krasinski, in a very grown up story that explores relationships with humor, tenderness, craziness and the whole gamut of human emotions and you have It’s Complicated.

One of the best movies of 2009, it is now available on Blu-ray to add to collections of films that will be watched and revisited for years.

Jake (Alec Baldwin) and Jane (Meryl Streep) Adler have been divorced for ten years, after having been married for nineteen years and having had three children together. Jake remarried, a younger woman named Agnes (Lake Bell), and Jane has built a life and career for herself with a bakery.

From time to time, they run into each other at social events, but when they both attend their youngest son’s college graduation, something sparks, and they begin an affair. But is it really an affair, are they still in love or is it simply unfinished business? It’s Complicated.

Agnes wants to have a baby, and is pushing Jake towards a second chance at fatherhood. Jane has begun planning the dream kitchen she has always wanted and in the process meets Adam (Steve Martin) an architect who is the best sort of man, kind, gentle, thoughtful. As Jake decides he wants Jane rather than Agnes, and Jane is completely torn between whatever feelings she has for Jake, and her budding interest in Adam…..again it’s complicated.

The humor in this film is surprising and fun. Wonderful scenes with Jane and her friends played by Mary Kay Place, Rita Wilson and Alexandra Wentworth have a ring of truth, these are the girlfriends that stick by you when life is tough, the ones with whom you laugh, cry and cherish all your life.

Lines uttered by these women, as well as by bemused soon to be son-in-law Harley (John Krasinski) will stick in the mind and become part of our collective film dialogue repertoire.

It’s Complicated Blu Ray is presented on single disc with some very nice specials. There is a hi-def featurette “The Making of It’s Complicated” which has interviews with the cast providing memories of the production and insights into characters and scenes.

The beautiful home in which Jane Adler lives had its exterior shot on location in California, but the interior and some of the patio/garden environment built on a stage in New York. It is a nice look into the magic of the movies. Included is a feature commentary by the filmmakers, and the Blu-ray has BD live available, as well as “social Blu” which allows the viewer to connect with others to enjoy Blu-ray community features.

Nancy Meyers, writer and director of this film is a genius at capturing moments of reality, true emotions, and like life they are a blend of laughter and tears. There is a precision in the film that makes it both sophisticated and elegant, but it maintains genuine warmth of spirit and great silly moments that will both amuse and touch the audience.