It's Complicated
Release Date:
December 25, 2009
On the Big Board |
| Position |
Staff |
In Brief |
| 22/169 |
Max Braden |
I was concerned 30 Rock Baldwin wouldn't translate well to a movie, but he does, and there are laughs, but it's uneasy to be rooting for adulterers. |
Nancy Meyers has created a small cottage industry out of making romantic comedies with wide-ranging demographic appeal. What Women Want was a surprising success back in December of 2000, debuting with $33.6 million and eventually racking up North American box office of $182.8 million. Her next film, Something's Gotta Give, had a smaller start with $16.1 million in December of 2003, but wound up with impressive domestic box office of $124.7 million. And most recently, The Holiday was a little quieter, but still came in with a worldwide gross of $205 million against an $85 million budget.
She goes closer to the formula that worked best for her in What Women Want and It's Complicated by taking some big-name stars - who appeal to a 55+ crowd, and throwing them together for wacky romance and laughter. This time around, we have Meryl Streep, who has been gaining momentum ever since she had a shining role as the villainess in The Devil Wears Prada. Since then, the Academy Award winning actress has starred in bona fide hits such as Mamma Mia! and Julie & Julia. She has a following, and putting her in a romantic comedy at Christmas-time seems like a master stroke.
Streep stars alongside Alec Baldwin, who is turning heads in 30 Rock, and Steve Martin, who's a comforting presence in this type of flick. Streep and Baldwin play a couple who have been divorced for ten years, but start an affair while out of town for their son's graduation. Things are "complicated" because Baldwin is in a relationship with a much younger woman (Lake Bell) and Streep is drawn to a divorced architect (Martin) who comes to understand that he's part of a triangle.
There's no reason to think this shouldn't at least fall in line with Something's Gotta Give's performance and it might even exceed that sort of expectation. It's Complicated may have a crappy title, but audiences are going to eat it up, because Nancy Meyers has a winning formula. (Kim Hollis/BOP)
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