December 27, 2009

It's not that complicated, and it's kinda boring...

This afternoon we went to see It's Complicated. I chose this flick out of everything out there - Avatar, Sherlock Holmes, Precious, Chipmunks 2 The Squeakwel. Ok, scratch that last one.

I was eager to see this one - love Meryl Streep, think Alec Baldwin is hysterical, and really enjoy stuff by director Nancy Meyers, especially Something's Gotta Give. Myers writes sweet smart literary chick flicks for women over 40, and yep I like them.

My choice. My bad.

While there is a lot to admire about this movie (Meryl Streep, amazing houses, Meryl Streep), it didn't work for me overall. And I never got inside it and forgot I was watching a movie.

Streep is Jane Adler - rich, white, smart, successful, happy, lots of friends, great kids, ten years post divorce, who after years of being alone becomes involved with two very different men, one of whom happens to be her married ex-husband.

With this set up, what could be a smart fast farce instead becomes a revamped An Unmarried Woman about the lead character discover her independence and confidence as a single woman. It's fine, and it's nothing really special.

And what bugs me... it's just not complicated. This flick's title is as dumb as cheese. Sex with your ex? As old as time, my friends. Been there, done that, moved on. Divorced women being successful? Good film fodder in 1975, now just look out your window and see fantastic career women. Steve Martin playing nerdy? Check out Father of the Bride circa 1990. Alec Baldwin being funny and lewd? It's called 30 Rock, my friends. Meryl is great in the flick, as she is in two flicks every year, recently in Julie and Julia, Doubt, Mamma Mia, Devil Wears Prada, and so on.

Move on, nothing new to see here...

7 comments:

Clare and Gary said...

I'm off to Sherlock Holmes tomorrow, you've just made my mind up which one we are going to all go and see!!!

Michael Rivers said...

Oh no. I was so excited to see this. I wanted to see it before anything else!

West End Bob said...

Thanks, Brahm. You've confirmed my suspicions after seeing the trailers. Figured there wasn't much "there" there, although I do LOVE Meryl.

Check out "Up in the Air" with George Clooney. Hey. Even if the film wasn't clever and surprising, obviously the visuals of GC have gotta be good . . . .

Kevin said...

We should have stayed home and watched 'Sound of Music'. ;-)

Brahm said...

No, we should not have stayed home and watched "Sound of Music" which you have seen 97 times... we should have seen Sherlock Holmes!!!

Annie (Lady M) x said...

NO! Don't see Sherlock Holmes... I went to see it on boxing day and it was complete pap

Brahm said...

Really? Sherlock Holmes disappoints? Oh crud was looking forward to that one!

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