It’s Complicated was written and directed by Nancy Meyers, the same lady that wrote and directed ‘Somethings Got To Give, a great film. Starring leading lady Meryl Streep, who’s looking fabulous, sassy and together, like an older woman should be. Unfortunately, she only looks like this.
The storyline could have been funny and original, it wasn’t. It felt like it was written by a teenager, using their perspective on how life turns out when you’re a grown-up. In contrast there were some ‘down with the kids’ references to ‘you never answered my calls or emails?’ and constant whipping out of Blackberries and iPhones, just to let us know how (awkwardly) hip ‘older people’ can be.
There were grossly blatant incidents of product placement (Meryl opens her make-up drawer-Clinique anyone?) I love Meryl Streep she seems an aspirational role-model with integrity, but this film begs to differ. The dialogue is appalling and cliché. This supposedly professional solvent woman has a bunch of ‘girlfriends’ who make the ‘Sex and the City’ girls look like French intellectuals.
The plot is predictable, cringy and not remotely believable or funny. I wasn’t naive enough to think that this was anything more than escapist fluff but I expected a bit of charm, sparkle and romance. You won’t get that in this film and what the hell is going on with Steve Martins face? an advertisement on how not to do botox. Awful, I feel unclean.
By Meabh Barron.
