From time to time Hollywood comes up with a surprise product and this movie is one of those surprises. This movie was actually good. It had an actual STORY. The movie is a comedy but has its serious moments too. Meryl Streep was great, Steve Martin was toned down in a support role, but the real star is Alex Baldwin whose presence props up this movie and transforms it into a good if not great cinematic work. As much as the director tries to make this movie a Meryl Streep vehicle, Mr. Baldwin steals the show. This has to be his best movie in years, maybe in his entire career. He is a combination of amusing, charming, and serious and whenever the movie starts dragging a "dose" of Mr. Baldwin is enough to get it back on track. What a wonderful performance by an excellent actor. Parts of the movie are hilarious, such as the bedroom scene with Ms. Streep, Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Martin (it's not what you think it is) but generally the humor tends to be at the level of chuckles instead of guffaws. Good movie, worth watching.

It's Complicated is a good movie in my opinion, but it isn't a great one. There are some undeniably good things though. The film looks absolutely beautiful with the scenery and location shooting striking and the photography capturing it wonderfully. The soundtrack is beguiling without being too overbearing or too low-key, and the direction is excellent. While I wasn't as taken with the script and story as much as I would've liked, both have their moments. When it comes to the story, the reaction of the kids when they found about their parents was especially surprisingly well-done, and there are several parts mostly in the final third where the writing is funny, quirky and touching. What really lifts It's Complicated is the cast. All three leads-Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin-do some of their better work in recent years here. Martin is probably the weakest of the three despite his character being the most likable, not because he is bad in fact he is very good, but because I would've loved to have seen more of him as it's the third act really where he and his character shines through. Streep is wonderfully infectious and bubbly, and Baldwin's persona here is less cynical and more sleazeball which works. John Krasinski also has some comedy gold moments without feeling too out of place. The characters on the surface in general are clichéd, but in general they are also likable. On the other hand, I didn't completely buy the "happy" ending and in all honesty I could see it coming from miles away. The story is unevenly paced too with some of the middle dragging and like the ending it is rather predictable. The script while funny, touching and quirky often does also have too many moments of clichés, corniness and dumbness, and the title I did find rather obvious but in regards to the latter it's probably me being picky. Overall, good but not great, it's lucky that the cast is as good as it is. 6/10 Bethany Cox

Jane Adler (Meryl Streep) is an unattached divorced successful businesswoman who's facing an empty nest situation. Her youngest Gabby (Zoe Kazan) is headed off to college. Her ex Jack (Alec Baldwin) has a trophy wife Agness (Lake Bell). Jane reconnects with her ex Jack, and then Adam Schaffer (Steve Martin) the architect working on her shop.

I can admit that I'm not the target audience. I don't want to see Baldwin's bare butts. I don't find older women making sexual jokes that funny. It's cute, but not my cup of tea. I'm not a divorced older woman. Having said that, I still find some of it funny. The biggest appeal is the relationship with the kids and how the older couple's love affair affects them.

I found Alec Baldwin annoyingly needy. Meryl Streep gives a sweet performance. But Steve Martin lack any spark. He tries so hard to be cool that he becomes cold. I just don't feel the heat between Streep and Martin.