It's ComplicatedMovie Reviews

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So-so

Avg. Critic Score: 57 out of 100 Mixed or average reviews Metascore^® based on all critic reviews

Information for Parents:

Iffy for 15+

Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

88

Washington Post | Michael O'Sullivan
The romantic comedy about a divorced couple having an affair manages to be both light on its feet and heavy enough to deliver something of a message. Read full review
70

The Hollywood Reporter | Kirk Honeycutt
What Meyers doesn't do is take chances. She sticks to formula and predictability. In "Complicated," this is as much a matter of casting as writing. Read full review
67

Entertainment Weekly | Lisa Schwarzbaum
It's Complicated is middle-aged porn, the specialty of Meyers, who also set ladies and interior decorators drooling over homes and gardens in 2006's "The Holiday." Read full review
63

Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert
There's funny stuff here. We like everybody. Read full review
63

Rolling Stone | Peter Travers
You don't have to feel guilty for lapping up this froth. Just don't expect nourishment. Read full review
60

The New York Times | Manohla Dargis
Pleasurable, daffy if at times daft. Read full review
50

San Francisco Chronicle |
The sum is a comedy that starts out slow and talky, picks up speed - and sexiness, and hysterics - somewhere in the middle, then drags to a stop when everyone starts confessing their feeeelings. Read full review
50

Los Angeles Times | Betsy Sharkey
The problem with It's Complicated, a romantic comedy about the menopausal crowd starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin, is that it's not nearly complicated enough. Read full review
50

USA Today | Claudia Puig
It's Complicated is vacuous overall, although attractively packaged. Read full review
40

Variety | Todd McCarthy
Cute and clever though the plot may be, everything is played out in the broadest possible terms without an iota of nuance or subtlety. Read full review

Metacritic link View more reviews for It's Complicated on Metacritic

Information for Parents

Common Sense Media says Iffy for 15+ Parents will dig this over-50 romcom, but kids won't.

What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that his mature romantic comedy starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, and Steve Martin is age-appropriate for older teens and up, though adults are most likely to appreciate it. Although the sexuality isn't graphic, the movie's main themes concern infidellity, sex for the over-50 set, and dealing with grown-up children -- none of which is meant for younger kids. There's some swearing ("s--t" is the strongest of it), a good bit of social drinking (the main characters have their first adulterous night together after getting completely sloshed), and a couple of humorous scenes in which a marijuana joint is shared by three adult characters. Teens could get the message from the movie that being intoxicated lowers inhibitions (which is true) and since no negative consequences are shown, parents should talk to their kids about it. And, as in every other Nancy Meyers movie, everyone lives a completely pampered, wealthy lifestyle, this time in Santa Barbara. We should all be so lucky.

Families can talk about the movie's message about how divorce affects children, even grown-up ones. What's the impact of Jane and Jake's affair?
The movie was rated R because of the pot-smoking scene. What conversation do you need to have with your teens about the effects of drinking and drugs on inhibitions?
This is one of the few movies that explores romance between adults in their 50s. How is Jane and Jake's "mature" romance different than romantic comedies starring younger actors?

The good stuff

Positive messages: Although there are positive messages about families of divorce (Jane and Jake's three kids are very close to them) and the empowerment of single women in their 50s, there's also the sense that adultery between exes isn't all that serious, since they were once married. That's a pretty iffy message, even though it's handled comically.
Positive role models: Jane is inspiring as a successful business owner who was able to start a new life after divorce. She's also a very caring and loving mother. Jake cares about his children, but he acts quite selfishly throughout the movie. The fact that the ex-spouses hook up isn't exactly top-notch role model behavior, but it's all played for romance and humor.

What to watch for

Violence: Not an issue
Sex: Drunken (and subsequently sober) adultery between exes is the movie's central plot point. There's no nudity, but you do see one character in her bra and panties, Meryl Streep in a chemise, and a lot of Alec Baldwin's skin (a strategically placed laptop blocks any X-rated parts). One sight gag alludes to the fact that Baldwin's penis is directly within view of a webcam that Steve Martin is watching from his own computer. There's also a lot of discussion about sex, extramarital affairs, older women's sex drives (and anatomy), and fertility issues.
Language: Fairly mild for an R-rated movie. Words like "s--t," "holy s--t," "prick," "ass," "bitch," and "oh my God" are said on occasion but not frequently.
Consumerism: Several brands are featured, including Toyota Prius, Porsche, Jeep, Match.com, and Mac.
Drinking, drugs and smoking: Lots of social drinking by adults (mostly wine and cocktails) at dinners and parties. Jane and Jake get completely sloshed before their first hook up; later, Jane smokes a marijuana joint with Adam. None of these scenes have any negative consequences, and indeed, the scenes show how inhibitions are lowered as a result of being intoxicated.

Common Sense Media An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.