It's Complicated with Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin & Steve Martin

I caught a pre-release screening of It's Complicated last night. It's slated for release on December 25th. Unfortunately, it's no Christmas present. The best thing I can say is that it was free.

The film itself, written and directed by Nancy Myers, is a combination of Nancy's other films, especially Something's Gotta Give and Father of the Bride. Some scenes are almost exactly the same - just change the face of the actors. Of course, true to Nancy's style, the house and shots are pretty.

It's a waste of a dream cast - Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin and John Krasinski. Even Mary Kay Place is in it. Poor Mary Kay Place is relegated to barely a cameo. Alexandra Wentworth and the useless Rita Wilson have each more lines. What a waste. Steve Martin was nicely understated and sort of dreamy. He's no wild and crazy guy in this film - he actually plays a real grown up. Unfortunately, there's not an ounce of chemistry between Meryl and Alec - they just look so uncomfortable with each other.

Meryl plays a neurotic divorcee who has come in to her own with everything except love. Alec is her ex-husband, remarried to a young, sexy wife and with a young son. Meryl and Alec have three grown children. At least I think they are grown - they are angelic looking blondes with giant blue eyes - the most unrealistic casting ever. John Krasinski plays the fiance of the oldest daughter and is obviously there for comic relief. It's no relief.

I usually don't like supporting cast members, but these are worse than usual. The divorce supposedly happened 10 years ago, but there's a strange timing issue with facts - the son is graduating from Columbia (ugh, they all travel to New York for the graduation and Alex's new wife can't go, bingo, so easy). So you would think the son is probably 22 or 23 but he later says he was only 8 when his parents divorced. Huh? Anyway, I'm picky.

Is it a romantic comedy? A girl-friend comedy? A family comedy? Who knows. Oh, one more thing - Meryl has a French pastry shop and yes, she cooks a lot in the film. Really, two cooking movies in a row for Meryl? Wait for this one to come to DVD or better, cable tv - you'll be grateful for the commercials.

I came home and poached an egg.

I saw the 7:45 pm showing of Julie and Julia at the AMC Loews 34th Street 14. It was a full house - everybody laughed, everybody cheered, and during the credits some men called out, "Dinner! Dinner!" If I hadn't been so hungry from watching all of the delicious cuisine being cooked, I would have gone in for a second helping. Instead, I came home and poached an egg, quite perfectly, merci beaucoup. Every moment of this film is très magnifique!

Meryl Streep!

Kari and I sat about 15 feet from Meryl Streep earlier this evening. Only 15 feet. It was at TimesTalks, specifically Food & Film: a Conversation with Nora Ephron, Meryl Streep and Stanley Tucci. The emphasis was on the movie Julie and Julia , the film released this August 7th, starring Meryl, Stanley and Amy Adams, but they spent some time telling tales and sharing lots of laughs. These kids are FUNNY. But the best information of the evening came from Meryl: "I am the only one in my household who is qualified to clean the kitty litter. Maybe it takes 15 nominations."

The talk was filmed and will air on Cuny TV 75 some time this fall.