--- title: "It's Complicated: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/its-complicated/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/its-complicated" critics_score: 56 critics_reviews: 15 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # It's Complicated (2009): what the critics said Critics' score 56 from 15 reviews: 5 positive, 6 mixed, 4 negative. The reviews are split roughly down the middle, with mixed notices outnumbering either the warm or the hostile. Where the critics agree is on the cast: almost every review, kind or cold, praises Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin, and most single out the ease between them as the reason the film works at all. John Krasinski and Steve Martin draw regular mentions too. The kinder notices call it a grown-up romantic comedy with a frisky farce streak and enjoy it on those terms. The reservations cluster around the writing. Several critics find the film overlong and too tidy, the gags and emotional turns calculated and lacking bite, and the comfortable world of the characters far removed from anything real. The spread is wide, running from the low twenties to the eighties. Slant and Variety are the sharpest dissenters, finding the humour flat and the tone self-satisfied, while Radio Times and HeyUGuys are the most enthusiastic, finding it more entertaining than expected. ## Radio Times — Karen Krizanovich Rating 4/5. The critic calls the film a daffy, delectable comedy. They praise its blend of frisky French farce and middle-class American comedy. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movie-guide/b-r4m99i/its-complicated/) ## RogerEbert.com — Roger Ebert Rating 3/4. 23 December 2009. Ebert viewed the film as a romantic comedy aimed at adults. He praised the appeal of its grown-up romantic setup. [Read the review](https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/its-complicated-2009) ## The AV Club — Scott Tobias Rating B-. 23 December 2009. Tobias finds the film overly tidy and too eager to retreat into crowd-pleasing humor, but says its cast carries it surprisingly far. He especially praises the relaxed chemistry between Streep and Baldwin, while criticizing the scene where Martin discovers the affair. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/it-s-complicated-1798207667) ## The Guardian — Peter Bradshaw Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 7 January 2010. Bradshaw finds the comedy expertly assembled and unexpectedly fun, despite its indulgent world of wealthy characters. He particularly praises the believable chemistry between Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin, while finding Streep’s laugh grating. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2010/jan/07/its-complicated-review) ## Screen Daily — Mike Goodridge Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). 10 December 2009. The page identifies this as a review, but the review text is hidden behind a registration prompt. Its verdict and any specific praise or complaint cannot be determined from the supplied text. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/its-complicated/5008860.article) ## Time Out — Anna Smith Rating 3/5. 5 January 2010. The available description frames the film as a comedy about older people having sex, but does not reveal the critic’s overall verdict. It singles out that subject as the film’s central message. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/its-complicated-1) ## Total Film — Matthew Leyland Rating 3/5. 21 December 2009. The review finds the romcom pleasant but overly calculated, with its emotional turns and comic gags lacking bite. It praises the chemistry and performances of Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin, while also singling out Steve Martin and John Krasinski. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/it-s-complicated-review/) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Kirk Honeycutt Fi1m's normalised score 50/100 (inferred from the text). 10 December 2009. Honeycutt finds the comedy familiar and predictable, but an appealing comfort watch for its intended middle-aged audience. He praises Meyers’s warm fantasy of grown-ups finding love and starting over, while noting that the characters feel far removed from real life. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/complicated-film-review-93804/) ## Empire — Helen O'Hara Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 30 December 2009. O’Hara finds the film overlong and increasingly farcical, wasting the promise of its romantic-comedy setup. She praises the comic work of John Krasinski and the performances of Meryl Streep and Alec Baldwin. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/complicated-review/) ## Evening Standard Fi1m's normalised score 35/100 (inferred from the text). 10 April 2012. The critic finds the film overlong and unconvincing overall, despite its appeal. Streep and Baldwin’s nuanced performances are singled out as the redeeming feature. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/meryl-streep-falls-for-the-ex-factor-in-its-complicated-7418121.html) ## Variety — Todd McCarthy Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 10 December 2009. McCarthy finds the farce cloying and self-satisfied, with only occasional laughs. He singles out Alec Baldwin’s comic performance as the film’s most enjoyable feature. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2009/film/markets-festivals/it-s-complicated-2-1200477907/) ## Slant Magazine — Aaron Cutler Rating 1/4. 22 December 2009. The critic pans the film as a failed romantic comedy. They single out its flat dialogue and lack of genuine humor. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/its-complicated/) ## HeyUGuys — Gary Phillips Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 7 January 2010. The critic finds the film surprisingly entertaining and recommends it. They single out the performances of Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin, and John Krasinski for praise. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/review-its-complicated/) ## Eye for Film — Jennie Kermode Fi1m's normalised score 65/100 (inferred from the text). 7 January 2010. Kermode finds the film enjoyable enough as feel-good entertainment, though it never reaches its ambitions. She praises Meryl Streep’s lively, smart performance while faulting the film’s clichés and heavy-handed treatment of Agness. [Read the review](https://www.eyeforfilm.co.uk/review/its-complicated-film-review-by-jennie-kermode) ## Collider — Andre Dellamorte Fi1m's normalised score 45/100 (inferred from the text). 4 May 2010. The critic finds the film fascinating as wish-fulfillment, but ultimately not good. He praises John Krasinski’s occasional moments of shock and excitement as especially effective. [Read the review](https://collider.com/its-complicated-blu-ray-review-alec-baldwin-steve-martin-meryl-streep/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/its-complicated.md