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