Reel Critic:

Formulaic entertainment is usually dismissed as a cheap shortcut to maintain the revenue stream rather than a sincere effort to create something of high quality. Nonetheless, when done well, even the most predictable plots and scenarios can produce quality entertainment. Such is the case with “It’s Complicated,” a new film from director and writer Nancy Meyers, the creator of “Something’s Gotta Give,” among others.

The plot is fairly mundane. Meryl Streep stars as Jane Adler. Jane has been divorced from her husband, Jake (Alec Baldwin), a successful attorney, for 10 years. Jake married the much younger Agness (Lake Bell), while Jane has remained single. Jane and Jake have three adult children, Luke (Hunter Parrish), Lauren (Caitlin Fitzgerald) and Gabby (Zoe Kazan). Lauren, the oldest daughter, is engaged to Harley (John Krasinski).

In the 10 years since her divorce, Jane has established a successful bakery and catering business, and lives in a beautiful home in Santa Barbara. Besides the business, Jane busies herself with her children and her female friends. A crossroads in Jane’s life has been reached as Gabby, the youngest child, is leaving home for college.

To keep from dwelling on her empty nest, Jane commissions a long-planned addition to her home, which includes a dream kitchen. The architect, Adam (Steve Martin), turns out to be a charming divorced man who is interested in Jane as more than a client.

The entire family travels to New York to attend Luke’s college graduation. The younger Adlers decide to attend a graduation party arranged by Luke’s friends, and Jane finds herself alone in the hotel. She decides to have dinner alone and encounters Jake, flying solo because Agness decided not to accompany him. The two have dinner and, after a night of excessive drinking, end up in bed.

The night of passion prompts Jake to confess that he never stopped loving Jane, and he wants to pursue the affair with the thought of the two of them eventually getting back together.

Jane is in turn uncomfortable and amused by her new status as the other woman. While this is occurring, Jane is also being pursued by Adam. The couple must keep their rekindled relationship secret from Jake’s wife, their adult children and Adam. Accordingly, the situation gets very complicated, hence the title.

While “It’s Complicated” breaks no new ground, it is certainly excels within its limited intentions. The three lead actors, Streep, Baldwin and Martin, all tackle the broad farce and slapstick situations with absolute relish. The actors seem to be enjoying themselves and take the audience along for the ride. Along the way, there are many genuine laughs and a few unexpected twists and turns.

A defining element is that it is clearly an adult comedy. The film is rated R for some drug content and sexuality. This rating seems harsh considering there is no nudity, and the drug content is a couple of people older than 50 sharing a joint.

Nonetheless, because the film deals with marriages of more than 20 years ending with a whimper, regret and reconciliation, this is not a plot easily appreciated by those not old enough to have dealt with these issues.

“It’s Complicated” is doing good business and has seemingly found a niche among the blockbusters and Oscar contenders in current release.

For a pleasant two-hour movie experience without dealing with a theater full of kids or having to wear 3-D glasses, “It’s Complicated” is recommended.

VAN NOVACK is the assistant vice president of institutional research and assessment at Cal State Long Beach and lives in Huntington Beach with his wife, Elizabeth.