In Hulu’s murder-mystery comedy seriesOnly Murders in the Building,Steve Martin,Martin Short, andSelena Gomezportray a trio of true-crime podcast fans who start their own investigative podcast when a tenant in their building dies under mysterious circumstances. Every season, its cast of characters expands, withShirley MacLaineandPaul Ruddboth joining in its second season. The show has recently shaken things up further for Season 3 by adding the three-time Oscar-winning actress,Meryl Streep, to its cast. The thing is, this isn’t Streep and Martin’s first time working together; in the 2009 rom-com,It’s Complicated, the two paired up in a bit of a will-they-won’t-they situation.
Many fans were worried this quirky comedy wouldn’t utilize the powerhouse actress to her fullest extent, but after Season 3, it’s clear that they were wrong. After seven episodes,Only Murders in the Buildingfinally revealed Streep’s character as a layered and complex person and although the wait was long, it’s forgivable given its large ensemble and the sheer quality of Streep’s performance inEpisode 8. Before the recent story revelations, however, some fans wondered how the Steve Martin-led team managed to get Meryl Streep to agree to join the series in the first place; the answer could actually lie in that 2009It’s Complicatedteam-up.
It’s Complicated
It’s Complicated is a romantic comedy directed by Nancy Meyers, starring Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, and Steve Martin. The film centers around a divorced woman who rekindles a romance with her ex-husband, while simultaneously embarking on a new relationship with a charming architect. The narrative explores themes of love, relationships, and the complexities of modern romance.
‘It’s Complicated’ Isn’t Actually That Complicated for Meryl Streep and Steve Martin
It’s Complicatedstars Meryl Streep as bakery owner, Jane Adler, whose three grown children are still recovering from Jane’s divorce from their father, Jake (Alec Baldwin). Jake left Jane ten years prior to start a new family with a much younger woman named Agnes (Lake Bell) with whom he cheated on Jane. She confides in her friends that she’s been celibate for a while, but not for a lack of trying, and in a surprise turn of events, Jane and Jake get drunk and sleep together again. Initially regretting the drunken mistake, Jane tries to forget the affair, but Jake falls for Jane all over again, making her the “other woman” this time.
Meanwhile, Steve Martin stars as Adam, a recent divorcee remodeling Jane’s kitchen, who finds himself caught in a love triangle when he also falls in love with Jane. But the titular complications stop there. With the premise established, the film plays out largely as anyone might predict, with very few examples of dramatic irony exercised, and the farcical sequences ending as quickly as they begin. Although the plot might fall a little short at times, the absolute sparkle between Streep and Martin’s characters carry the film right through until the end.
Steve Martin’s Role in ‘It’s Complicated’ Is a Rom-Com Cliché
It’s Complicatedwriter-director,Nancy Meyers, is no stranger to the rom-com genre, with movies like Steve Martin’sFather of the Brideand the holiday-time classic,The Holiday, both under her belt. This movie indulges in the genre unapologetically, allowing Streep to explore areas that her more dramatic characters seldom get to. Similarly to her character inOnly Murders in the Building, Jane Adler showcases Streep’s ability to play the comedy without undermining the drama. She is burdened with secrets she must keep from those she loves most, while also trying to find love amidst the complexities of high-stakes heartbreak. The similarities continue, of course, withIt’s Complicatedmarking her first collaboration with co-star, Steve Martin.
Meryl Streep’s ‘The Devil Wears Prada’ Performance Was Inspired, Somehow, By Clint Eastwood
Interestingly, Streep and Eastwood previously appeared together in ‘The Bridges of Madison County.’
Steve Martin’s role inIt’s Complicatedis best described as the character the audience knows the heroine should end up with, but we’re waiting for her to get over the other guy first. This friend-turned-lover trope can make for an entire film’s plot (as inJust FriendsorPlus One), a subplot overshadowed by a more outlandish premise (Lily JamesinYesterday,Renée ZellwegerinShark Tale). But here, Steve Martin gives a more understated performance that highlights him as the cute boy-next-door type who was “the one” for Streep’s Jane all along. This trope is explored in the movie,What If(also known asThe F Word), which starsZoe Kazan, who coincidentally plays one of Jane and Jake’s children inIt’s Complicated.
Meryl Streep and Steve Martin Remained Friends Long After ‘It’s Complicated’
It’s Complicatedreceivedgenerally favorable reviews, particularly praising the performances by Streep, Baldwin, and Martin, but calling the plot predictable. It was released on Christmas Day in 2009 and became Nancy Meyers' third highest-grossing movie. A few months later, its stars, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin, hosted the Oscars. This is seemingly often the case for successful movies that fail to garner nominations of their own, withSeth MacFarlanehosting the yearTedwas eligible andHugh Jackmanhosting afterAustraliaonly earned one nomination for Costume Design. During their opening dialogue, Baldwin and Martin took the opportunity to poke fun at their friend and co-star, Meryl Streep.
They began by detailing the arduous task the Academy must undergo to sift through the contenders. “And then, no matter what, they nominate Meryl Streep!” Baldwin’s punchline was followed by Martin praising, “Meryl Streep holds the record for most nominations as an actress. Or, as I like to think of it, most losses!” The 2010Oscarshosts swiftly moved on to roast some other celebrities nominated that year, but surprisingly came back to Streep quite quickly. Martin stated, “Anyone who has ever worked with Meryl Streep always ends up saying the exact same thing. ‘Can that woman act!’ and ‘What’s up with all the Hitler memorabilia?'”
Only Murders in the Building’s co-creator, John Robert Hoffman, toldThe Hollywood Reporterthat when he was writing Streep’s character, “she was the dream” casting choice and that, by some miracle, it was in fact she that “reached out to her friends, Steve and Marty” about joining the show, not the other way around. Hoffman sang her praises, stating “She is everything anyone has ever said about working with her,” and “It’s really a hell of a time on our set right now.” At the 2010 Oscars, Alec Baldwin joked, “When Steve and I met her at the start of our movie,It’s Complicated, we both thought the same thing; ‘What a memorable threesome!'” Although this statement was tinged with double-entendre, it still rings true. SinceSeason 3ofOnly Murders in the Buildingended with fans left pining for more of Martin and Streep,It’s Complicateddeserves to be rediscovered.
It’s Complicatedis available to stream on Prime Video in the U.S.
