IT’S COMPLICATED
Funny and heartfelt, but better kept at home for adults.
Should You Watch It?
IT’S COMPLICATED has genuine strengths. It is sometimes funny and heartfelt, with strong cinematography, believable characters, and an entertaining storyline that will appeal mostly to adults. Steve Martin’s Adam is especially enjoyable and may be the most likable character in the movie.
The problem is that the plot is built almost entirely around a woman and her ex-husband committing adultery. Jane lies to her children, receives encouragement from friends and her shrink, and struggles over whether the affair is wrong or worth pursuing. The movie offers little real rebuke, even though Jane ultimately chooses to do the right thing.
Because the content and worldview concerns are central rather than incidental, this is better watched at home by discerning adults, not children or young teens.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESJane, a divorced mother of three grown children, owns a thriving Santa Barbara bakery and has finally developed an amiable relationship with her ex-husband, Jake. When they reunite out of town for their son’s college graduation, their renewed closeness takes an unexpected turn.
Jake is now remarried, while Adam, an architect remodeling Jane’s kitchen, begins to fall for her. Jane soon finds herself caught between her former husband and this new male friend.
Is It Any Good?
Three stars means IT’S COMPLICATED is an appealing but ultimately unrewarding comedy. The production values are decent, the cinematography is strong, and the storyline is mostly entertaining and laughable. The characters are believable, and the adult-oriented relationship situations provide the film’s humor and emotional energy.
Steve Martin does an excellent and enjoyable job as Adam. He may be the most likable character in the whole movie. Still, the film’s central adulterous relationship overwhelms many of its redeeming elements, especially because the wrongdoing receives no clear acknowledgment as wrong.
The Worldview
The film presents a strong humanist and pagan worldview. Its main characters rely on their own strength, act according to their feelings, and give little thought to the consequences of their actions. One character says that Fate brought the couple together, and the story treats personal desire as a major guide.
The movie does contain some moral elements. Jane ultimately does the right thing, although she never specifically acknowledges that what she did was wrong. Characters also say they do not regret their wrongful decisions, leaving the film with mixed messages about conscience, responsibility, and romantic fulfillment.
The film’s central moral question is whether desire can justify betrayal. Scripture gives a clearer warning: “But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire” (James 1:14).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong humanist and pagan worldview where main characters rely on their own strength and another character states that Fate brought them together, and characters act according to their feelings, ignoring their conscience and giving little thought to the potential consequences of their actions, with some moral elements where a character does the right thing in the end, even though characters say they don’t regret their wrongful decisions; four obscenities and seven profanities; no violence; strong sexual content includes discussion on sex, multiple instances of implied adultery, man grabs woman’s private area, man and woman briefly discuss their sexual encounter, man makes references to various sexual positions, passionate kissing, and movie implies two minor characters are living together; woman wears a bikini top, upper male nudity and almost full male nudity in one scene where certain parts are strategically covered, woman shown in bra, and it is implied that man and woman are naked in bed together; strong alcohol use and drunkenness; parental figures smoke marijuana; and, betrayal.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
The characters follow their feelings while ignoring their consciences. How does Scripture describe the relationship between desire, temptation, and sin?
James 1:14–15 · Proverbs 4:23The film treats adultery as a complicated romantic choice. What does God say about faithfulness in marriage?
Exodus 20:14 · Hebrews 13:4Jane lies to her children about what is happening. Why does truth matter even when honesty brings painful consequences?
Ephesians 4:25 · Proverbs 12:22The story includes drunkenness and marijuana use. How should Christians think about self-control and the influences they welcome into their lives?
Ephesians 5:18 · 1 Peter 5:8The Final Word
IT’S COMPLICATED offers some good laughs, heartfelt moments, strong cinematography, and believable characters. But its central adultery storyline and mixed moral messages make it unsuitable for children and young teens. For discerning adults, watch it at home rather than making it a family outing: WAIT FOR HOME — ADULTS ONLY. Consider these alternatives instead.
