Day Twenty-Four: My Favorite Movie

Day 24 of the 30 Day Writing Challenge

Day Twenty-Four: My Favorite Movie

To be a favorite, I have to be able to watch it over and over again. A good movie makes me not want to leave that world and makes me want to relive the story again and again. I used to feel this way about Disney movies. I once felt this way about Braveheart, Fried Green Tomatoes, A League of Their Own. Ever since I discovered Nancy Meyer films, I've found my new getaway. Her more recent movies are filmed in beautiful locations, in beautiful homes, with beautiful people in beautiful clothes. Meyers tends to use the same composer, Hans Zimmer, for the movie's music score. His music creates a particular atmosphere, a specific feeling. One of my favorite scores is "Maestro" from Meyer's The Holiday.
Of all the Nancy Meyer films, I'd have to say that It's Complicated is my favorite. It was one of the movies I watched over and over in the middle of the night while I was up with my newborn daughter. It really helped me get through some of the tougher nights.

Released in 2009, it stars Meryl Streep (who doesn't love her?!), Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. Streep plays Jane Adler, a successful owner of a bakery shop and divorcée of 10 years from Jake Adler (Alec Baldwin), a lawyer. Jake cheated on Jane with a much younger woman, who he then married after the divorce.
It's at their son's graduation in NYC where they end up having dinner alone, getting drunk and sleeping together. They continue their affair when they return home, even though Jane feels guilty and confused about it.
To complicate matters further, Jane starts seeing Adam (Steve Martin), the architect who is orchestrating the renovations to her home.
I like almost everything about this movie. I like the scenery, the sets, the music, the script, the costumes (I love Jane's purple suede booties) and the major actors (some of the minor ones too--John Krasinski!). I also like that the main characters are in their 50s. If I can't watch women who look like me on the big screen (i.e. with curves and who are obviously not models), then it's at least nice to watch women who are older. I guess because it's affirming that it's not only drop-dead gorgeous 20-somethings who are falling in love, having sex, being funny, etc. It makes it more real to me. That being said, a 50-something woman in the real world may disagree with me!
I think one of the best moments in the movie is right after Jane and Jake have sex for the first time in NYC and Jane is staring up at the ceiling with a look of shock mixed with horror, while Jake has a grin so huge on his face that his eyes are closed. Then he reaches over, cups her vajay-jay and says, "Home, sweet home!" It's so unexpected but funny you laugh and gasp at the same time.
I can't wait for Nancy Meyers next project.

In case you're interested, Nancy Meyers films (I'm speaking of those she directed) include: The Parent Trap, What Women Want, Something's Gotta Give, The Holiday and most recently, It's Complicated.