It's Complicated
Ten years after their divorce, Jane and Jake Adler unite for their son's college graduation and unexpectedly end up sleeping together. But Jake is married, and Jane is embarking on a new romance with her architect. Now, she has to sort out her life—just when she thought she had it all figured out.
Despite a substantial budget of $85.0M, It's Complicated became a solid performer, earning $219.1M worldwide—a 158% return.
Nominated for 1 BAFTA Award8 wins & 15 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
It's Complicated (2009) reveals precise narrative architecture, characteristic of Nancy Meyers's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 2 hours and 1 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 7.1, the film balances conventional beats with creative variation.
Characters
Cast & narrative archetypes
Jane Adler
Jake Adler
Adam Schaffer
Agness
Lauren Adler
Luke Adler
Gabby Adler
Main Cast & Characters
Jane Adler
Played by Meryl Streep
Successful bakery owner and mother of three who begins an affair with her remarried ex-husband while developing feelings for her architect.
Jake Adler
Played by Alec Baldwin
Jane's charming but immature ex-husband who left her for a younger woman and now realizes what he lost.
Adam Schaffer
Played by Steve Martin
Jane's gentle, recently-divorced architect who becomes romantically interested in her while designing her kitchen renovation.
Agness
Played by Lake Bell
Jake's much younger second wife who is pregnant and increasingly aware of his connection to Jane.
Lauren Adler
Played by Caitlin Fitzgerald
Jane and Jake's eldest daughter who is getting married and wants her parents to get along.
Luke Adler
Played by Hunter Parrish
Jane and Jake's son, a college student who catches his parents in a compromising situation.
Gabby Adler
Played by Zoe Kazan
Jane and Jake's youngest daughter who is in college and navigating her own romantic life.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Jane thrives as a successful bakery owner, content in her post-divorce life with grown kids and independence. Her beautiful home and business show she's rebuilt after Jake left her for a younger woman ten years ago.. The analysis reveals that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 13 minutes when At their son's graduation party in New York, Jake flirts with Jane over drinks. They end up laughing together and sleeping together—Jane accidentally becomes "the other woman" to her own ex-husband, disrupting her stable, drama-free life.. At 11% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 30 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This illustrates the protagonist's commitment to Jane actively chooses to continue the affair with Jake despite knowing it's wrong. She meets him at a hotel, entering a secret relationship that goes against everything she's rebuilt. This is her conscious decision to re-enter Jake's world., moving from reaction to action.
At 60 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. Structural examination shows that this crucial beat False victory: At a party, Jane gets high with Adam and they share a wonderful, genuine connection. She laughs freely and feels truly seen. Jake witnesses their chemistry and becomes jealous, raising the stakes—now he wants Jane back for real, not just an affair., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 90 minutes (74% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Adam discovers Jane's affair with Jake and walks away, heartbroken. Jane realizes she's destroyed the chance at real love for a fantasy. Her daughter also discovers the affair and is devastated, feeling betrayed. Everything falls apart—the "death" of her chance at genuine happiness., reveals the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 96 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 79% of the runtime. Jane ends things with Jake definitively, reclaiming her agency. She tells him she deserves better and won't be his escape. This clarity comes from integrating what Adam showed her (self-worth, authentic connection) with her own strength. She chooses herself., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
It's Complicated's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs proven narrative structure principles that track dramatic progression. By mapping It's Complicated against these established plot points, we can identify how Nancy Meyers utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish It's Complicated within the comedy genre.
Nancy Meyers's Structural Approach
Among the 6 Nancy Meyers films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 7.1, reflecting strong command of classical structure. It's Complicated represents one of the director's most structurally precise works. For comparative analysis, explore the complete Nancy Meyers filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more Nancy Meyers analyses, see Something's Gotta Give, The Intern and The Parent Trap.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Jane thrives as a successful bakery owner, content in her post-divorce life with grown kids and independence. Her beautiful home and business show she's rebuilt after Jake left her for a younger woman ten years ago.
Theme
Jane's friend asks if she's ready to date again, touching on the theme: "Can you really start over after a marriage ends, or do you stay trapped in the past?" Jane insists she's moved on and is happy alone.
Worldbuilding
Establishes Jane's world: her successful bakery, three grown children, close friendships, and upcoming son's graduation in New York. She's genuinely happy but still navigates awkwardness with ex-husband Jake and his much younger wife Agness.
Disruption
At their son's graduation party in New York, Jake flirts with Jane over drinks. They end up laughing together and sleeping together—Jane accidentally becomes "the other woman" to her own ex-husband, disrupting her stable, drama-free life.
Resistance
Jane debates what this means—was it just a mistake or something more? She confesses to her horrified friends who warn her off. Meanwhile, Jake pursues her, claiming unhappiness with Agness. Jane resists but is clearly drawn back into familiar patterns.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Jane actively chooses to continue the affair with Jake despite knowing it's wrong. She meets him at a hotel, entering a secret relationship that goes against everything she's rebuilt. This is her conscious decision to re-enter Jake's world.
Mirror World
Adam, the architect renovating Jane's kitchen, is introduced as a meaningful presence. He's recently divorced, kind, genuine, and immediately attracted to Jane. He represents the possibility of healthy, authentic love—the thematic alternative to Jake's dysfunction.
Premise
The "fun and games" of the secret affair—sneaking around, sexy video chats, hotel rendezvous. Jane feels young and desired again. Simultaneously, Adam courts her sweetly. She's caught between two men, living out the romantic fantasy the premise promised.
Midpoint
False victory: At a party, Jane gets high with Adam and they share a wonderful, genuine connection. She laughs freely and feels truly seen. Jake witnesses their chemistry and becomes jealous, raising the stakes—now he wants Jane back for real, not just an affair.
Opposition
Pressure mounts from all sides: Jake intensifies his pursuit, talking about leaving Agness; Adam wants a real relationship; Jane's friends warn her; her kids get suspicious. The lies compound. Jake's presence invades her home renovation meetings with Adam.
Collapse
Adam discovers Jane's affair with Jake and walks away, heartbroken. Jane realizes she's destroyed the chance at real love for a fantasy. Her daughter also discovers the affair and is devastated, feeling betrayed. Everything falls apart—the "death" of her chance at genuine happiness.
Crisis
Jane sits with the wreckage. She sees Jake clearly for the first time—he's not the answer, just a comfortable escape from real vulnerability. She processes that she chose familiar dysfunction over the scary prospect of authentic new love with Adam.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Jane ends things with Jake definitively, reclaiming her agency. She tells him she deserves better and won't be his escape. This clarity comes from integrating what Adam showed her (self-worth, authentic connection) with her own strength. She chooses herself.
Synthesis
Jane completes her kitchen renovation—a metaphor for rebuilding herself. She tries to reconcile with Adam but accepts he needs space. She attends a family event with grace, no longer thrown by Jake's presence. She stands in her truth with her children.
Transformation
Final image mirrors the opening but transformed: Jane stands in her completed kitchen, genuinely happy and whole. She's alone but not lonely—she's chosen self-worth over both men. She sees Adam from a distance; there's hope but no certainty. She's finally truly moved on.