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| It's Complicated when Hollywood tries to celebrate greying passion Older people don't deserve to be travestied in a romcom: cinema should explore the reality of their livesLast week the romcom forsook bright-eyed singledom for the tougher terrain of matrimony. This week it's boldly gone to a yet more perilous place. It's Complicated dares to embrace the embraces of the ageing. We dutifully applaud: those getting on in years, we're told, must be rescued from the shadows and accorded parity with the young. Thus, the righteous wrath of the likes of PD James (89) and Harriet Harman (59) has forced the BBC to atone for past sinfulness by returning Moira Stuart (60) to the airwaves. Not, however, to her former TV role: the estimable Stuart will be bestowing her charm and gravitas on Radio 2's listeners. This adjustment is understandable. The screen is intrinsically ageist, since both young and old tend to prefer to look at the young. In the cinema, it's not just their looks that enchant, but their stories as well. Coming of age and young love are beguiling. Life's down-swing can be more of a downer – at least at first sight.This isn't to say that older people don't have much to tell us. Nonetheless, the movies tend to sideline their ageing stars and the kind of stories which might make best use of them. On screen, seniors are allowed to dispense wise advice to their heedless juniors, to be subjected to good-humoured ridicule or to catalyse the self-realisation of more attractively challenged youngsters. To reclaim centre stage, they usually have to do something special.Sometimes they've managed this with aplomb. We may not want to think about ageing, but we need to come to terms with it. Wild Strawberries, About Schmidt, The Company of Strangers, Last Orders, Ladies in Lavender, Buena Vista Social Club, Umberto D, Autumn Spring, The Straight Story and even Up have helped some of us do this. By confronting the reality of what's in store for us, films like these make it seem a bit more bearable. Unfortunately, this approach asks audiences to step outside their comfort zone. That's not an easy sell. So instead, we get the likes of It's Complicated.In accordance with contemporary dogma, this film asks us to believe that maturity is much the same as youth. A few grey hairs needn't stop any of us from enjoying the same fevered passions, pot highs, hormonal imbalances and crazed behaviour that we wish our children would grow out of. Why, we can even act out that most jejune of narratives, the romcom obstacle course to amorous bliss.It has to be said that director Nancy Meyers (60) and her seasoned cast do as good a job as their mission allows. All the same, the applause they've managed to garner seems strangely muted. Part of the reason for this may be that in spite of their film's many assets, something grates throughout.Everything you see, from landscape to decor to cars to clothes to catering, has been rendered glossily flawless – except for Meryl Streep's wrinkles and Alec Baldwin's flab. You're left wondering why you should have to accept such blemishes in the principals if the fantasy being unfolded requires perfection everywhere else. These skin-deep tokens of reality don't reflect any authenticity in the drama, which is a slice of off-the-shelf Hollywood hokum. Unfortunately, the chosen formula requires pulchritude from its participants if disbelief is to be worth suspending.Streep (60) seems to reckon that by propping up this film she's striking a blow for grey empowerment. Yet attempting to sprinkle romcom stardust on the predicament of older people does them few favours. It tells them that only the preoccupations of the young have value. Unless they try to ape them, their lives will be worthless. At the same time, it shows them that attempting to follow this course will deprive them of their dignity. At least Steve Martin (64) shows the guts to sport white hair – but then he has since his 30s. His two co-stars' improbably glossy barnets deny rather than reaffirm the acceptability of ageing.It would be nice to see grown-up actors more often playing grown-up people in grown-up films. Streep showed she was up for this in The Hours and Dark Matter. Sadly, it must be conceded that there isn't much of this kind of work on offer. The young people who fill the multiplexes prefer cheery pap. Such stuff works best when gilded with the impeccably glowing form of a Megan Fox or a Robert Pattinson (both 23).Stars who've had their day in the morning sun should accept this. They need to use their talent, experience and influence to get better movies made, not try to muscle in on the frivolities of the puerile. Grandparents shouldn't try to dance at their grandkids' parties. They have a different role to play. It may not be as showy as some of them might wish, but it has a value of its own.Meryl StreepAlec BaldwinSteve MartinRomanceComedyDavid Coxguardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010 | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds guardian.co.uk |
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