Review: It's Complicated (15)****

Failure is an education. That's particularly true of romantic dalliances: to truly appreciate perfection, first you must recognise the qualities that will drive you to distraction. Writer-director Nancy Meyers has forged a reputation with smart, insightful and semi-autobiographical comedies that reveal myriad potholes in the road to true love.

In her latest film, Meyers skips through the emotional minefield of post-divorce relationships as seen through the eyes of a mother, who embarks on a tempestuous affair... with her ex-husband.

It's Complicated is a misnomer – the simple, linear narrative follows the characters' machinations to a logical conclusion – but the sparkling on-screen chemistry between the three leads adds polish to the familiar material.

Jane Adler (Meryl Streep) runs a bakery/restaurant in Santa Barbara, dazzling customers with flaky chocolate croissants and light, airy breads.

Her grown-up children – Lauren (Caitlin Fitzgerald), Luke (Hunter Parrish) and Gabby (Zoe Kazan) – have all moved out, leaving Jane to her own devices with gal pals Diane (Alexandra Wentworth), Joanne (Mary Kay Place), Sally (Nora Dunn) and Trisha (Rita Wilson).

During a trip to New York to celebrate Luke's graduation, Jane gets drunk at the hotel bar with attorney ex-husband Jake (Alec Baldwin) and the pair end up in bed.

The tumble beneath the sheets ignites old desires but Jane feels guilty since Jake is now married to a younger woman, Agness (Lake Bell).

Ignoring her moral compass, Jane continues the affair with Jake, only to develop feelings for divorced architect Adam (Steve Martin), who she has hired to remodel her kitchen.

It's Complicated is a delightful two hours of laughter and self-reflection. Streep affirms her credentials as one of the best comic actresses working today. Baldwin is irresistible as the bullish alpha male determined to turn back time, who can't help but re-appraise his ex-wife.

Meanwhile, Martin delivers a tender and funny performance that leaves a lump in the throat when it looks likely he will have his heart broken again.

That's one life lesson he can do without.