Alec Baldwin talks about It's Complicated

Alphabet A As Jake, Meryl Streep's larger-than-life ex-husband in rom-com romp It's Complicated, Alec Baldwin tries to rekindle his romance with his ex-wife, despite having left her for a younger woman. Here he gives us some insight into the wistful, comical character that he portrays in the film.
It's ComplicatedIt's Complicated

Q: How do you see Jake, your character?

Alec Baldwin: Some men remarry a second time searching for the woman they thought they wanted, but forgetting they had gotten older. And I think Jake acts with that kind of information.

Q: Would you say the situations and the characters in It's Complicated feel very relatable?

Alec Baldwin: Often I hear people say that 10 years after being divorced they regret divorcing their spouse because they have grown up and a lot of the stresses in the relationship have vanished.

Q: Why does Jake go back to Jane then?

Alec Baldwin: Because he wants a more mature partner and someone who is less selfish. I feel that Jake is like a lot of men with regrets that bother them; but (director) Nancy Meyers managed to take that and make it funny.

Q: How do you explain Jane's behaviour?

Alec Baldwin: We all have our own interpretation of the material, but in my mind Jane doesn’t think too much about going back with Jake until she is forced to think about going forward with Adam.

Q: Why do you think that happens to her?

Alec Baldwin: Because the very moment she meets someone who she is attracted to she runs into the arms of someone that she knew. So, as soon as she has feelings for a man – and this is very common with some people- she runs back to her old love. It’s almost as if she had to take that backward step to be able to move forward.

Q: What do you believe she sees in her affair with Jake?

Alec Baldwin: Maybe that it’s comfortable and familiar, though probably not very safe.

Q: What do you believe should be taken into consideration when dating people that have been married before?

Alec Baldwin: I think that if you are the man you should find out the thing the first husband didn’t do. And the funny thing is that sometimes it can be something as simple as holding the door of a car or sending flowers.

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