MovieMantz Review: ‘The Heartbreak Kid’

He’s Just Not That Into Her

by Scott Mantz

“The Heartbreak Kid”
Starring: Ben Stiller, Michelle Monaghan, Malin Akerman
Directed by:Peter Farrelly and Bobby Farrelly

Some remakes manage to build upon the premises of the films that inspired them, while others go so far off in another direction that they feel like completely different movies. If the recent update of “3:10 to Yuma” falls into the former category, then the new version of “The Heartbreak Kid” very much falls into the latter. And that’s fine — at least, for a little while.

That’s because it’s hard to top the original version from 1972 — a terrific film that was more comparable to 1967’s coming-of-age classic “The Graduate.” Written by Neil Simon and directed by Elaine May, it’s filled with comedic moments, but in the end, it’s a profound and — dare I say it — heartbreaking movie. Charles Grodin plays Lenny, a newlywed who falls for a blonde beauty named Kelly (Cybill Shepherd) while on his honeymoon in Miami. He ditches his wife (Jeannie Berlin), follows Kelly back to Minnesota and marries her, but the film’s open-ended conclusion leaves you wondering if he really blew it.

The new version isn’t nearly as provocative, but then again, that’s not what directors Peter and Bobby Farrelly had in mind in the first place. Raunchy comedy is the name of the game here, which, for better or worse, represents a return to form for the Farrellys after 2005’s more straightforward (and underrated) “Fever Pitch.” And since “The Heartbreak Kid” reunites the Farrellys with Ben Stiller, it feels like an unofficial sequel to “There’s Something About Mary,” the 1998 sleeper hit that grossed $360 million worldwide and catapulted Cameron Diaz to the top of the A-list food chain.

A similar fate appears to be in store for Malin Akerman, who steals the show with her breakout performance in “The Heartbreak Kid.” She plays Lila, an alluring blonde who catches the heart of Eddie, the picky bachelor played by Ben Stiller. After a short (and curiously sex-free) courtship, they get married, but their Mexican honeymoon turns out to be a nightmare when Eddie realizes that Lila’s a total wacko. When a scorching case of sunburn confines her to their hotel room, Eddie ventures out and falls for Miranda (Michelle Monaghan), a down-to-earth girl who has no idea that he’s married. Now Eddie’s in a real bind — how does he pursue the woman of his dreams while he’s still on his honeymoon?

Beyond the basic premise, the remake has very little in common with the movie that inspired it. Miami is out, Cabo San Lucas is in, and the Farrellys’ trademark brand of raunchy humor is back in full gross-out force (particularly during one outrageous sex scene). So is their penchant for filling the supporting roles with oddballs (including a foul-mouthed Jerry Stiller, Ben’s real-life dad), but with an over-long running time of 1 hour and 55 minutes, the R-rated update is a good 10 minutes longer than the PG-rated original.

More significant changes lie with the main characters. In the 1972 version, Charles Grodin’s Lenny was a self-absorbed playboy who clearly wasn’t finished sowing his wild oats. Ben Stiller’s Eddie is much more likeable, especially since he’s the victim here (much like he was in “There’s Something About Mary,” “Meet the Parents” and “Night at the Museum”). But since Cybill Shepherd was such a knockout in the original film, it’s easy to see why Grodin risked everything he had to pursue her. By contrast, Michelle Monaghan may not have as much of an impact, but she is pleasant enough as the girl of Stiller’s dreams.

But if the original film got better as it went along and became more reflective after the honeymoon was over, then the remake isn’t nearly as fortunate. Without giving away the details, it falls apart in the last 30 minutes with a conclusion that feels choppy, rushed and forced when compared to what preceded it. But it doesn’t totally derail the movie, which stands on its own as an entertaining and often hilarious crowd pleaser that has its heart in the right place.

VERDICT: SEE IT!

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