A few years ago, the Farrelly Brothers released a remake of The Heartbreak Kid that was, by all accounts, terrible. I never saw it, but that's really too bad, because Elaine May's 1972 original (scripted by the legendary Neil Simon) is a great film. It's influence can be felt all over comedy, including and especially the Farrellys' classic There's Something About Mary.
The setup is such: Newlywed Lenny, while on his honeymoon in Miami, quickly realizes that every little thing his wife Lila does grates on him. He meets and falls for Kelly, and will then stop at nothing to end his marriage, win her over, and gain her father's acceptance. The comedy that ensues is relentlessly uncomfortable, the squirm-in-your-seat variety that fans of The Office and Curb Your Enthusiasm surely appreciate.
Lenny is played masterfully by Charles Grodin. I don't think he has ever had a role as perfect as this, which is too bad, since it was his first lead role. Grodin bullshits and manipulates his way through everything and everyone like a force of nature, completely fearless of whether or not an audience likes, pities, or sympathizes with him.
Side note: I recently heard director/hero/king among men Edgar Wright say that Michael Cera considers Charles Grodin a major influence on what he does, and watching this movie, you can see a little bit of where he's coming from. Cera gets just a little Grodin-y when he shows the slimier side of Scott Pilgrim.
The rest of the cast is great as well. Jeannie Berlin plays Lenny's wife Lila. She's surely a perfectly sweet girl, but since we see her through Lenny's perspective, she's pretty much a monster. He spends his entire honeymoon trying to get away from her and coming up with excuses for why he was gone. Cybill Shepherd plays Kelly, the beautiful midwestern college girl Lenny is chasing. On the surface, there's not much going on with her character, but there's more to her than meets the eye.
Lenny's Nemesis, Kelly's father, is played by Eddie Albert. He sees right through Lenny. Everything about him rubs him the wrong way. And he will keep Lenny away from his daughter at all costs. It's a battle of two stubborn, willful people who refuse to back down.
I don't want to spoil the ending, but I will say it ends on a bittersweet note, somewhat reminiscent of The Graduate, and you do wind up kind of feeling something for Lenny in the end.
I wish there were more comedies as dark and unflinching as The Heartbreak Kid. Whenever I see something like this, it makes me wish that more modern comedies would strive for more than just pressing record and pointing the camera at the funny movie stars.
I know I give out a lot of good grades. I'm glad I don't have any credibility, because that fact would certainly hurt it. Anyway, the trend continues: I probably liked The Heartbreak Kid. A.
The Heartbreak Kid is on Netflix Watch Instantly if anyone is interested. I don't think it is available on DVD.
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