Rating: 
Summary: CULT MOVIES 43
Review: 43. THE HEARTBREAK KID (comedy, 1972) Lenny (Charles Grodin) a young Jewish man, marries seemingly perfect-match Linda. On their way to their honeymoon in Miami Lenny realizes that Linda's various idiosyncrancies are driving him crazy. In Miami he meets Kelly (Cybill Sheperd) a young-WASP beauty whose lustful innuendoes he falls under. After 2 days of courting her he decides to leave Lina and go away with Kelly. He follows her to Minnesota where he plans to marry her. However, Kelly's rich parents object to her seeing the undaunted Lenny. But he shamelessly fights for Kelly's hand in marriage.Critique: Extremely funny, satirical film adapted by Neil Simon and directed by Elaine May. It is Charles Grodin's best outing, proving that once he could act and have a comic touch (his persona has become strangely wooden, as if entranced or something). Lenny is the ultimate, unthinkable 'schmuck' who cons his way into any situation. The comedy of the film relies on his unnerving pursuit of Kelly, and how his ridiculous lies and deceit work to his favor. Trying to pass himself as an honest, likable fella, we are astonished that Kelly even notices him. Thinking that 'honesty is the best policy', he repeatedly infuriates those around him with his pathetic stories. Inspite of all this, we can relate to this guy. Maybe because at one time or another we have sunk as low when pursuing our lusts. At the end, you really have to admire the guy for trying. After all, the never say attitude sometimes works. QUOTE: Lenny: "You were very attracted to me. You were? . . That's cute, that's a really cute thing. So I was. . .something to do?"
Rating: 
Summary: Very very funny
Review: A film directed by Elaine May, written by Neil Simon, based on a story by Bruce Jay Friedman. If that's not good pedigree, I don't know what is. Admittedly, plenty of fine filmmakers have made bilge, but this one lives up to expectaions - it's fantastic. One of the all-time funniest Jewish comedies, I watch it every year. It's the best thing Charles Grodin ever made, and Jeannie Berlin plays her part perfectly.
It sounds a lofty claim, but for me this film is close to perfection. It's a low-key film, so it tends to get overlooked - even by people who know it - but it's hard to think of anything in it that could have been done better. It's generally funny and sometimes hilarious. The breakup scene at the restaurant is one of the funniest things I've ever seen. And there's one other thing - there's something about films made in the early '70s. They have something. And this is one of the best of them.
Rating:
Summary: One of Neil Simon's best works presented to the screen
Review: A very funny and witty comedy about a honeymooner who realizes he made a mistake and successfully gets out of his first marriage; and against all odds, lands the woman of his dreams. Jennie Berlin (whatever happened to her?) is excellent in her supporting role of the victimized bride Lila. This is also one of the earliest appearances of Cybill Shepherd in a film; she too renders a fine performance.
Rating:
Summary: "There is no deceit in the cauliflower."
Review: Charles Grodin is hilarious (as are his sideburns) and pathetic as a man who, while on his honeymoon, falls in love with another woman. He decides to prove himself to Cybil Shepard (the woman he's fallen in love with) and her father (rich, conservative, loathes Grodin) by leaving his wife in mid-honeymoon and following Cybil and her family back to Minnesota and trying to win her hand in marriage. Classic lines include: "Don't... don't do that, honey. Don't ever put a Milky Way in someone's mouth when they don't want it." and "There is no deceit in the cauliflower." One thing I found surprising about this movie is that Charles Grodin's character isn't really all that likable. For that matter, pretty much everyone in this film is somewhat morally bankrupt. Not that that's a bad thing... it just surprised me because the screenplay is by Neil Simon, whose stuff tends to be a bit lighter. All in all, this is definitely worth seeking out... it'll take you back to the days when movie-makers actually knew how to make a comedy that was FUNNY...
Rating:
Summary: "There is no deceit in the cauliflower."
Review: Charles Grodin is hilarious (as are his sideburns) and pathetic as a man who, while on his honeymoon, falls in love with another woman. He decides to prove himself to Cybil Shepard (the woman he's fallen in love with) and her father (rich, conservative, loathes Grodin) by leaving his wife in mid-honeymoon and following Cybil and her family back to Minnesota and trying to win her hand in marriage. Classic lines include: "Don't... don't do that, honey. Don't ever put a Milky Way in someone's mouth when they don't want it." and "There is no deceit in the cauliflower." One thing I found surprising about this movie is that Charles Grodin's character isn't really all that likable. For that matter, pretty much everyone in this film is somewhat morally bankrupt. Not that that's a bad thing... it just surprised me because the screenplay is by Neil Simon, whose stuff tends to be a bit lighter. All in all, this is definitely worth seeking out... it'll take you back to the days when movie-makers actually knew how to make a comedy that was FUNNY...
Rating: 
Summary: Funny?
Review: I'm not sure I think this movie is funny, which makes me wonder why in the world it ended up on the American Film Institute's list of 100 Funniest Films. The ending was realing confusing, it ended and I was left to wonder... were they trying to make a point about something and I missed it? And I didn't laugh once throughout the whole movie. I don't think I even smiled. The thing about really great movies is that truly great movies don't seem dated, even if they were made 60 years ago. You forget about how old a movie is, that it is maybe black and white or whatever. Like The Odd Couple, which was made in 1968 (four years earlier than The Heartbreak Kid). The Odd Couple still stands up as true comedy and doesn't seem dated. The Heartbreak Kid to me seemed odd AND dated. I think that the voting group that voted for the AFI list just have a soft spot for Elaine May. And just because it is Neil Simon doesn't make it good.
Rating:
Summary: The Great Gatsby With a Twist
Review: Lenny is a repulsive, vapid nonentity who, with nothing but ambition, represents the most ugly kind of American imaginable, the ruthless upwardly mobile narcissist who will trample on anyone--including his wife--to get what he wants, namely, Cybil Shepherd, who plays a young woman from a family of old money. To use a cliche, watching this movie is like watching a car wreck. You cringe, you laugh, you shake your head in disbelief (yet you believe all the same!) as Lenny, played by Charles Grodin, manipulates his bovine wife and sets the stage to marry the Cybil Shepherd character. I've seen this movie a half a dozen times over the last twenty-five years and feel compelled to hail it a masterpiece, a variation of The Great Gatsby theme.
Rating:
Summary: A Qualified Winner
Review: On the surface, The Heartbreak Kid is a small movie with a simple plot. Lenny (Charles Grodin) dumps his wife (Lila played by Jeannie Berlin) of five days to pursue a beautiful coed (Kelly played by Cybill Shepherd). Standing between Lenny and Kelly is Kelly's possessive father (Mr. Corcoran). Character portrayal is almost perfect. Charles Grodin is convincing as the self-centered and reckless Lenny. Finding an actress more capable of playing the naive and boy-teasing Kelly (Cybill Shepherd) would have been very difficult. Eddie Albert (Mr. Corcoran) stands like a brick wall between Lenny and his conquest (Kelly). More interesting than the character portrayal and story line are the underlying motives of the characters, and the consequences of their actions. Lenny abandons his wife (Lila), and leaves her brokenhearted. He is headstrong and determined, but also callous and foolish. Kelly's affection for Lenny is quite immature: she see's him as a strong father figure although he is actually egotistical and, quit frankly, short-sighted. The most mature and rational character in the film is Mr. Corcoran. The Heartbreak Kid works as a lighthearted love story; that is, cute boy wins cute girl despite their social, economic and religious differences. Thankfully, The Heartbreak Kid doesn't attempt to promote any moral themes. If it did, the film would fail. The viewer could not be satisfied with the nice cute boy wins nice cute girl conclusion because the boy (Lenny) cares for no one except himself. In summary, The Heartbreak Kid is a qualified winner with just one caveat: don't think too much.
Rating:
Summary: A Great American Comedy
Review: Thankfully, Anchor Bay(Genuises!!!) has re-issued this classic comedy with a nice widescreen transfer. It's a fantastic film and deserves a nice dvd. Though the dvd has little in the way of extras, I was still pleased as it one of my favorite films. I rank it right up there with great American comedies like ANNIE HALL. It's certainly the darkest stuff that Neil Simon's ever had a hand in. Grodin, Berlin, Albert and Shepherd-they're all excellent here. A great film from a great female directorial voice(Elaine May-who also directed A NEW LEAF with Walter Matthau-why is there no dvd for that film yet!). At a low list price, this film is impossible to pass up on dvd!
Rating:
Summary: The Heartbreak Kid?
Review: This movie is so good that if your watching it on commercial free t.v. you will have to hold it in if you know what I mean.Pretty good for a movie I watched only because there was nothing else on.Please bring me The Heartbreak Kid and some pecan pie to go.
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