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Bookmark this pageThe Heartbreak Kid (2007)
Director: Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly
Movie review
From Time Out London
Loosely based on a screenplay by Upper West Side bard, Neil Simon, ‘The Heartbreak Kid’ follows the lovelorn antics of arch singleton Eddie Cantrow (Ben Stiller) and is the second film released this week (alongside ‘Control’) to deal with the hazards of getting married too quickly. At the insistence of his friends and family, Eddie puts his various commitment issues on hold and chooses to embark on a whirlwind romance with Lila (Malin Akerman), a kooky blonde he meets outside a laundromat. As quick as you can say, ‘Hang on, isn’t this ‘The 40-Year-Old Virgin’?’, they’re waltzing arm-in-arm down the aisle and headed for a life of wedded bliss. It’s en route to their honeymoon in Mexico, however, that the nightmare begins, as Lila – via a 180° change of character – decides to slowly reveal the details her sordid past.
On something of a lull after their lacklustre 2005 effort, ‘A Perfect Catch’, the strong opening 30 minutes of ‘The Heartbreak Kid’ suggest that the Farrelly brothers are aware of the fact that their patented brand of big heart/small brain comedy is being given a twenty-first-century overhaul by Judd Apatow and co. Alas, just as you think the directors have finally grown out of the fat/puke/piss gags, there they are, rolled out by the barrel-load. The film’s best moment by far comes from Eddie’s under-the-thumb buddy Mac (Rob Corddry), who advises that the key to a healthy marriage is to ‘plaster on a smile and wait patiently for the sweet embrace of death’.
Author: David Jenkins
Time Out London Issue 1937: October 3-9 2007
User reviews of this film
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- simon said...
- Posted on Oct 14 2007 09:30 Haven't seen it yet but I think it will be about a 6/10. Probably worth waiting for the dvd or sky.
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- rach said...
- Posted on Oct 10 2007 18:40 I was looking forward to seeing the latest Ben Stiller film as i usually enjoy them, but this time i was seriously let down. I founds the advert for the film the best part, the rest was barely amusing. I began to find it very dull and was easy to predict. Not Impressed
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- George said...
- Posted on Oct 07 2007 20:22 I thought this film was highly amusing, Thumbs up from all the chaps back at the science lab. Absolutely superb!!! Jolly good show.
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- lally said...
- Posted on Oct 07 2007 20:15 very graphic! not suitable at all for young teens..
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- LoveDiiT! said...
- Posted on Oct 07 2007 12:30 OMG loved it, watchin it agen wit bf! haha x
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- Jamie Gardener said...
- Posted on Oct 06 2007 17:25 I loved it, amazing!
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- danny said...
- Posted on Oct 06 2007 12:41 how old do u have to be to see it ?
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- Ellie said...
- Posted on Oct 05 2007 21:39 Its Rubbish
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- 677 said...
- Posted on Oct 03 2007 16:41 good
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Cast & crew
Director: Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly
Producer: Ted Field, Bradley Thomas
Cast: Ben Stiller, Michelle Monaghan, Malin Akerman, Jerry Stiller, Rob Corddry, Carlos Mencia, Scott Wilson, Danny McBride full cast
Duration: 115 mins
UK Release: Oct 5 2007
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