The Heartbreak Kid is Lackluster, Not Worth Viewing

October 6, 2007

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The Heartbreak Kid represents The Farrelly Brothers returning to their roots. After making a couple of tame and light hearted comedies that were hit or miss with audiences, The Farrellys have gone back to their raunchy ways that were more in line with their first few efforts. But just because the raunch factor is back, does that mean it’s any good? For the most part yes, but compared to their earlier works, this is a step down.

Eddie (Ben Stiller) is down on his luck when he comes to relationships. His long time girlfriend of five years is getting married (At least he’s invited) and the only people he seems to hang out with are his dad (Jerry Stiller) and his married friend Mac (Rob Corddry). Then one day he meets Lila (Malin Akerman). The two develop a relationship and end up becoming a couple. After two months without any problems, Lila’s volunteering company has an opportunity open up that would send her to Europe for two years. Eddie now has to come to a decision - let her go, or marry her? For the sake of the plot, the two get married and honeymoon to Mexico. Through the first few days of the honeymoon, Eddie learns some things about Lila that he didn’t know before and quickly begins to realize that he might have made a mistake. With Lila out of the picture due to a sun tanning accident, Eddie seeks solace in Miranda (Michelle Monaghan). Before you know it, the two develop feelings for one another and Eddie is left in a major pickle.

The one thing audiences will not be disappointed with, is that this film is funny and the raunch only helps. If this film were PG-13, I think this would’ve been unbearable. What audiences might be disappointed with is that there is not one big laugh to be found in the film. The one scene where we are supposed to have the big laugh is underwhelming to say the least. Another thing they might be disappointed with is that some scenes are low key and kind of throw off the pace of the film. Although the film is funny, it’s sometimes inconsistent. However, the laughs in the film hit more than they miss and that’s all that matters.

As for the performances, there is not a poor one to be found here. Although Ben Stiller is not quite as good as he was on There’s Something About Mary, he brings a similar energy he had on that film and it works just as well here. In some scenes though, he is outdone by the other Stiller in the film - Jerry Stiller. Although he does not have much screen time, he is quite memorable and flat out hilarious. And not surprisingly, the Stiller’s have good chemistry with one another here. The most surprising performance in the film though, belongs to Malin Akerman. For us the audience, she kind of starts off on the wrong foot, because she is so similar in both appearance and style, to Cameron Diaz. She’s so similar that it makes us wonder if the part was originally written for Diaz. However by the end of the film, she makes us forget about Diaz completely and makes the character her own. All I can say about her performance is that it was very brave of her. After seemingly every turn, her character is made to look like an ass, and she has fun with it. As for Monaghan, she’s good enough. This might have to do more with the fact that her character is slightly underwritten, but she’s likeable and we can see why Stiller’s character would be interested in her.

So although The Heartbreak Kid is not the new There’s Something About Mary, it’s still good and very funny. Then again, it’s not supposed to be another Mary. For those of you who felt The Farrelly Brothers had become soft after their last couple of efforts (I’m not one of them - I loved both Stuck on You and Fever Pitch) you will be glad to know that they’re back to what they do best. You will laugh and you will be disgusted, but most of all, you will be entertained.

Posted in Movie Reviews