The Heartbreak Kid (2007 film)

Infobox Film
name = The Heartbreak Kid


caption = Theatrical release poster
director = Bobby and Peter Farrelly
producer = John Davis
starring = Ben Stiller
Malin Åkerman
Michelle Monaghan
Jerry Stiller
Carlos Mencia
Rob Corddry
Danny R. McBride
Eva Longoria Parker
cinematography = Matthew F. Leonetti
editing = Sam Seig
distributor = DreamWorks Pictures
Paramount Pictures
released = flagicon|USA October 5 2007
runtime = 116 min
country = United States
language = English
website = http://www.heartbreakkidmovie.com/
imdb_id = 0408839
amg_id = 1:354514

"The Heartbreak Kid" is a 2007 comedy film starring Ben Stiller and is a remake of the 1972 film of the same name. The film was directed by Bobby and Peter Farrelly it also stars Malin Åkerman, Michelle Monaghan, Jerry Stiller, and Carlos Mencia. The screenplay was written by Leslie Dixon, Scot Armstrong, The Farrelly Brothers, and Kevin Barnett, and is based on the 1972 screenplay by Neil Simon.

Plot

Eddie (Ben Stiller), the owner of a sports shop, is single and indecisive about starting a relationship. While walking down the street he witnesses a purse snatcher victimizing Lila (Malin Åkerman). After failing to retrieve the purse, they exchange pleasantries and eventually date. They quickly become serious, as they seem perfect for each other. Pushed by the urging of his father (Jerry Stiller) and best friend (Rob Corddry), Eddie proposes to Lila and they are married.

However, during their honeymoon in Mexico Eddie begins to question his decision, as it becomes increasingly apparent to Eddie how mismatched the couple is: while driving down to Mexico, Lila continuously sings songs while listening to a blasting radio, much to the irritation of Eddie. When he asks her to stop, she abruptly suggests that they "fuck". In the scene that follows, Lila and Eddie have sex so violently it actually causes Eddie physical pain. She then goes into the bathroom and proceeds to queef "big-time." Then the following morning she insists they hold hands during breakfast.

As he realizes the mistake he has made, Eddie meets Miranda (Michelle Monaghan), another vacationer, at a bar. It's almost immediately obvious that Eddie and Miranda are a perfect match. With Lila stuck in their hotel room due to severe sunburn, Eddie devotes large amounts of his honeymoon time to Miranda. When Lila confronts Eddie about his absences he makes up a story about a potentially huge business investor he is trying to butter up. Faced with the overwhelming schism between Lila and him, and the obviously perfect match between Miranda and him, Eddie decides to break up with Lila.

In the chaos surrounding his breakup with Lila, the entire situation becomes apparent to both her and Miranda. Both abandon him, and his passport is destroyed by Lila in the mayhem. Without a passport, Eddie is forced to cross the U.S. border illegally. In several scenes, Eddie is caught by border patrol officers while others escape by the hundreds. After an extensive effort to get into the country, he goes to Oxford, Mississippi and finds Miranda. He sneaks into her house late at night and offers her the deal of a lifetime: marry him, or turn down true love.

Unfortunately, she has since married, and he is rejected. Two years later, Eddie has moved to Mexico. Miranda comes down on vacation, informing him that she made a mistake and wants to be with him. It is then revealed that Eddie has a new wife, Consuelo (Eva Longoria Parker), and he is once again thrust into the situation he was previously in.

Promotion

During the film's preview at the 2007 Comic Con Convention in San Diego, California, a sex scene from the film was cut due to backlash for the nudity in prior films at the convention such as "300" and "".cite web|title=Malaysia Sun|work=Stiller's S and M sex scene axed| url=http://story.malaysiasun.com/index.php/ct/9/cid/f825b92e19df636a/id/269270/cs/1/| accessdate=September 3|accessyear=2007] WWE Superstar Shawn Michaels was heavily hyped to make a cameo appearance in this movie, as a member of a band, but his appearance was presumably cut.A member in the wedding band, Kanekoa, is named Shawn Michaels which may have caused the confusion.

Cast

*Ben Stiller as Eddie Cantrow
*Malin Åkerman as Lila
*Michelle Monaghan as Miranda
*Jerry Stiller as Doc Cantrow
*Rob Corddry as Mac
*Carlos Mencia as Uncle Tito
*Danny R. McBride as Martin
*Eva Longoria Parker (cameo)

Reception

"The Heartbreak Kid" has received mostly negative to mixed reviews from film critics. As of November 27, 2007 on the review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film has a "Rotten" rating of 29%. [cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/the_heartbreak_kid/ |title=The Heartbreak Kid - Rotten Tomatoes |accessdate=2007-11-27|publisher=Rotten Tomatoes] On Metacritic, the film had an average score of 46 out of 100, based on 30 reviews, which indicates "mixed or average reviews". [cite web|url=http://www.metacritic.com/film/titles/heartbreakkid2007 |title=Heartbreak Kid, The (2007): Reviews |accessdate=2007-11-27|publisher=Metacritic] Peter Travers (of "Rolling Stone") declared the film the year's Worst Remake on his list of the Worst Movies of 2007. [Travers, Peter, (December 19, 2007) [http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/17686508/peter_travers_best_and_worst_movies_of_2007/18 "Peter Travers' Best and Worst Movies of 2007"] "Rolling Stone". Retrieved 2007-12-20]

Box office performance

The film grossed an estimated $14 million in 3,219 theaters in its opening weekend, placing it a second place at the box office in the United States and Canada. As of November 27, 2007, the film has grossed a domestic total of $36,715,679, plus $90,979,393 foreign giving it a worldwide total of $127,766,650.

References

External links

* [http://www.heartbreakkidmovie.com/ Official site]
*imdb title|id=0408839|title=The Heartbreak Kid
*rotten-tomatoes|id=the_heartbreak_kid|title=The Heartbreak Kid
*metacritic film|id=heartbreakkid2007|title=The Heartbreak Kid
*mojo title|id=heartbreakkid|title=The Heartbreak Kid
*amg movie|id=1:354514|title=The Heartbreak Kid