2008 Woodie Awards
"The Heartbreak Kid" gives you a headache
By: Kacey Indscho
Issue date: 10/9/07 Section: Features
- Page 1 of 1
Twelve years ago, Ben Stiller was hilarious as a crazed fitness instructor in the movie Heavy Weights, the Farrelly brothers created a cult following behind their hilarious movie Dumb and Dumber and Jerry Stiller was cracking up viewers and cast members in the legendary sitcom Seinfeld. Then, the collaboration of these three comedy giants would no doubt have been a huge success.
But that was 12 years ago, and things change. Today, the Farrelly brothers decided to team up with Stiller to create "The Heartbreak Kid," a remake loosely based on the 1972 comedy of the same title. Unfortunately, their remake was also loosely based on anything comedic.
In this updated version, Ben Stiller plays Eddie Cantrow, a never-married 40-something-year-old who is constantly pressured by both his married best friend and his foul-mouthed, blunt father (played by his actual father, Jerry Stiller) to find a woman and get married before it's too late. So when Lila comes along, a fun-loving and seemingly perfect bombshell, Eddie makes his move after dating for a grand total of six weeks, and they decide to tie the knot.
However, as the newlyweds travel on their honeymoon to their posh resort in Cabo, Mexico, Eddie begins to realize maybe Lila's not such a great catch. What's more, Eddie meets and falls in love with Miranda, a quirky sweetheart who doesn't know about his recent marriage. For the rest of the movie, Eddie tries to convince Miranda she should be "the one" while trying to convince Lila they shouldn't be together anymore.
This movie was disappointing in so many ways. The plot was ridiculous and hard to believe. It served only as an annoyance instead of a means of moving the story along. The characterizations were stereotypical and exaggerated, while Ben Stiller was predictable as usual. The acting was mediocre and juvenile, like adults trying to reenact a high school play full of uncomfortable inside jokes that no one else finds funny or amusing. The sound track, which should be an important aspect of a movie, was boring and almost unnoticeable. And with the exception of the resort, the scenic shots of Cabo were limited and unimpressive. OK, yeah, it probably wasn't shot on location, but good cinematography can make the audience at least think it was shot on location.
In the end, The Heartbreak Kid showed that the men involved all seem to be in denial. Ben Stiller needs to realize he hasn't given an original performance since Heavy Weights (and even that one is a little questionable as he later gives the same performance in the movie Dodgeball). Jerry Stiller needs to realize that at age 78, he is no longer young. Instead of trying to ignore his age, he should embrace it. And the Farrelly brothers need to realize that their movie, well, simply wasn't funny and only made them appear dumb and dumber.
But that was 12 years ago, and things change. Today, the Farrelly brothers decided to team up with Stiller to create "The Heartbreak Kid," a remake loosely based on the 1972 comedy of the same title. Unfortunately, their remake was also loosely based on anything comedic.
In this updated version, Ben Stiller plays Eddie Cantrow, a never-married 40-something-year-old who is constantly pressured by both his married best friend and his foul-mouthed, blunt father (played by his actual father, Jerry Stiller) to find a woman and get married before it's too late. So when Lila comes along, a fun-loving and seemingly perfect bombshell, Eddie makes his move after dating for a grand total of six weeks, and they decide to tie the knot.
However, as the newlyweds travel on their honeymoon to their posh resort in Cabo, Mexico, Eddie begins to realize maybe Lila's not such a great catch. What's more, Eddie meets and falls in love with Miranda, a quirky sweetheart who doesn't know about his recent marriage. For the rest of the movie, Eddie tries to convince Miranda she should be "the one" while trying to convince Lila they shouldn't be together anymore.
This movie was disappointing in so many ways. The plot was ridiculous and hard to believe. It served only as an annoyance instead of a means of moving the story along. The characterizations were stereotypical and exaggerated, while Ben Stiller was predictable as usual. The acting was mediocre and juvenile, like adults trying to reenact a high school play full of uncomfortable inside jokes that no one else finds funny or amusing. The sound track, which should be an important aspect of a movie, was boring and almost unnoticeable. And with the exception of the resort, the scenic shots of Cabo were limited and unimpressive. OK, yeah, it probably wasn't shot on location, but good cinematography can make the audience at least think it was shot on location.
In the end, The Heartbreak Kid showed that the men involved all seem to be in denial. Ben Stiller needs to realize he hasn't given an original performance since Heavy Weights (and even that one is a little questionable as he later gives the same performance in the movie Dodgeball). Jerry Stiller needs to realize that at age 78, he is no longer young. Instead of trying to ignore his age, he should embrace it. And the Farrelly brothers need to realize that their movie, well, simply wasn't funny and only made them appear dumb and dumber.
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