Details
Movie Description
Elaine May's second film, THE HEARTBREAK KID was also her most successful comedy. Reminiscent of her old partner Mike Nichols's THE GRADUATE, THE HEARTBREAK KID deals with themes of misguided choices, the idea of true love, and how lust colors both--all with the unique comic spin created by May and screenwriter and playwright Neil Simon. Charles Grodin is his fumbling, bumbling best as Lenny. When he meets pretty Lila (Jeannie Berlin, May's real-life daughter) in a bar, their quick courtship leads to marriage. However, on their drive south to their Miami honeymoon, Lenny's having second thoughts by the time they get to Virginia. When they get to Florida, Lila's quirks are driving him crazy. Lila is trapped in their room after she gets a fierce sunburn their first day; newly liberated, Lenny meets beautiful coed Kelly (Cybill Shepherd). The glamorous, blonde Kelly is everything Lila isn't--and everything Lenny has decided he wants. When Lenny's surreptitious meetings with Kelly blossom into more than he planned for, he is forced to choose whether he wants to have his cake, eat it...or maybe try the pecan pie. May's legendary vision--and her perfectionism--create a funny, touching, and fast-paced film classic.
Synopsis
In this bittersweet comedy from a screenplay by playwright Neil Simon, a man on his honeymoon suddenly realizes he can't stand his new wife. When he meets a gorgeous, rich, young college student (a stunning Cybill Shepherd) vacationing with her family, his secret affair with her turns his life upside down. Well-directed by Elaine May and adapted by Simon from a Bruce Jay Friedman story, the film displays especially funny, touching performances by Jeannie Berlin, Charles Grodin, and Eddie Albert; Berlin and Albert were both nominated for Ocsars.
Film Notes
DVD Features:
Region 0
Keep Case
Anamorphic Widescreen - 1.85:1
Audio:
Mono - English
Mono - French
Additional Release Material:
Trailers
Interactive Features:
Scene Access
Interactive Menus
Theatrical Release: December 17, 1972.
Jeannie Berlin, who plays Lila, is May's daughter. May cast her against screenwriter/playwright Neil Simon's wishes (not knowing she was May's daughter, he felt she was too unattractive for the part and originally wanted Diane Keaton to play it). May bargained to keep Berlin in the film by allowing Simon to cast his choice for Kelly, Cybill Shepherd. May's faith in Berlin was justified when Berlin earned a Best Supporting Actress Oscar nomination for her performance.
Simon, knowing May's reputation for numerous takes and ample improvisation, insisted that May print at least one take in which each scene was played exactly as written.
One of the film's associate producers, Erik Lee Preminger, also appears in the film--as the smirking pecan pie waiter in the restaurant scene.
Industry Reviews
"Eddie Albert's Oscar-nominated slow burn as the loathing father in THE HEARTBREAK KID is the funniest portrayal of Midwestern WASP-ism in movie history..."
USA Today - Mike Clark (02/08/2002)
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