The Heartbreak Kid (1972)

After her brilliant career in a comedy duo with Mike Nichols, Elaine May made tentative progress as a director, making only four films between 1971 and 1987 (her last being the disastrous but underrated Ishtar). Released in 1972, The Heartbreak Kid (from a screenplay by Neil Simon) is widely considered her best work from behind the camera, and it's still one of the most accomplished--but least recognized--comedies of the 1970s. Charles Grodin landed one of his best roles as Lenny, a newlywed husband who meets a gorgeous blonde (Cybill Shepherd) while on his honeymoon, and finds his new bride, Lila (played by May's daughter, Jeannie Berlin), unappealing by comparison. When Lila is forced to rest with a severe case of sunburn, Lenny's free to pursue his new interest, oblivious to the manipulative games that he'll soon be subjected to. May and screenwriter Simon draw plenty of pain, awkwardness, and embarrassment from hilarious situations, giving this comedy a perceptive awareness of human foibles and unchecked desires. It's a newlywed's worst nightmare come true, made enjoyable because we're watching it happen to someone else. Grodin's a prime choice of casting for expressing the movie's lusty anxiety--he's a schmuck, but you can still sympathize with the anguish he's brought on himself. --Jeff Shannon Amazon.com

 Well done, but don't get it as a date movie
If you want light comedy that will leave warm, romantic feelings at the end, you should probably try A New leaf (by the same director) instead of this film.

That said, this is an intelligent, watchable movie that leaves you thinking back on the characters the next day.
February 11, 2008

 Who knew double egg salad could explain so much?
A fine, fine film--truly one of the best ever made. Not too many scenes in cinema equal the one where Lila and Len make a stop at the coffee shop on their way to the Miami honeymoon. Juxtaposing the happy, carefree singing in the car, hopeful and driving to a new life and future, with the now-classic shot of Lila making a sloppy mess eating her double egg salad sandwich, yapping throughout, and the reaction shot: Len realizing in that quick instant that he has made the hugest mistake of his life. Excellent! October 24, 2007

 Theres no "deceit" in this movie
The poor mans "Graduate" to be sure but much much lighter.
So funny so well written so well played out.

Too many scenes to note so here's a few:

Watch the reaction of the waiter when Lenny goes crazy over the Pe-can pie
Not to mention Lenny's handling of the whole situation

Lenny's explanation to his wife on why he cant be with her stuck in the hotel room

May 1, 2007

 LOVED It!!!
Very funny. Good story - The acting was great. Makes me wonder why Jeanie Berlin wasn't featured in more films - Seemed like a natural. April 12, 2007

 "Stay the He// Out of Minnesota, You ** Newlywed!"
This blurry, grainy (because they used a poor copy of the film to make this DVD? It was the "in" thing in film back then? Or "added" to the DVD release for ambiance & effect?) dramedy flashback to the way we were at the U of M in 1972 is an interesting sociological study on the times that in the end leaves the viewer in a blurred state, saying "hunh - what?" Who is the master manipulator here?
(a.) Kelly Corcoran - gorgeous, boy-teasing rich girl about campus, as played by Cybill Shepard after leaving the Last Picture Show in Texas and before "Moonlighting" in San Francisco?
(b.) Her rich Daddy as played by Eddie Albert after leaving Arnold and the Hooterville folk down on the "Green Acres" farm?
or (c.) Lenny Cantrow, (Charles Grodin) who abandons his wife- played to perfection by the director's daughter deserving the Academy Award nomination she received - of less than a week on their Miami Honeymoon to go trotting off to Minnesota in the winter to "win" Kelly/Cybill?

Two things are as clear as the Sky Blue waters:
(1) neither director Elaine May nor screenwriter Neil Simon is very familiar with our Great State - as when Kelly and Lenny run off to the Corcoran "summer cabin in the mountains." Um, er, what Minnesota Mountain Range are we talking about here? The taconite piles up on the Iron Range?
(2) Viewers will never again be able to eat an egg salad sandwich without recalling Lila Cantrow.
/TundraVision, Amazon Reviewer
July 23, 2006

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