RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
Found a Bug? Squash It! Report Bugs Here
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / Upcoming / The Heartbreak Kid
The Heartbreak Kid

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Buy Poster External Icon
Bookmark and Share

The Heartbreak Kid (1972)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
89 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:18

Fresh:16

Rotten:2

Average Rating:7.7/10

Runtime: 1 hr 46 mins

Genre: Comedies

US Box Office: $0

Synopsis: 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... 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. [More]

Starring: Cybill Shepherd, Charles Grodin, Eddie Albert, Jeannie Berlin

Starring: Cybill Shepherd, Charles Grodin, Eddie Albert, Jeannie Berlin, Audra Lindley, William Prince, Art Metrano, Marilyn Putnam

Director: Elaine May

Director: Elaine May
Screenwriter: Neil Simon
Producer: Edgar J. Scherick
Composer: Garry Sherman

[See More Credits]

Reviews for The Heartbreak Kid

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
 
 
1 - 19 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

Forget Fargo and A Simple Plan: In 1972, The Heartbreak Kid had Minnesota down cold.

Full Review Source: City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul | comment Comment
09/01/09
Rob Nelson
Rob Nelson
City Pages, Minneapolis/St. Paul

Elaine May's deft direction catches all the possibilities of young romance and its tribulations in light strokes and cleverly accents characterization of the various principals.

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
02/03/09
Variety Staff
Variety Staff
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top Critic
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
10/13/07
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

Heartbreak doesn't end; it just runs out of steam.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
10/04/07
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Bitter about marriage yet optimistic about infatuation...

Full Review Source: Sun Publications (Chicago, IL) | comment Comment
10/04/07
Josh Larsen
Josh Larsen
Sun Publications (Chicago, IL)

May's sardonic, poignant look at a romantic triangle of nice Jewish boy, nice Jewish wife, and the gorgeous shiksa who upsets their honeymoon was labeled by some as an exercise in self-loathing, and critics asking if all Jewish women are so irritating?

Full Review Source: EmanuelLevy.Com | comment Comment
09/09/07
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

Sometimes it seems that nobody ever has any idea what it is he's chasing after, and so the chase never ends.... It's a good day when you can laugh about it, which is what The Heartbreak Kid lets you do.

Full Review Source: Blogcritics.org | comment Comment
06/25/06
Alan Dale
Alan Dale
Blogcritics.org

Wittily directed by May, and neatly scripted by Neil Simon.

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
06/24/06
Time Out

A poignant and witty marital comedy.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
02/24/06
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

No review available.

comment Comment
02/10/05
Thomas Delapa
Thomas Delapa
Boulder Weekly

No review available.

comment Comment
01/29/05
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

Elaine May's The Heartbreak Kid was directed with a sure feeling for how comedy can edge over into satire and then tragedy.

Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
10/23/04
Roger Ebert
Roger Ebert
Chicago Sun-Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
09/04/04
Randy Shulman
Randy Shulman
Metro Weekly (Washington, DC)

No review available.

comment Comment
05/19/04
Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Genuinely funny thanks to Grodin's prodigious comic talents, though Eddie Albert nearly steals the show.

Full Review Source: Filmcritic.com | comment Comment
01/27/04
Christopher Null
Christopher Null
Filmcritic.com

Lots of fun, with a slightly bitter aftertaste

comment Comment
01/11/04
James Sanford
James Sanford
Kalamazoo Gazette

A pleasing comic tragedy that looks at the disastrous effects of love on a man.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
05/24/03
Channel 4 Film

A first-class American comedy, as startling in its way as was The Graduate.

Full Review Source: New York Times | comment Comment
05/20/03
Vincent Canby
Vincent Canby
New York Times
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Snappy dialogue and director Elaine May's natural feel for comic moments make this film an urbane saga.

Full Review Source: Spirituality and Practice | comment Comment
02/07/02
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat
Spirituality and Practice
 
 
1 - 19 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
Text View
all

Latest News for The Heartbreak Kid

October 19, 2006: Rob Corddry Joins Ben Stiller's "Heartbreak" Remake
Entirely hilarious on "The Daily Show" (as well as the little-seen "Blackballed"), Rob Corddry was due to hit Hollywood sometime soon. And now he's been... More...

April 27, 2006: Stiller Gets an "Itch" to Work With Old Pals
Ben Stiller and his "Mary" pals (aka The Farrelly Brothers) will be reuniting to bring moviegoers "Seven Day Itch," a romantic comedy that's loosely based on... More...

June 02, 2005: Farrelly Brothers to Take On Some "Heartbreak"
Variety brings news of a fresh wrinkle in the planned remake of "The Heartbreak Kid." Looks like comedic siblings Peter & Bobby Farrelly will most likely be... More...

March 24, 2005: Jason Bateman Isn't Kidding About "Heartbreak"
Remember that great old Neil Simon comedy "The Heartbreak Kid"? The one with Charles Grodin and Cybill Shepherd in which in a newlywed groom falls in love with a new... More...

See All

More Movies

Coming Soon in Australia
Tomatometer Percentage Movie Date

70% 70% Where the Wild Things Are 03/12
84% 84% Paranormal Activity 03/12
89% 89% Zombieland 03/12
76% 76% The Informant! 03/12
— The Strength of Water 03/12

What’s Hot On RT

Ban Them All!

Ban Them All!

10 Most Controversial Movies

Zombieland

Zombieland

Director Ruben Fleischer's favourites

New Avatar action

New Avatar action

Watch an exclusive chase clip from the film

Kids' Book Films

Kids' Book Films

We fly through 10 of the best

Other News

  • Top Stories
  • Popular
  • Interviews
 
 

Comments

 
 
Top Stories
Headlines Comments
  
  • Weekly Ketchup: Zombieland 2 in 3D?
12
  • First Look (Sort Of) at New Nightmare's Freddy Source: ShockTillYouDrop.com
24
  • First Look at Shrek Forever After Source: USA Today
48
  • Woody Harrelson Will Battle Zombies in 3-D Source: Moviehole
26
  • Natalie Portman Says Kat Denning Is in Thor Source: MTV
34
  • Disney Restructuring Has Broad Implications Source: Los Angeles Times
10
  • Joel Silver Talks Ninja Assassin, Sgt. Rock, Lobo, and More Source: Collider.com
1
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
126
  • Idris Elba Joins Thor Source: Hollywood Reporter
112
  • Jackass 3D Coming in 2010? Source: Collider.com
32
Popular
Headlines Comments
  
  • Box Office Guru Wrapup: New Moon Shatters Records
181
  • Total Recall: John Travolta's Best Movies
90
  • Weekly Ketchup: Idris Elba cast in Thor, more Spider-Man 4 rumors
63
  • 5 Facts About The Twilight Saga: Eclipse
62
  • Ban Them All! 10 Infamously Controversial Movies
58
  • Critics Consensus: Flee From Ninja Assassin
44
  • Friday Harvest: The Road, Avatar, and more!
32
  • Five Favorite Films With Zombieland Director Ruben Fleischer
22
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
16
  • Weekly Ketchup: Zombieland 2 in 3D?
4
Interviews
Headlines Comments
  
  • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
16
  • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
11
  • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
21
  • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
8
  • RT on DVD: Wassup, Bruno
3
  • Scott Hicks Talks The Boys Are Back
0
  • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
15
  • Richard Kelly chats about The Box
2
  • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
21
  • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
8
 
 

Sponsored Links

Around The Network

  • The Heartbreak Kid at Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh Links

Featured
Dressing Wonderland
Dressing Wonderland External Link

Tim Burton's costume designer talks to Movieline about her long collaboration with the filmmaker and Johnny Depp.

Wes Anderson on Fox
Wes Anderson on Fox External Link

The director talks about puppetry perfection and his film, Fantastic Mr. Fox

Win Glee DVDs
Win Glee DVDs External Link

We've got 20 copies of the hit TV series' Pilot Episode to giveaway.

Win tickets to Cold Souls
Win tickets to Cold Souls External Link

Double passes up for grabs to the new comedy starring Paul Giamatti.

Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter
Follow Rotten Tomatoes on Twitter External Link

Get all the latest movie updates, reviews, interviews and features here.

Competitions
Win Star Wars prizes
Win Star Wars prizes External Link

Enough Prequel, Original Trilogy and Family Guy DVDs to fill a space cruiser

Win the entire 007 collection
Win the entire 007 collection External Link

Everything from Dr. No to Quantum of Solace could be yours.

Win Fight Club Special Editions and more
Win Fight Club Special Editions and more External Link

We're giving away the 10th Anniversary Blu-ray, plus Braveheart and the Rocky collection

 
 
About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Celebs List| Newsletter
IGN Logo

IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.