The Heartbreak Kid (1972 film)

Plot and theme

A black comedy examining love and hypocrisy, loosely based on Theodore Dreiser's classic novel, An American Tragedy (and recalling an earlier, well-regarded film adaptation of Dreiser's novel, A Place in the Sun). The story begins in New York City with the traditional Jewish marriage of emotionally shallow, self-absorbed, "nebbish"-man-boy Lenny Cantrow (Charles Grodin), a sporting goods salesman, to Lila (Jeannie Berlin, daughter of director Elaine May), an annoyingly unsophisticated and emotionally needy girl.

While on their honeymoon in Miami Beach, Lenny meets and pursues the beautiful but manipulative Kelly Corcoran (Cybill Shepherd), a Midwestern college girl on holiday with her parents. When Lila is severely sunburned, Lenny quarantines her to their hotel room as he engages in a series of rendezvous with Kelly, lying to Lila about his whereabouts. Lenny impulsively and cruelly ends their ephemeral marriage to pursue an indifferent Kelly, his false ideal woman and ultimate fantasy shiksa-goddess. He believes she is the girl he has been waiting for all of his life and just, "timed it wrong."

After leaving Lila (after only five days of marriage), he follows Kelly to Minnesota, where her justifiably resentful and protective father (Eddie Albert) is a relentless obstacle. Mr. Corcoran has undisguised contempt of Lenny, even offering a $25,000 bribe for Lenny to leave following a dinner where Lenny inanely praises Midwestern produce as having "no deceit in the cauliflower." Lenny eventually marries Kelly, whose chief intent appears to be to rile and defy her father. At the wedding reception, Lenny's attempts at mingling with mindless conversation fails, and he is ignored by the guests, his bride, and the new in-laws. It appears his new marriage will be as unfulfilling as his first one.

Cast

Reception

The film has received almost universal praise from critics. Rotten Tomatoes gives the film a critic score of 91% and an audience score of 73%. Notably, The New York Times declared it to be "a first-class American comedy, as startling in its way as was The Graduate."

Awards and honors

Academy Awards

Golden Globe Awards

Other honors

The film is recognized by American Film Institute in these lists: