The Heartbreak Kid (1972)

We’re examining the rest of Elaine May’s directed films this week and we’re into some deep cut quality comedies. Today’s discussion is darkly humorous in the sense that much of the humor Is centered around the self absorbed and deceitful nature of Lenny Cantor who sees greener grass everywhere he goes, especially after he’s gotten what he thinks he wants. Charles Grodin’s “Lenny” wants sex and he will get married to get it but when the dog catches the car it tends to not want much more to do with it. Lenny happens to meet who he thinks is the girl of his dreams except that he meets her on his honeymoon. The comedic examinations of an awful person can get kinda lost when you feel so bad for people around the lead. Angela wanted to fight Lenny is what we’re saying. The primary marketing pitch of Elaine May’s second feature film “THE HEARTBREAK KID” from 1972 was that it was written by Neil Simon ( the Odd Couple guy). It also stars Cybill Shepherd, Jeannie Berlin and Eddie Albert. Critically acclaimed but underseen in its time. The retroactive appreciation of Elaine May’s work probably needs more juice because these comedies are still pretty deep cut and out of print with only “Mikey and Nicky” and “Ishtar” on streaming. Fortunately, online movie nerds come through in a pinch, so until Elaine May’s movies get the Criterion box set treatment (including “Ishtar”), here’s a link to the film we’re discussing: https://archive.org/details/the-heartbreak-kid.-1972.-dvdrip.-xvi-d-vli-s

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