The Heartbreak Kid (1972) | agoodmovietowatch

“What if I meet my soulmate while in a relationship with someone else?” It’s a worry we’ve all had, but The Heartbreak Kid’s protagonist Lenny takes it a step further. He acts upon his desires and pursues a woman he met while on a honeymoon trip with his wife. Suddenly, the lines are blurred. Is he being romantic or irrational? Positive or delusional? If he’s such a prick, why is his character so compelling? Why is he so easy to root for? The Heartbreak Kid has been labeled a romantic comedy, and it is, but it’s also a character study about the so-called Nice Guy, the leading men who feel entitled to good things because they don’t (overtly, at least) treat their partner like a hunk of meat. It’s also a lesson in how we tend to use people and confuse things like aspiration and fear of loneliness for love. Plenty of things happen all at once in The Heartbreak Kid, making it a bit more layered than your typical romcom.

Reviews

Add your review

Your email address will not be published.*

Unlock our best recommendationsYour subscription supports our work. Learn more