Review of The Heartbreak Kid (2007) by Chads. — 19 Oct 2007
"The Heartbreak Kid" while undeniably funny is also undeniably harsh on the blonde, on Malin Akerman(as Lila), who deserves better, but who nevertheless triumphs over her sometimes humiliating material.
Because Ben Stiller has worked with these filmmakers before, "The Heartbreak Kid" could be interpreted as a riff on "There's Something About Mary"; a correction of sorts about their preference towards showcasing blondes(Cameron Diaz, Gwyneth Paltow, Drew Barrymore) over brunettes.
Poor Akerman, though. "The Heartbreak Kid" made me laugh but I didn't feel good about it. What's especially toxic about the film's rhetoric is how you root for Eddie(Ben Stiller) to rendevous successfully with Miranda(Michelle Monaghan) when the sun temporarily destroys Lila's physical allure.
As if ugliness gives you the license to engage in adultery. Eddie is an ass. I suspect that Akerman invests Lila with qualities the filmmakers didn't count on when they were penning the screenplay.
She transforms Stiller's character into a romantic anti-hero, because Lila actually has a big heart. There's something about her.
This review of The Heartbreak Kid (2007) was written by Chads. on 19 Oct 2007.
The Heartbreak Kid has generally received mixed reviews.
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