If there is one inescapable truth of life, it’s this: women are crazy and men are too dumb to know any better.
At least, that’s what Ben Stiller and the Farrelly brothers try to convey in their new movie “The Heartbreak Kid.”
Since their 1990s hits “Dumb and Dumber” and “There’s Something About Mary,” the Farrelly brothers have struggled to produce a successful new comedy. They have been so unsuccessful that the traditional “a new film by the Farrelly brothers” voiceover didn’t even make the previews. However, many years and several awkwardly unfunny films later, they have finally made a film worth watching.
“The Heartbreak Kid” is the story of Eddie (Ben Stiller), a 40-year-old single guy who just can’t seem to find a woman that is right for him. Assisted by his father Doc and his best friend Mac, ably played by Jerry Stiller and Rob Corddry, respectively, Eddie finally makes his move on a woman he thinks he could be happy with. Her name is Lyla (Malin Akerman) and she seems perfect. Of course, she turns out to be crazy, but Eddie doesn’t find this out until his honeymoon. There, he meets another woman, Miranda, (Michelle Monaghan) and hilarious hi-jinks ensue.
Carlos Mencia also makes an appearance as Uncle Tito in the only funny role he has ever played. It stands as a testament to Mencia’s ability to play one-dimensional side characters with just enough dialogue to get a few laughs but not so much that he ruins everything. One can only hope that this trend continues.
“The Heartbreak Kid” is billed as a comedy for adults, and that’s very accurate, both in the sense that most of the humor would be considered inappropriate for children and that much of the comedy is derived from compatibility issues between Eddie and Lyla. Rather than making Stiller’s character completely normal and Akerman’s character crazy, the Farrelly brothers make excellent use of both actors. They forgo the classic “Odd Couple” pairing of clean cut and well-to-do meets sloppy free spirit. Stiller and Akerman are portrayed as two flawed individuals that, deep down, simply aren’t meant to be together. It still fits the comedic mismatch archetype, but it is one we can all relate to.
The movie relies on slapstick and sex jokes where the subtle interplay of relationships can’t quite conjure up the laughs. However, it does this effectively and when appropriate. The film also takes a few stabs at the dialogue-driven awkward humor of more recent comedy blockbusters, yet that really only serves to remind the audience that Judd Apatow did NOT make this movie. The Farrelly brothers are careful not to get in over their heads though, and generally stick to what they are good at.
Overall, “The Heartbreak Kid” gets the job done. It’s mostly funny, touching in parts without getting too deep, and has one of the best concluding scenes I have ever witnessed in a movie of this sort. Not a bad choice if you have got eight dollars to burn.
