The Heartbreak Kid DVD

DVD Review by Kam Williams

Headline: Farrelly Brothers’ Raunchy Remake Released on DVD

40 year-old Eddie Cantrow (Ben Stiller) is having second thoughts about remaining a bachelor after attending the wedding of his ex-girlfriend (Ali Hillis). Most of his buddies have already tied the knot, and even his henpecked best friend, Mac (Rob Corddry), appears to be happily married.
Therefore, when he comes to the rescue of a gorgeous damsel in distress (Malin Akerman) being robbed on Valentine’s Day, he takes it as a sign that the leggy blonde might be Ms. Right. After a whirlwind romance, the Good Samaritan proposes, figuring, how bad could life with her be? Only after they set out on their honeymoon, does he begin to uncover reasons to question the wisdom of his impulsive decision.
As the two become better acquainted, a less endearing side of his bride begins to emerge, from her sordid past to her deviated septum to her foul mouth to her insatiable appetite for rough sex to her $26,000 in cocaine debt. By the time the newlyweds arrive at their oceanfront resort in Mexico, the grouchy groom is already fed up.
So, soon after checking in, he ventures down to the hotel’s bar alone where he proceeds to put the moves on Miranda (Michelle Monaghan), an attractive young woman from Mississippi who’s there with relatives for an annual family getaway. Not only does the creep fail to mention that he’s on his honeymoon, but he doesn’t even let on that he’s married.
This recipe for disaster is the point of departure of The Heartbreak Kid, a sorry remake of the 1972 farce starring Charles Grodin and Cybill Shepherd. Like a typical TV sitcom, the plot turns on the continuing concealment of a big lie which would easily resolve the matter if admitted.
Besides the morally-objectionable storyline, the Farrellys are up to their usual tricks. This means they fill the screen with gratuitous nudity, gross-out bodily function humor, graphically-depicted soft porn and meanspirited potshots at assorted ethnic groups.
An unwatchable mess like this is exactly what you ought to expect from anybody with the unmitigated gall to overhaul Neil Simon.

Poor (.5 star)
Rated R for profanity, female frontal nudity, crude humor and graphic sexuality.
Running time: 118 minutes
Studio: Paramount Home Entertainment
DVD Extras: Six deleted scenes, audio commentary by the Farrelly Brothers, four featurettes, bloopers, gag reel, plus Peter Farrelly’s “Greatest Practical Joke Ever.”