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Ben Stiller’s shtick is wearing a bit
thin. Although I appreciate his comedic timing, I’ve been
hoping that he would give serious films another go, because
he’s proved with his turn in Permanent
Midnight that he has the chops to do so. I have a feeling that
he can play the insecure, frazzled-but-lovable manchild in his
sleep — he’s done nothing but give us slight variations
on this theme since There’s
Something About Mary. The bad news is that Stiller isn’t
allowed to stretch in his latest comedy, The Heartbreak Kid. The good
news is that the Farrelly brothers, Bobby and Peter, who first
collaborated with the actor on Mary, have returned to their raunchy roots, delivering
their funniest film in nearly a decade. Stiller is Eddie Cantrow, the owner of a
sporting-goods store, who thinks far too much for his own good.
Undergoing a bit of a midlife crisis as he realizes that all of his
friends are married and he’s still living the single life, he
winds up impulsively proposing to Lila (Malin Akerman), a blond
knockout who seems to have not only looks but brains and
personality as well. Only after the whirlwind courtship and marriage
does Eddie start to realize that looks can be deceiving. Lila’s
irritating traits begin to emerge as the couple drives to a honeymoon
in Mexico. When Lila is sidelined by a severe sunburn,
Eddie explores Cabo San Lucas on his own and meets Miranda
(Michelle Monaghan), a fetching, grounded brunette whom he falls
for instantly. Fearing the truth, Eddie fails to tell his new love
that he is married, but comedic fireworks and complications ensue
once Lila figures out that her husband has eyes for another. The Farrellys are not everyone’s cup of
tea, and their pairing of the sweet and the profane sometimes works
against them. However, when their chemistry is right they’re
able to lace their sweet sentiments with just the right dose of
crudity, a recipe that recent features The
Forty-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up have aped
successfully. Kid is a worthy companion, not only eliciting laughs
with its comic daring but also accurately re-creating the
impulsivity and elation that are common in the initial stages of
most every romantic relationship.
This article appears in Sep 27 – Oct 3, 2007.
