Description

From Elaine May, director of The Heartbreak Kid, comes Mikey & Nicky, a compelling crime thriller with a powerhouse cast, including John Cassavetes (Rosemary’s Baby, The Killers), Peter Falk (TV’s Columbo) and Ned Beatty (Deliverance, Cookie’s Fortune). Nicky (Cassavetes) has embezzled a fortune from his Mafia bosses and is on the run. Nicky’s only friend, Mikey (Falk) tries to help him escape; or will he lead him into a trap? Shot in a gritty, improvisational style, Mikey & Nicky is one of the most original and riveting crime films of the 1970s. ... Read more

Reviews (10)

"There is no deceit in the cauliflower."
Charles Grodin is hilarious (as are his sideburns) and pathetic as a man who, while on his honeymoon, falls in love with another woman. He decides to prove himself to Cybil Shepard (the woman he's fallen in love with) and her father (rich, conservative, loathes Grodin) by leaving his wife in mid-honeymoon and following Cybil and her family back to Minnesota and trying to win her hand in marriage.

Classic lines include: "Don't... don't do that, honey. Don't ever put a Milky Way in someone's mouth when they don't want it." and "There is no deceit in the cauliflower."

One thing I found surprising about this movie is that Charles Grodin's character isn't really all that likable. For that matter, pretty much everyone in this film is somewhat morally bankrupt. Not that that's a bad thing... it just surprised me because the screenplay is by Neil Simon, whose stuff tends to be a bit lighter.

All in all, this is definitely worth seeking out... it'll take you back to the days when movie-makers actually knew how to make a comedy that was FUNNY...

CULT MOVIES 43
43. THE HEARTBREAK KID (comedy, 1972) Lenny (Charles Grodin) a young Jewish man, marries seemingly perfect-match Linda. On their way to their honeymoon in Miami Lenny realizes that Linda's various idiosyncrancies are driving him crazy. In Miami he meets Kelly (Cybill Sheperd) a young-WASP beauty whose lustful innuendoes he falls under. After 2 days of courting her he decides to leave Lina and go away with Kelly. He follows her to Minnesota where he plans to marry her. However, Kelly's rich parents object to her seeing the undaunted Lenny. But he shamelessly fights for Kelly's hand in marriage.

Critique: Extremely funny, satirical film adapted by Neil Simon and directed by Elaine May. It is Charles Grodin's best outing, proving that once he could act and have a comic touch (his persona has become strangely wooden, as if entranced or something). Lenny is the ultimate, unthinkable 'schmuck' who cons his way into any situation. The comedy of the film relies on his unnerving pursuit of Kelly, and how his ridiculous lies and deceit work to his favor. Trying to pass himself as an honest, likable fella, we are astonished that Kelly even notices him. Thinking that 'honesty is the best policy', he repeatedly infuriates those around him with his pathetic stories. Inspite of all this, we can relate to this guy. Maybe because at one time or another we have sunk as low when pursuing our lusts. At the end, you really have to admire the guy for trying. After all, the never say attitude sometimes works.

QUOTE: Lenny: "You were very attracted to me. You were? . . That's cute, that's a really cute thing. So I was. . .something to do?"

A Great American Comedy
Thankfully, Anchor Bay(Genuises!!!) has re-issued this classic comedy with a nice widescreen transfer. It's a fantastic film and deserves a nice dvd. Though the dvd has little in the way of extras, I was still pleased as it one of my favorite films. I rank it right up there with great American comedies like ANNIE HALL. It's certainly the darkest stuff that Neil Simon's ever had a hand in. Grodin, Berlin, Albert and Shepherd-they're all excellent here. A great film from a great female directorial voice(Elaine May-who also directed A NEW LEAF with Walter Matthau-why is there no dvd for that film yet!). At a low list price, this film is impossible to pass up on dvd!

The Great Gatsby With a Twist
Lenny is a repulsive, vapid nonentity who, with nothing but ambition, represents the most ugly kind of American imaginable, the ruthless upwardly mobile narcissist who will trample on anyone--including his wife--to get what he wants, namely, Cybil Shepherd, who plays a young woman from a family of old money. To use a cliche, watching this movie is like watching a car wreck. You cringe, you laugh, you shake your head in disbelief (yet you believe all the same!) as Lenny, played by Charles Grodin, manipulates his bovine wife and sets the stage to marry the Cybil Shepherd character. I've seen this movie a half a dozen times over the last twenty-five years and feel compelled to hail it a masterpiece, a variation of The Great Gatsby theme.

A Qualified Winner
On the surface, The Heartbreak Kid is a small movie with a simple plot. Lenny (Charles Grodin) dumps his wife (Lila played by Jeannie Berlin) of five days to pursue a beautiful coed (Kelly played by Cybill Shepherd). Standing between Lenny and Kelly is Kelly's possessive father (Mr. Corcoran). Character portrayal is almost perfect. Charles Grodin is convincing as the self-centered and reckless Lenny. Finding an actress more capable of playing the naive and boy-teasing Kelly (Cybill Shepherd) would have been very difficult. Eddie Albert (Mr. Corcoran) stands like a brick wall between Lenny and his conquest (Kelly).

More interesting than the character portrayal and story line are the underlying motives of the characters, and the consequences of their actions. Lenny abandons his wife (Lila), and leaves her brokenhearted. He is headstrong and determined, but also callous and foolish. Kelly's affection for Lenny is quite immature: she see's him as a strong father figure although he is actually egotistical and, quit frankly, short-sighted. The most mature and rational character in the film is Mr. Corcoran. The Heartbreak Kid works as a lighthearted love story; that is, cute boy wins cute girl despite their social, economic and religious differences. Thankfully, The Heartbreak Kid doesn't attempt to promote any moral themes. If it did, the film would fail. The viewer could not be satisfied with the nice cute boy wins nice cute girl conclusion because the boy (Lenny) cares for no one except himself. In summary, The Heartbreak Kid is a qualified winner with just one caveat: don't think too much. ... Read more

Amazon.com

After her brilliant career in a comedy duo with Mike Nichols, Elaine May made tentative progress as a director, making only four films between 1971 and 1987 (her last being the disastrous but underrated Ishtar).Released in 1972, The Heartbreak Kid (from a screenplay by Neil Simon) is widely considered her best work from behind the camera, and it's still one of the most accomplished--but least recognized--comedies of the 1970s. Charles Grodin landed one of his best roles as Lenny, a newlywed husband who meets a gorgeous blonde (Cybill Shepherd) while on his honeymoon, and finds his new bride, Lila (played by May's daughter, Jeannie Berlin), unappealing by comparison. When Lila is forced to rest with a severe case of sunburn, Lenny's free to pursue his new interest, oblivious to the manipulative games that he'll soon be subjected to. May and screenwriter Simon draw plenty of pain, awkwardness, and embarrassment from hilarious situations, giving this comedy a perceptive awareness of human foibles and unchecked desires. It's a newlywed's worst nightmare come true, made enjoyable because we're watching it happen to someone else. Grodin's a prime choice of casting for expressing the movie's lusty anxiety--he's a schmuck, but you can still sympathize with the anguish he's brought on himself. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (10)

"There is no deceit in the cauliflower."
Charles Grodin is hilarious (as are his sideburns) and pathetic as a man who, while on his honeymoon, falls in love with another woman. He decides to prove himself to Cybil Shepard (the woman he's fallen in love with) and her father (rich, conservative, loathes Grodin) by leaving his wife in mid-honeymoon and following Cybil and her family back to Minnesota and trying to win her hand in marriage.

Classic lines include: "Don't... don't do that, honey. Don't ever put a Milky Way in someone's mouth when they don't want it." and "There is no deceit in the cauliflower."

One thing I found surprising about this movie is that Charles Grodin's character isn't really all that likable. For that matter, pretty much everyone in this film is somewhat morally bankrupt. Not that that's a bad thing... it just surprised me because the screenplay is by Neil Simon, whose stuff tends to be a bit lighter.

All in all, this is definitely worth seeking out... it'll take you back to the days when movie-makers actually knew how to make a comedy that was FUNNY...

CULT MOVIES 43
43. THE HEARTBREAK KID (comedy, 1972) Lenny (Charles Grodin) a young Jewish man, marries seemingly perfect-match Linda. On their way to their honeymoon in Miami Lenny realizes that Linda's various idiosyncrancies are driving him crazy. In Miami he meets Kelly (Cybill Sheperd) a young-WASP beauty whose lustful innuendoes he falls under. After 2 days of courting her he decides to leave Lina and go away with Kelly. He follows her to Minnesota where he plans to marry her. However, Kelly's rich parents object to her seeing the undaunted Lenny. But he shamelessly fights for Kelly's hand in marriage.

Critique: Extremely funny, satirical film adapted by Neil Simon and directed by Elaine May. It is Charles Grodin's best outing, proving that once he could act and have a comic touch (his persona has become strangely wooden, as if entranced or something). Lenny is the ultimate, unthinkable 'schmuck' who cons his way into any situation. The comedy of the film relies on his unnerving pursuit of Kelly, and how his ridiculous lies and deceit work to his favor. Trying to pass himself as an honest, likable fella, we are astonished that Kelly even notices him. Thinking that 'honesty is the best policy', he repeatedly infuriates those around him with his pathetic stories. Inspite of all this, we can relate to this guy. Maybe because at one time or another we have sunk as low when pursuing our lusts. At the end, you really have to admire the guy for trying. After all, the never say attitude sometimes works.

QUOTE: Lenny: "You were very attracted to me. You were? . . That's cute, that's a really cute thing. So I was. . .something to do?"

A Great American Comedy
Thankfully, Anchor Bay(Genuises!!!) has re-issued this classic comedy with a nice widescreen transfer. It's a fantastic film and deserves a nice dvd. Though the dvd has little in the way of extras, I was still pleased as it one of my favorite films. I rank it right up there with great American comedies like ANNIE HALL. It's certainly the darkest stuff that Neil Simon's ever had a hand in. Grodin, Berlin, Albert and Shepherd-they're all excellent here. A great film from a great female directorial voice(Elaine May-who also directed A NEW LEAF with Walter Matthau-why is there no dvd for that film yet!). At a low list price, this film is impossible to pass up on dvd!

The Great Gatsby With a Twist
Lenny is a repulsive, vapid nonentity who, with nothing but ambition, represents the most ugly kind of American imaginable, the ruthless upwardly mobile narcissist who will trample on anyone--including his wife--to get what he wants, namely, Cybil Shepherd, who plays a young woman from a family of old money. To use a cliche, watching this movie is like watching a car wreck. You cringe, you laugh, you shake your head in disbelief (yet you believe all the same!) as Lenny, played by Charles Grodin, manipulates his bovine wife and sets the stage to marry the Cybil Shepherd character. I've seen this movie a half a dozen times over the last twenty-five years and feel compelled to hail it a masterpiece, a variation of The Great Gatsby theme.

A Qualified Winner
On the surface, The Heartbreak Kid is a small movie with a simple plot. Lenny (Charles Grodin) dumps his wife (Lila played by Jeannie Berlin) of five days to pursue a beautiful coed (Kelly played by Cybill Shepherd). Standing between Lenny and Kelly is Kelly's possessive father (Mr. Corcoran). Character portrayal is almost perfect. Charles Grodin is convincing as the self-centered and reckless Lenny. Finding an actress more capable of playing the naive and boy-teasing Kelly (Cybill Shepherd) would have been very difficult. Eddie Albert (Mr. Corcoran) stands like a brick wall between Lenny and his conquest (Kelly).

More interesting than the character portrayal and story line are the underlying motives of the characters, and the consequences of their actions. Lenny abandons his wife (Lila), and leaves her brokenhearted. He is headstrong and determined, but also callous and foolish. Kelly's affection for Lenny is quite immature: she see's him as a strong father figure although he is actually egotistical and, quit frankly, short-sighted. The most mature and rational character in the film is Mr. Corcoran. The Heartbreak Kid works as a lighthearted love story; that is, cute boy wins cute girl despite their social, economic and religious differences. Thankfully, The Heartbreak Kid doesn't attempt to promote any moral themes. If it did, the film would fail. The viewer could not be satisfied with the nice cute boy wins nice cute girl conclusion because the boy (Lenny) cares for no one except himself. In summary, The Heartbreak Kid is a qualified winner with just one caveat: don't think too much. ... Read more

Reviews (68)

The Parody That Tops Them All
Sadly, "Ishtar" is a completely misunderstood movie by way of the critics. If one takes it for what it is, one will see that it is purely a parody (and a very funny one at that). Hoffman and Beatty are brilliant in their ability to act so terribly dense and untalented and play it all with a straight face. They play songwriters who aspire to be famous, and they truly believe that their songs such as "Wardrobe of Love" and "Dangerous Buisness" could be sung by Simon and Garfunkel themselves. Charles Grodin gives a brilliant performance as the butt-kissing CIA agent, and Elaine May wrote the clever script that is filled with witty remarks and totally hysterical action. "Ishtar" is up there with all the other great screwball comedies such as "The Producers" and "Some Like it Hot". I've never laughed so hard while viewing a movie before. Absolutely give this movie a chance.

Don't tell anyone, but I LOVE Ishtar
Ok, so MOST of my friends either refuse to watch the video with me or fall asleep ten minutes into it. A very few of my friends agree that this movie is so far beyond bad that it's terrific. I've seen Ishtar more times than I can remember, and every time I laugh. If you're a little quirky, and if you're willing to take the movie as a song and character showcase (forget the plot!), then you may have found a new favorite movie to torture your loved ones with.

I'm not kidding.

Imagine if you will Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty singing (badly) these super lines:

"I said come look there's a wardrobe of love in my eyes/ Come on in, take a look and see if there's something your size."

"Telling the truth is a dangerous business/ Honest and popular don't go hand in hand./ If you admit that you can play the accordion/ No one will hire you in a rock-n-roll band."

You live your life and I'll live mine, and mine will always include a copy of Ishtar.

Ishtar Was Overlooked
Elaine May's Ishtar is one of the all time grossly overlooked comedies. Dustin Hoffman and Warren Beatty are hilarious in this intelligent comedy. The solid and understandable plot never tires and this portrait of two losers is very funny. Small funny contribution by Charles Grodin.

a brilliant comedy...waiting to be re-discovered
perhaps the high concept was never accepted by the critics......a hope and crosby road movie ...with beatie and hoffman.....naive americans mixed up in foriegn intreige....a pretty girl sought after by both.....good guys bad guys......the gun selling scene which must rate as one of the funniest scenes ever filmed.....hoffman mistaken for a gun auctioneer tries to fake his way in pidgin arabic saying things like ...abdul jabar,chad gadya, an other such stuff.

buy it ,see it, youll laugh

I would buy the DVD~!
You have to bring this out on DVD

It is a milestone movie! It has to be done!!
Yes it takes great acting to come up with this totally funny Movie...
Everything that killed it when it was released only adds to the legend!!
I am having the whole neighborhood over when it comes out on DVD. ... Read more