The Heartbreak Kid: A Cringe-Inducing Classic
by Best Classic Bands Staff
Cybill Shepherd and Charles Grodin in 1972’s The Heartbreak Kid
When actor Charles Grodin died on May 18, 2021, his obituaries were filled with highlights of his lengthy career, with roles in such films as Heaven Can Wait, Seems Like Old Times, Midnight Run and the family film, Beethoven.
But the one that was recalled most often was his leading role in Elaine May’s 1972 romantic dramedy, The Heartbreak Kid. Grodin, then 37 years old, plays a newlywed, Lenny Cantrow, on his honeymoon with his bride, Lila (expertly portrayed by Jeannie Berlin, director May’s real-life daughter). The crackling screenplay, written by Neil Simon, features one cringe-inducing scene after another. [The film was remade in 2007 with Ben Stiller in the lead role.]
Spoiler alerts…
The pair meet and after a whirlwind courtship are wed within the first three minutes. Their first dance at their small wedding is to the Carpenters’ “(They Long to Be) Close to You,” and when we next see them, the couple are singing the song during the drive to their Miami Beach honeymoon destination in Lenny’s white convertible.
“(They Long to Be) Close to You”
It’s then that we notice that pretty much everything Lila does and says irks him. “You’ve got a lousy voice,” he says. “You’re just gonna have to get used to it, for the next 40 or 50 years,” is her reply.
They’re in a Virginia motel on their honeymoon night. “Is it what you thought it would be like?,” Lila asks. “Exactly what I thought it would be like.”
“Exactly? Or better?”
As they cuddle she says, “Now we have the rest of our lives… 40… 50… 60… ” Lenny can’t help but ask her to stop making little circles on his chest, one of a half dozen (so far) things she does to annoy him.
At an IHOP on the highway the next day, Lenny orders a hamburger and a Coke. It’s Lila’s turn. “And… let’s see… I’ll have double egg salad on toast and….. double chocolate shake.” Lenny is repulsed.
“You’re quiet this morning,” she says. “I’m always quiet in the morning,” Lenny replies. “I never noticed that before,” she says.
“You have a little egg salad on your face”
“There’s a lot of things you didn’t notice about me and there’s a lot of things I didn’t notice about you,” he says.
Lila spies an elderly couple getting up from their table. “That’s gonna be us in 50 years.” Moments later, lunch arrives, and she digs in. “You have a little egg salad on your face,” he says politely.
Soon they arrive at the swanky Doral Hotel in Miami Beach, amidst the white-shoe crowd. Lila is taking forever to get dressed for the beach so Lenny says he’ll find them a place to sit. It’s a scorcher and as he’s relaxing on a towel, a voice says, “You’re lying on my spot.”
“You’re lying on my spot”
It’s Kelly Corcoran, a Midwestern college student on her spring break, played by Cybill Shepherd, born on Feb. 18, 1950, and all of 22 years old at the time. As she dives into the ocean, Lenny is transfixed. “Lenny! Lenny! What are you looking at?” It’s Lila.
They move to the pool deck and he reaches out to her to put some sunscreen on her. “What are you doing? I just want to get a little tan,” she says. “You feel like a dip?,” he asks. “You know I can’t swim,” says Lila. He’s incredulous.
Kelly shows up and briefly flirts with Lenny. After she walks away, Lila asks, “Who’s she? Do you think she’s attractive?”
“Who’s she? Do you think she’s attractive?”
Back in the room, the new bride has the mother of all sunburns. Lenny heads to the hotel bar alone to contemplate his future and hears a voice. “That’s my stool.” You guessed it.
Over the next several days, as Lenny falls head over heels for Kelly, he worms his way into family events organized by her overprotective father, played by Eddie Albert. It’s a toxic mix.
While still on his honeymoon, Lenny recognizes he’s made a mistake of epic proportions. But Papa Corcoran isn’t at all pleased with this interloper.
We could recount many more scenes but we’ll cut to the chase. Lenny must tell his new bride that they’re through. “It’s over, Lila.” She mistakenly thinks he’s telling her he’s dying. “I’m not dying. Who said anything about dying? I want out of the marriage.”
Fast forward and Lenny has followed Kelly to Minnesota. At dinner at the Corcorans’, he figures the best way to win over her father is by impressing her mother.
Watch the legendary “There is no deceit in the cauliflower” scene
The Heartbreak Kid was released on December 17, 1972. Jeannie Berlin earned a Best Supporting Actress nomination for her role as Lila. Likewise, Albert received a nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Watch The Heartbreak Kid trailer
Grodin, born April 21, 1935, was 86 when he died at his home in Wilton, Ct. Watch the full movie here.
Related: Musicians and entertainers we lost in 2021
4 Comments so far
Jump into a conversationGreat film. Elaine May is a genius.
Grodin’s deadpan comedic genius is underappreciated. He was the eye of the storm in “Midnight Run”. And his talkshow on CNBC was cool, too.
Adapted from the Bruce Jay Friedman story. “A Change of Plan.” Grodin is the perfect Friedman character.
One of my favorite films of all time! I’m a huge fan of Elaine May’s work. Another classic of hers that I’m actually watching right now is A New Leaf!