Iffy for 15+
Hard-R Farrelly bros. remake offers crude laughs.
What Parents Need to Know
Parents need to know that this hard-R comedy about a man who pursues another woman three days into his marriage (and doesn't seem to see a problem in that) will appeal to teens who love the Farrelly brothers and Ben Stiller, but the material is decidedly adult. There's enough sexual banter and outright nudity to make anyone blush: A couple is shown a number of times in non-traditional positions, with the woman shouting out orders about what the man should do to pleasure her; a man is said to have placed a married woman's hand on his genitals; a septuagenarian is shown in a hot tub with a much younger woman, with her massively implanted breasts bobbing in the water; etc.. Plus, there's profanity galore (from the usual suspects like "f--k" and "s--t" to some pretty imaginative combinations of those two and lots of their buddies), lots of drinking, and a pot-smoking scene.
- Families can talk about why comedies like this one seem to target younger viewers (particularly teens), even though much of the subject matter skews older. Teens: Why do you want to see this movie? What makes these "over the top" comedies funny? (Or, if you're not a fan, what makes them unfunny?) Are the extreme sight gags necessary? Or have we become used to them and therefore immune to their impact? Is that good or bad? Families can also discuss who exactly the movie is making fun of -- is it just Ben Stiller's character, or men in general? What of the women -- do they fare any better in the gender wars?
The good stuff
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Messages: A married man cheats on his wife within days of the wedding; his bride, on the other hand, appears to morph into a horrid version of herself within the same amount of time (it turns out that she's been somewhat misrepresenting the truth); characters do drugs, act dopey, hit each other, threaten bodily harm, etc.
What to watch for
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Violence: A man bludgeons another man's legs with a baseball bat; some slapping during sex; some police brutality -- but it's all played for laughs.
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Sex: Lots of innuendoes and discussions about sex (one character calls sex "crushing p---y"); a few scenes in which bare breasts are flashed during sex, with a couple shown in awkward positions; in one envelope-pushing scene, a woman urinates on a man, and her private parts (or what looks like them) are shown in close-up.
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Language: Strong and frequent. Words include: "damn," "c--t," "a--hole," "s--t" and "f--k," and various combos of them all.
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Consumerism: Signs of touristy things to do at the Mexican resort; characters sing recognizable lyrics to songs loudly as they drive in the car; some liquor bottles are prominently displayed, as is the cover of a porno movie.
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Drinking, drugs and smoking: Much vacation drinking (tequila shots, champagne, cocktails) and one scene in which a couple shares marijuana.
Fan Reviews provided by
1
What a disaster! Ben Stiller how could you?! by moviefanwith3kids
I have never felt the need to write a review on a movie before but this movie was horrible. I am not anywhere near a prude but this movie made even me uncomfortable. It might as well have been soft porn. I think they were trying to get Something about Mary or 40yr Old Virgin laughs but in this movie the parts were just crude without being funny. They did not even go with the movie. I can not remeber the last movie I wanted to walk out on. ( Well I actually think it was Eyes Wide Shut where the theater clapped when it was over! LOL)
I am a fan of Ben Stiller which is why I went. His agent should be fired for allowing him to go with this movie.
I do not recommend you even rent it it was that bad.
3
Heartbreak Kid. by Daydream
This movie had its ups and downs. Ben and Jerry (haha) are laugh out loud funny with their awkward relationship. Jerry plays a 77 year old father who acts like a typical party college student with his son being the more conservative type that shouldnt take his advice, but does at certain points of the film. Ben has a hilarious best friend (as seen in the previews). I would've liked to see him more tho because he definately was a crack up in every seen. You kind of know how this movie is going to turn out, but there are some great scenes and some great laughs. Michelle is absolutely beautiful. You cant help but feel sorry for Ben's character because for the majority he is a dumb and clueless man. This movie takes you through a rocky relationship between two newly weds and Ben trying to run from that relationship. If you love Ben Stiller go ahead, otherwise I would wait till on video.
5
Chris by artg54
I strongly suggest you go back to school and do some major homework....You should learn to READ again and UNDERSTAND why they put the rating system for us to understand.
"R? - STRONG SEXUAL CONTENT, crude humor, language and a scene of drug use involving a minor.
This is why they give us "ADULTS" the option of seeing what the movie is about and why it was rated "R" It also gives us the opportunity to judge if we in deed should take our children or parents to a movie with this rating. I am sick and tire of people condemning what they don?t understand.
THIS MOVIE IS FUNNY AND YOU CAN'T TAKE THAT AWAY.
artg54
1
The Heartbreak Kid by pandreason
What a stinker. If the director's goal was to create a male protagonist that you worked hard (very hard) to like and then when he was about to finally find happiness, disappoint you by betraying himself, his new lover (who he had deceived) his old lover, and not to mention you as a viewing supporter, then the director did what they set out to do.
This was not a romantic comedy it was a slap-stick tragedy. I went home and went to sleep, quietly. What a downer.
1
One of Worst Ever by mscarton
Just saw it this evening, and it was one of the worst movies that I've seen in years. Raunchy sex that was mutually demeaning, meaninglessly destructive behavior, little plot, and less that nothing in dialog or content. Even the eventual "love" angle development lacked any depth. Ben gets married because he's goaded by an older friend that belittles him, no intimacy or relationship development between his new love and himself, and on, and on, and on. I just couldn't find anything about the movie to like (other than the occasional nudity).
My wife summed it up beautifully ... "Are you serious!?!"
The only *good* thing that I have to say about this movie is that at least I didn't buy it.
1
Love Ben Stiller, but this is just bad..... by motownmoviefan
I love a somewhat raunch-humor movie from time to time- but this one is just too crude to be funny. An eight year old snorting cocaine? A woman having sex with a donkey? Looks like the writers didn't have enough funny material in their heads and resorted to the lowest of the low for shock value- no real humor here. There's no wit- just raunch in the poorest of taste. I am a huge fan of Ben Stiller- but don't waste your money on this bomb of a movie. It will be on DVD in no time- rent it then but don't buy it!
1
Heartbreaking watching this abomination by FRONT_ROW_
Watch the trailer and you've seen the funny parts of this LOW CLASS flick. I mean this starts out kinda funny regurgitating the trailers and then heads down some trailer trash road with soft porn humor and filth. I see about 2 movies a week and I can't say when I have seen one done in such POOR TASTE. If you are a women, you will feel demeaned and if you are a man, embarrassed. STAY AWAY FROM THIS ONE :~(
4
No heartbreak here! by Akuhalo
First off any one bashing this movie obviously didn't see the same movie as the rest of us and probably have a stick up there butts.
The movie I saw was funny, ironic, and a touch sad. My girlfriend and I enjoyed this movie for its slightly similarly "Something About Mary" type plot. The movie was well paced and kept ones interest. If any thing, its good mindless entertainment thats good after a hard days work.
If you like the Farrelly Brothers movies, this one delivers and you wont be disappointed..
3
Better than a Finger in your Eye by film-fanatic
After watching this movie with my husband, I left feeling this movie could have been made better. The sex scenes were pretty explicit - no need for imagination for those scenes. It's definitely not children-friendly. The trailer ruins half of the jokes for you, so there isn't much left to hold you throughout the film. Ben Stiller and Jerry Stiller were great and they carried the film. If EXPLICIT sex scenes interest you, then go see "Good Luck Chuck" - that movie is 75% boob shots and sex scenes (I'm talking soft-porn here). This movie is entertaining, but definitely only worth seeing once. By the way, if you do plan to see it, then stay after the credits. There is a bonus scene halfway through the credits, and another flashback scene at the very end.
1
Wow, this was SO bad........ by Newcster
I'm a Ben Stiller fan, read great reviews, thought it would be funny - didn't laugh once. It was just bad bad bad... I kept waiting for the funny part but it never came. Malin Ackerman tries to play the whole "I'm beautiful but I'm goofy" thing that Cameron Diaz does so well, but this was just a poor copy without any heart. Save your money - this movie sucks!