Heartbreak Kid, The

Stars: Ben Stiller, Michelle Monaghan, Malin Akerman, Jerry Stiller, Carlos Mencia

Director: Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly

A very, very, very rude comedy from the Farrelly Brothers, remaking a 1973 film, but with Something About Mary star Stiller as the bachelor of 40 who marries fast and regrets it. Boy, does he regret it.

Even at the wedding, it turns out his new mother-in-law weighs in around two tons, and her (slim) daughter (Akerman) is wearing the very same dress Mom got married in. Then his bride sings all the way to their Mexican honeymoon, demands constant sex in weird positions, blows things out of her nose through a split septum (she's kicked the cocaine habit) and gets horribly sunburnt after using the wrong oils. Oh, and she snores. And she's 26,0000 dollars in debt and her 'job' is unpaid voluntary work.

Little wonder Ben is attracted to a fun-loving brunette (Monaghan) at their honeymoon hotel. Before he knows it, the hapless bridegroom is making up stories to get away to the other girl and her extended family.

This is often quite disgusting, especially in its dialogue and in scenes involving a donkey - but it's also funny enough to keep Farrelly fans happy. Ben's own father, Jerry, plays his screen dad for the first time, and gets a good share of the best lines. As his son heads for Mississippi to claim the girl he really loves after three months trying and failing to escape from Mexico (his wife burned his passport), Dad reminds him that 'This is the Bible Belt. These people have guns'.

There's a rather anti-climactic twist at the end involving a guest star from Desperate Housewives, and extra scenes during and after the credits. It's good, if very dirty fun.

David Quinlan

USA 2007. UK Distributor: Paramount (DreamWorks). Colour by deluxe.
115 minutes. Widescreen. UK certificate: 15.

Guidance ratings (out of 3): Sex/nudity 3, Violence/Horror 0, Drugs 1, Swearing 3.

Review date: 30 Sep 2007