This month, our resident film buff 💪 Kate Corcoran is combing the digital and sometimes even physical shelves of the video store to find the niche wedding movies worth exploring. Over-the-top gowns, heartbreaking honeymoons, and more await you this month in Kate's Film Club...

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The Heartbreak Kid

Director: Elaine May, 1972

For anyone that is long term partnered and continually gets asked why you’re not married yet — direct them to this movie. 

The Heartbreak Kid follows Lenny Cantrow as he meets his future wife, marries her, goes to Miami for his honeymoon, meets a hot blonde on the beach and becomes obsessed. 

To set up this shitshow, the movie begins with Lenny’s decision to marry Lila – a woman he’s just met – as a result of societal pressures. 

"...I’m not sure we’d have George Costanza without Lenny Cantrow."

I actually think Lila is adorable but on day one of marriage, Lenny finds her unbearable and annoying and he’s immediately full of regret. He totally ruins their honeymoon when Cybill Shepherd aka Kelly Corcoran shows up. (I mean, wouldn’t you?)

Lenny is absolutely terrible to Lila. He is the WORST. He basically forces her to stay in the hotel everyday while he goes frolicking around Miami with Kelly and her family. I actually don’t think that any of the women in this movie like Lenny at first but he just love bombs them into submission. And once they admit to liking him, he’s completely turned off. 

I kept getting flashes of Woody Allen, Larry David and George Costanza. Like to the point that I’m not sure we’d have George Costanza without Lenny Cantrow. Men are tragically pathetic and oh-so predictable. 

This was one of those movies that while I was watching I wasn’t sure I liked it until it ended. But it’s actually hilarious and amazing and such an important movie in our cultural zeitgeist. Also, the main hot girl character has my last name and that was thrilling. 

Other notes worth mentioning:

-If you were raised by both your parents and are doing the whole down the aisle thing, have BOTH of them walk you down the aisle!!!

-Your real soulmate will accept you and overt their eyes when they consume a double egg salad sandwich. 

-Kelly Corcoran is the ultimate cool, aloof girl that I will never be.

-Your honeymoon arrival outfit clearly used to be a thing that we’ve stopped doing but should highly consider.  

Final Rating:

I’m rating The Heartbreak Kid 82/100 Florida Lobsters! 🦞

To read all of Kate’s wildly deep and complex reviews, follow @katecorcoran on Letterboxd!