Kelly just started flirting with him in Miami for fun, she was a beautiful, rich girl who toyed with men. She was shocked and angered with Lenny for showing up in Minnesota. Why did she change her mind, sitting in the car? Surely she couldn't have been really attracted to this creepy, ugly doofus? Have never gotten that.
shareYou have to remember the Heartbreak Kid is a Neil Simon comedy, you can't take things serious like the majority of the morons do on this board. Grodin plays a Jewish newlywed married to your worst nightmare, and then Kelly, a beautiful wasp, high society woman finds this ugly Jewish guy that sells sporting goods for a living, attractive lol.
If you like you could place The Heartbreak Kid in the science fiction genre, you wouldn't get an argument from a Jewish guy like me, that knows that this scenario would never happen in reality, and that's what makes the film so funny.
Go check out Goodbye Columbus, it's the same lower class Jewish guy going after a girl that comes from an upper class family scenario. Only this time the girl is also Jewish. Good film written by Philip Roth, based on his novel.
The one thing you have to remember is the Jewish factor in the Heartbreak Kid, at the time the film was released it was unheard of for jews to marry outside the faith. The fact that Leonard ends up marring a beautiful wasp woman that comes from high society is totally science fiction, would never happen. Look at the film as a comedy, and things that don't add up fall right into place.
balboa, right you are. The fact that he married a non-Jew sort of offended me, too. I don't really understand why, to tell the truth. I am what is called "half-Jewish" (my dad is Jewish, I was raised Episcopalian) and I believe you should marry whoever you love, but that also bugged me, for some reason.
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balboa, watched it again and something occured to me. Sitting in the car, remember how she set up a rivalry between Lenny and the other guy. Telling Lenny, she had to "meet someone," telling Lenny "don't start with him, he's captain of everything." Also, remember the smug look on his face when he thought he had won, just before the kiss. Later, she laughed when the other guy ran. I think she decided at that moment would be fun to have a contest going on for her. Also, later, after sex, when Lenny said "I'm going to surprise alot of people" and she said "I know who'll be surprised" and he said "your father?" Even though her dad adored her, spoiled her, she was looking forward to pissing him off, for some reason. By the way, Lila was really a sweet, trusting girl. Why do you said "worst nightmare"? Annoying habits, sure,but he could have helped her get over them.
shareAnother guy wouldn't even have noticed her habits. Or they wouldn't have been so pronounced (ex: the insecurity) because he wouldn't have been so cold, aloof and 'grouchy' (to use her very charitable term). Another guy would have brought out a totally different side of her - sensual, emotional, passionate, giving. And loved her for it. I hope she found that person who she deserved, out in 'movie-land'.
sharebalboa, well put. As a nebbishy Jew myself, I agree. In real life, no waaay this would ever happen. Funny in a movie, though, and only Neil Simon could pull it off.
I want the doctor to take your picture so I can look at you from inside as well.