Heartbreakers (PG-13, 2001)

common sense media says

Not terrible, it just doesn't work very well.


parents & educators say

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that this is yet another example of the MPAA's comedy rule, meaning that material that would get an R rating in a drama gets a PG-13 rating because it is supposed to be funny. The movie contains continual sexual humor that can get very raunchy, including references to group sex. There is no nudity and nothing too graphic onscreen except for the statue. It has very strong language, especially for a PG-13, smoking (comic) and drinking. As noted, the main characters are con women with no concerns about stealing from anyone and everyone.

Violence: Mild comic peril, comic disposal of corpse.
Sex: Very strong sexual references and situations for a PG-13, more than most Rs.
Language: Very strong language for a PG-13.
Consumerism: Not applicable.
Drinking, drugs, & smoking: Lots of drinking and smoking, scenes in bar.

More on Heartbreakers

What to talk about

Talk to your kids
Families can talk about how Max tried to protect Page from hurt, and whether that is wise or even possible. What does it mean to say, "you might as well get hurt in your own healthy ways?" What was it about Jack that made Page think differently about herself and about the possibilities? What do you have to think about the world to be able to rob everyone you meet? Why did it take Page so long to tell Jack her real name, and what did it mean when she did?

What's the story?

What's the story?

Sigourney Weaver plays Max, a con woman who marries wealthy men, denies them sex, and then sues them for divorce when they make a pass at her partner, Page (Jennifer Love Hewitt), who is also her daughter. After they take New Jersey chop shop owner Dean (Ray Liotta), Page is restless and wants to go off on her own. When they run into a little problem with the IRS, they agree to take on one last big con together and head off for Palm Beach. Max wants to go after tobacco man William Tensy (Gene Hackman), but Page is drawn to a sweet bartender named Jack (Jason Lee) who owns some land worth $3 million. Max's challenges include a ferocious guard dog of a housekeeper (Saturday Night Live's Nora Dunn), and Tensy's constant coughing and terrible tobacco-stained teeth. Page's challenge is keeping her plan secret from her mother and keeping herself from falling in love with Jack.

Is it any good?

Is it any good?
 

HEARTBREAKERS isn't a terrible movie, but it just does not work very well. We like the characters too much to enjoy their greedy behavior but we do not like them enough to care whether they end up happily. Weaver and Hewitt are at their most delectable in outfits that Erin Brockovich could only dream of. If there were ever an Oscar for cleavage, this movie would be the one to beat. Aside from the cleavage, the best reason to watch the movie is to see Weaver and Hewitt doing their bombshell best and Hackman's odious performance as the mark who just might not be worth marrying to get $20 million.

Max and Page are awful to just about everyone and have no sense that their behavior hurts other people. They are selfish and amoral, operating entirely out of expediency with no thought for the consequences for themselves or others. The script tries to make us believe that this is all because Max is trying to protect Page from being hurt, but that is a con job that we just don't fall for. And despite a few con-job twists, the script is just weak and unoriginal. In real life, these con women would not fool Forrest Gump.

Movie themes & details

Movie Details
Studio: MGM/UA
Director: Mike Mitchell
Cast: Gene Hackman, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ray Liotta, Sigourney Weaver
Genre: Comedy
Run time: 123 minutes
Theatrical release: March 23, 2001
DVD release: October 2, 2001
MPAA Rating: PG-13
MPAA explanation: sex-related content including dialogue

This review was written by Nell Minow
 
 

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Most useful reviews by all members

 
Love Jennifer Love Hewit movie should be for 12 and up to see
okay well i seen this movie and yes liked it but its really a movie for the younger ones to see but ofcourse 12 and up is the right age for them to see it Jennifer Love Hewit is so beautiful she shines in this movie the rating PG- 13 there are some curse words she kisses the guy alot and just warning your kids how she dresses in the fim real sexy but all in all its still a cool movie that i totally apporve of no im not a parent im a 26 year old woman and if i had children then lets just say they would need to see this movie with me but hey its a nice movie for 12 and up !

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