Dynamic duo true Heartbreakers
by Ashley Clark, entertainment editor

    Aside from the occasional over-dramatic and cheesy one-liners delivered by its leading ladies, Heartbreakers is a delightful story with vibrant characters and a domino effect of laughter.

    Sigourney Weaver and Jennifer Love Hewitt star as Max and Page, consummate con artists and deceitful mother-daughter duo.

    Using their charms and their tricks of the trade, Max and Page go through life without having to pay for anything financially or—for the most part—emotionally.

    They prey on wealthy men of any age and any ethnicity. Max, played by Weaver, introduces herself as the good Christian woman withholding sexual favors due to her religious beliefs.

    Max explains that as soon as she and the man get married, a consummation will take place. The prospective groom takes the bait and proposes in a record time of four months.

    Unfortunately for the groom, Max’s assumed persona is always cursed with narcolepsy and the wedding night is always a disappointment.

    Enter partner and daughter, Page, played by Hewitt. Page presents herself as the young, beautiful and willing secretary at the job, maid in the house or innocent visitor at the hotel.

    Frustrated by the outcome of his wedding night, the husband of the moment is conveniently caught having an affair with the mysterious nymphet.

    Next comes a law suit and divorce settlement hefty enough to support the women for a few months.

    Watching the mother-daughter duo perform their creative and deceptive cons keeps the film lively and entertaining.

    At times, Heartbreakers may seem like an instructional flick on conning for those envious of the seemingly glamorous lifestyles of Max and Page. Max demonstrates the fascinating “how to” and Page demonstrates the hilarious “how not to.”

    Hewitt is darling as Page/Wendy/ Alison/Jane, and she makes a welcome break from her occasionally annoying goody-two-shoes past. Weaver as Max/Angela/ Ulga is equally entertaining and strong.

    However, next to Hewitt, it is sometimes difficult to picture her as an irresistible siren fantastic enough to turn heads away from her young and hard-bodied counterpart.

    Gene Hack-man plays William Tensy, a billionaire fortunate enough to become the last con the ladies will perform. He is the wealthiest man the women have ever tackled and also the oldest and most unattractive.

    It is amusing to watch them pretend to throw themselves at Hackman with his intense smoking habit, smoke-stained teeth and liver spots.

    Ray Liotta plays Dean, a man so torn apart by finding out about his fraud marriage that he plots his own revenge. Like Hewitt, Liotta’s switch from tough guy to comedic wimp is well received.

    Among the fun and games, there must be a conflict. Jason Lee steps in as Jack, the love interest of Hewitt and the only man devoted enough not to fall for the con. Unfortunately, it doesn’t all work out as planned, but it offers a nice romantic twist.

    One thing that is somewhat questionable and definitely a weak factor is how quickly Hewitt’s character falls for Jack.

    Another downside, as mentioned before, is the random cheese-ball lines that tend to creep in and ruin potentially good moments in the film.

    At one point, Hewitt asks Weaver “How was the wedding?” Weaver replies with a staged smug voice, “It was beautiful … like all of my weddings.”

    A romantic moment between Hewitt and Lee is killed when Jack showers “Jane” with confessions of love, to which she replies, “Well, what about my butt?”

    Still, the idea is fresh and unpredictable; the characters are fun, and the intelligent jokes outweigh the lazy laugh attempts.

    All together, the film is recommended for a fun-filled evening.

    Those considering Heartbreakers as a film choice should be aware that including previews, the film leaves audiences in their seats for close to two and a half-hours. Although the film is fun, highly enjoyable and fraught with humor, audiences may find themselves hungry for a conclusion 45 minutes before an ending.

    Heartbreakers is rated PG-13 for sex related content including dialogue.