The first thing you wonder is this: Could this be based on a true story? In other words, are there men [and women] like this hired to break up relationships others do not approve of? After all, if you’ve got the dough [or want the dough], why not?
And, theoretically, they don’t have to be rich and beautiful, do they?
Anyway, that’s what Alex, Melanie and Marc do. They get hired to split people up. On the other hand, they’re principled. They will only consent to do so when the women are “not knowingly unhappy”. Well, most of the time. And these men are shits. Well, most of them. Alex then becomes a sort of role model for the women. He teaches them to look for men more like, well, him.
In other words, after spending some quality time with the loving, kind, sensitive and intelligent Alex, they begin to fathom just how pathetic the man they are now with really is.
Some of their plots are really elaborate. Like something out of Mission Impossible. Perhaps then we shouldn’t take this one too seriously. In fact, why not just watch it as though it were a spoof of programs like this. Or think Healy from There’s Something About Mary. Only a little bit less screwball. Except for the parts where it’s a little bit more.
You know what’s coming of course. But things get complicated just enough to make it all worth while. It’s not only a screwball comedy. Like, for example, the 32,000 euros Alex owes to the “hard guys”. One in particular. The nut thug.
The ending of course is perfectly pat. To a fault one might say. But I wouldn’t have expected less.
IMDb
Screenwriter Laurent Zeitoun got the idea of the film from something that happened in his family, when one of his cousins was in love with someone who didn’t treat her well and he told his uncle that they should hire an actor skilled in improvisation to split up the couple.
at wiki: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heartbreaker_(2010_film
trailer: youtu.be/t3PuZo8qLxo
HEARTBREAKER [L’arnacoeur] 2010
Directed by Pascal Chaumeil
[b]Melanie [to Marc]: Tears work everytime…
…
Alex [as Pierre]: It’s too late for me. I’m far away from here.
Florence: I know. Gisele told me. Your divorce. Your breakdown.
Alex: I can’t fall in love again. But you…you…you deserve the best.[/b]
In other words, not the asshole she’s with now. So she dumps him. Mission accomplished!
[b]Brother [handing Alex an envelope with the money inside]: Then it’s agreed. My sister will never know I was involved.
Alex: You know our rules.
Brother: And if she ever returns to that jerk…
Alex: A full refund.
Brother: Has that ever happened?
Alex: Never.
…
Alex [voiceover]: Women in couples come in three catagories: happy, knowingly unhappy and unhappy without knowing it. I work on the final category. My name is Alex Lippi. I break up couples for a living.
…
Melanie [to the camera]: We’re here to help women who are with jerks. Our goal: to open their eyes. Our method: seduction. We never intervene for religious or racial reasons. Alex never sleeps with them. And most important, we don’t intervene unless the woman is unhappy.[/b]
Even if she doesn’t really know it yet.
Alex [to the camera]: …and anything goes.
And he really means is.
[b]Marc: Mozart didn’t do an opera on an accordion.
…
Juliette: I’ll pay you double to go. My father won’t know.
[he shakes his head]
Juliette: How much?
Alex: Stop it.
Juliette: Maybe you don’t want money. Ever wanted a quickie with a woman about to get married? Let’s do it in the fitting room. No panties. Just lift up my dress.
…
Alex [on the phone to Marc]: The nympho is in my room! She’ll screw everything up! Work something out!
…
Alex [after Marc knocks the “nympho” out cold]: Are you out of your mind?!
Marc: You said anything goes. Make up your mind.
…
Alex: I’ll wake the volcano…
…
Juliette [to Alex]: I feel good with you. You don’t try to impress me. You’re natural, without lies or pretense. [/b]
The look on his face? Take a wild guess.
Alex: Wait. You’ve woken me, Juliette. I haven’t felt this alive in ages.
Juliette: I feel alive thanks to you too.
Alex: Hold on, please. Let me finish. For me, it’s too late. I’m far away from here…
Sound familiar? Only this time he really means it!
Dad [to Juliette]: You are a serious, independent woman with a brilliant career. But what are you trying to prove by marrying Jonathan? I have nothing against him. He’s wonderful, smart, brilliant, and no doubt very kind. But he’ll bore you to tears.
I know he bores me to tears.
[b]Melanie: It’s a real shame. After all, you really liked her. What was last night like?
Alex: A dream.
Melanie: Never mind. With your pretty looks, you’ll soon find a Sandrine or a Karine or whatever…and forget her name after the sex.
…
Juliette [while she is walking down the aisle at her wedding]: How much do you pay a guy to seduce your daughter?
Dad: Not a thing. He refused my money.
…
Dad [to Juliette]: There’s a car parked outside with the keys in the ignition.
[pause]
Dad: Just in case.
…
Alex [to Juliette]: I hate Roquefort, I’d never seen Dirty Dancing, I think George Michael is crap, and my thigh’s just fine. I don’t know if I’m good enough for you. I don’t have a jet or an apartment. I sleep in my office. But I know I need to see you every day.[/b]
See, a spoof. But not to worry about Alex. She is loaded.