Heartbreakers Synopsis & Review: Plot Summary

🎯 Quick Overview

😅 Plot Summary – Badly Explained

A mother and daughter go on a series of dates, and then divorce them repeatedly for money, until one of them falls in love with a nice guy, who somehow still wants to be with her after finding out she’s a professional scammer.

🍿 Heartbreakers: Detailed Plot Synopsis

Meet Max and Page: The Con Artist Duo

Maxine ‘Max’ Conners (Sigourney Weaver) and her daughter Page (Jennifer Love Hewitt) are a mother-daughter team of con artists. Their scheme involves Max marrying wealthy men, and then Page seducing them, resulting in a quickie divorce and a hefty settlement. This cycle repeats, providing them with a comfortable, albeit dishonest, lifestyle. The opening of the film establishes their current con and their methods.

IRS Troubles and a Final Job

The duo faces unexpected trouble when the IRS comes after them for unpaid taxes. Faced with potential criminal charges, they reluctantly agree to pull off one last, big con together in Palm Beach, Florida. Their target is William B. Tensy (Gene Hackman), a wealthy, chain-smoking tobacco magnate. Max sees Tensy as the perfect mark for a significant payout to solve their IRS woes.

Complications and Unexpected Feelings

As Max pursues Tensy, Page decides to target Jack Withrowe (Jason Lee), a local bar owner worth $3 million, on the side. However, Page begins to develop genuine feelings for Jack, complicating their con. Meanwhile, Dean Cumanno (Ray Liotta), a previous victim of Max and Page’s scheme, tracks them down, seeking revenge and complicating their plans further.

⚠️ Spoilers and Ending Explained

🎬 Cast & Characters

• Maxine ‘Max’ Conners (Sigourney Weaver): A seasoned con artist who manipulates wealthy men into marriage for financial gain, often using her daughter in the scheme.
• Page Conners/Jane Helstrom (Jennifer Love Hewitt): Max’s daughter and reluctant accomplice, who begins to question their lifestyle after falling for a mark.
• William B. Tensy (Gene Hackman): A wealthy, terminally ill tobacco magnate and one of Max and Page’s intended victims in Palm Beach.
• Dean Cumanno (Ray Liotta): Max’s ex-husband and chop shop owner, who seeks revenge and later rekindles a relationship with Max.
• Jack Withrowe (Jason Lee): A kind-hearted bar owner who becomes Page’s love interest, leading her to question her con artist lifestyle.
• Gloria Vogal/Barbara (Anne Bancroft): A manipulative IRS agent and Max’s former mentor, who ends up betraying them by stealing their money.

💬 Memorable Quotes

• Max: “I’m from Russia, I can cry whenever I want.” – Max, pretending to be Russian, uses this line to manipulate William B. Tensy with a sob story.
• Max: “Never pick anyone cute. Cute leads to feelings.” – Max explains her strategy for avoiding emotional attachment during their cons.
• Page: “I want a life, not an accounting trick.” – Page expresses her desire for a genuine life beyond their con artistry.
• Dean: “You know what the trouble with you is, Maxine? You’re a user. And you use people until there’s nothing left.” – Dean confronts Max about her manipulative nature after being conned.
• Max: “Well, that’s okay, darling. They’re used to it.” – Max answers after Page says: “I can’t believe I married that man. I feel so dirty.”.

💰Box Office

• Budget: $35,000,000
• Domestic Gross: $40,336,607
• Worldwide Gross: $57,756,408

💥 Heartbreakers Reviews

Personal Review

I remember seeing this movie when it came out and thinking it was hilarious! Sigourney Weaver and Jennifer Love Hewitt make such a fun, if ethically challenged, duo. I loved seeing Jennifer Love Hewitt in all those cute outfits, and Gene Hackman was priceless as the gross, chain-smoking millionaire. Sure, it’s not high art, but it’s a great movie to watch when you need a laugh. I still quote lines from this movie with my friends!

• Who would enjoy:
  • “Fans of con artist comedies”
  • “Viewers who enjoy movies with strong female leads”
  • “Those looking for a lighthearted, funny film with a romantic subplot”
  • “Fans of Sigourney Weaver and Jennifer Love Hewitt”
• Content warnings ⚠:
  • “Suggestive sexual content”
  • “Crude humor”
  • “Some language”
  • “Smoking and alcohol use”

Professional Reviews

• Rotten Tomatoes: “Despite the cast’s best efforts, Heartbreakers is undone by a predictable plot and jokes that fall flat more often than not. A harmless but forgettable comedy.
• Roger Ebert: “Heartbreakers is a likable but lightweight comedy with a clever premise, that ultimately runs out of steam, despite the best efforts of Sigourney Weaver and Jennifer Love Hewitt. Gene Hackman steals every scene he’s in.
• Entertainment Weekly: “The film is a fun-ish frolic, but it loses its edge by attempting too many plot twists and turns. The performances are great, but the script lets them down.

Audience Reactions

Jennifer Love Hewitt’s wardrobe is amazing.: Many viewers enjoyed the comedic timing and the chemistry between the two leads.

Gene Hackman is hilarious as William B. Tensy.: Hackman’s performance was a highlight for many, despite the character’s off-putting habits.

Overall Consensus: Heartbreakers is a mildly entertaining comedy, elevated by its cast, but ultimately held back by its predictable plot and inconsistent humor.

Awards

🛠️ Behind the Scenes

• “Ricky Jay, a renowned stage magician and expert in con games, served as a technical advisor for the film, teaching Jennifer Love Hewitt card handling techniques.”
• “The role of William B. Tensy was written specifically with Gene Hackman in mind, and the filmmakers were thrilled when he accepted the part.”
• “The deleted scenes on the DVD include additional moments showcasing the mother-daughter dynamic, such as them exercising together and arguing about outfits.”
• “Shawn Colvin, the singer who appears as a minister in the film, is a friend of director David Mirkin. Mirkin used to write for ‘The Simpsons,’ which explains Danny Elfman did the main theme.”

🖥️ How to Watch Heartbreakers?

Heartbreakers is available for streaming and purchase on various platforms. You can find it on demand through services like Prime Video, Apple TV, and Vudu. Check your local listings for cable availability, or purchase a digital or physical copy through online retailers like Amazon and other retailers.

🎥 Similar Movies

If you enjoyed Heartbreakers, you might like these similar films:

• Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (1988): A classic comedy about rival con men trying to outsmart each other, similar to the scheming and deception in Heartbreakers.
• The Grifters (1990): A noir crime drama focusing on a trio of con artists and their complex, often dangerous relationships, offering a darker take on similar themes.
• Focus (2015): Modern film featuring con artists, like Heartbreakers, where things get complicated when feelings get involved.
• Ocean’s Eleven (2001): Like Heartbreakers, this film focuses on a group of con artists pulling off elaborate schemes, but with a heist angle and ensemble cast.

🛒 Heartbreakers Related Products

• Heartbreakers [DVD]: Own the movie and enjoy the humorous antics of Max and Page Conners anytime. The DVD includes deleted scenes and other behind-the-scenes content for a more in-depth experience.
• Jennifer Love Hewitt Signed Photo: A rare collectible featuring an autographed photo of Jennifer Love Hewitt from her Heartbreakers era. Each photo is authenticated and comes with a certificate of authenticity.
• Heartbreakers Movie Poster: A high-quality reproduction of the original Heartbreakers movie poster. This poster captures the essence of the film’s comedy and features the main cast.
• I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (Blu-ray): Jennifer Love Hewitt in a horror role. A year after the terrifying events that transpired on the Fourth of July, Julie James is haunted by images of the killer she thought she and her friends had left for dead.

🎧 Soundtrack

Heartbreakers features a captivating soundtrack that enhances the movie’s atmosphere and emotional impact. Here are some notable tracks:

• “Ave Maria” – performed by St. Cyril’s Choir
• “Back In The U.S.S.R.” – performed by Sigourney Weaver (as Olga Yevanova)

You can find the complete soundtrack on Amazon Music and Apple Music.

🤨 FAQ

🔥 Bonus Content

Sigourney Weaver – Back in the USSR

Did you know Sigourney Weaver could sing? Check out this hilarious and unexpected performance of ‘Back in the USSR’ from Heartbreakers. It’s seriously one of the most memorable parts of the movie!

Heartbreakers (2001) | Jennifer Love Hewitt “I’m the Bartender” Scene | MGM Studios

Jennifer Love Hewitt shines in this ‘Heartbreakers’ clip as she tries her hand at being a bartender! It’s a short but sweet look at her character’s rebellious side, and honestly, it’s pretty funny seeing her in this role.

HEARTBREAKERS (2001) | Best Of Max & Page | MGM

Want a quick recap of what makes ‘Heartbreakers’ so great? This compilation of Max and Page’s best moments perfectly captures their hilarious and scheming relationship. Trust me, it’s worth a watch to relive their crazy antics!

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