Heartbreakers 2001

Max, portrayed by Sigourney Weaver, along with her daughter Page Conners, played by Jennifer Love Hewitt, form a cunning duo of con artists. They set their sights on Dean Cumanno, a small-time auto-body shop owner, with a meticulously crafted scheme that they have executed many times before. The plan involves Max marrying Dean and then sexually teasing him during their wedding dinner, allowing for a series of distractions, including her dancing with the busboy, postponing their honeymoon. On their wedding night, Max feigns a fainting spell, avoiding any intimacy and leading to a quick divorce. Meanwhile, Page cunningly poses as Dean’s secretary, further entrapping him in a situation that would justify Max’s request for a hefty divorce settlement.

The con goes off without a hitch, securing Max a $300,000 settlement thanks to the intervention of their divorce attorney, Mr. Surpin, played by Carrie Fisher. Under pressure from Surpin, Dean is threatened with the exposure of his shady automotive business, compelling him to comply. However, Max holds a tight grip on Page’s life, controlling every aspect—including what she can eat and even whether she can smoke. Frustrated by their small-time hacks, Page dreams of going for bigger targets, especially when they find themselves under scrutiny from the IRS, led by Gloria Vogal, portrayed by Anne Bancroft. The agency reveals that they owe an astonishing $247,811 in back taxes due to Max’s negligence over the last seven years.

Faced with a ticking clock to settle their debts, Page reluctantly teams up with Max for one final heist, targeting William B. Tensy, a tobacco baron played by Gene Hackman. Their plan takes them to Palm Beach where, after a ruse involving a faux injury to obtain a luxury hotel suite, they set in motion their scheme to fleece Tensy. However, complications arise as Page encounters Jack, a bartender who captures her attention, leading her to develop genuine feelings. Caught between her mother’s controlling advice and her own desires, Page finds herself in a web of deceit and emotional turmoil.

As the story unfolds, the duo faces unexpected challenges, from Jack’s accidental interference to Tensy’s unexpected demise. This culminates when Jack’s infidelity shakes Page to her core, and secrets involving Max’s manipulative past threaten to unravel the tenuous bonds of trust between mother and daughter. Ultimately, Max must confront her protective instincts and the unintended damage they have inflicted on Page’s life. In a poignant climax, Max realizes that her efforts to guard Page from life’s hurts have backfired, leading to a tearful reconciliation as Page chooses to reclaim her life and her future with Jack. Meanwhile, Max and Dean find an unexpected connection, setting the stage for new schemes and the promise of adventure ahead.