heartburn movie reviews

Maybe Nora Ephron should have based her story on somebody else’s marriage. That way, she could have provided the distance and perspective that good comedy needs. Instead, she based “Heartburn” – first her novel and now her screenplay – on her own marriage. And she apparently had too much anger to transform the facts into entertaining fiction. This is a bitter, sour movie about two people who are only marginally interesting.

The characters are Rachel, a New York writer, and Mark, a Washington political columnist. The originals for the characters are Ephron and Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein, whom she married and then divorced when she learned he was having affairs.

In the movie, the characters are played by Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson , and just by seeing their names on the marquee you’d figure the movie would have to be electrifying. But it’s not. Here is the story of two people with no chemistry, played by two actors with great chemistry. The only way they can get into character is to play against the very things we like them for.

Streep seems dowdy and querulous. Nicholson seems to be a shallow creep. Their romance never really seems real, never seems important and permanent. So when he starts fooling around, we don’t feel the enormity of the offense. There’s not much in their marriage for him to betray.

The story: Rachel meets Mark and it’s love at first sight, but it’s not the kind of loin-churning passion we felt when Nicholson met Kathleen Turner in “ Prizzi's Honor .” It’s more of a low-grade fever, something to be treated with aspirin – or marriage.

On her wedding day, Rachel takes to the bedroom of her father’s apartment and refuses to emerge for hours. Her reluctance is touching at first, then comic and finally annoying. After the ceremony, they move into a handyman special in Georgetown (affordable because it recently had a fire), and the joke is that the renovations to the house will last longer than their marriage.

There are scenes set in the thickets of Washington gossip, where Catherine O'Hara plays the reigning bitch goddess, and other scenes of domesticity, as when Nicholson wonders why the carpenters have not supplied a doorway from the kitchen to the rest of the house.

Here and there, we see glimmers of the greatness of both Nicholson and Streep, who on an ordinary day with a decent script can act circles around anybody. There’s a scene in a maternity ward where Streep comes out of anesthesia and turns to see Nicholson standing there holding their baby. She asks if it’s theirs, and the goofy grin on his face is a moment of pure joy.

There’s another moment where they sing nursery songs to each other. And a moment when Nicholson sits by her bed and cries, because he knows that the flaws in his character will make it impossible for him to function responsibly as a husband and father.

Those moments are adrift in a sea of ennui. “Heartburn” is punctuated by scenes that feel like the director, Mike Nichols , is marking time. Was Bernstein’s dislike for the project so great that the filmmakers prudently left out all of the really good stuff? If I were Bernstein, I would rather beportrayed as a colorful rake than as the hapless fall guy in this movie. If they’re going to remember you at all, it’s not going to be for being unmemorable.

“Heartburn” not only misses in its treatment of the two central characters, it also fails to give us a real sense of the New York-Washington media axis. The O’Hara character comes closest; I guess she’s supposed to be a cross between celebrity reporter Barbara Howar and Washington gossip columnist Diana McClellan. She puts the right spin on her sly reports of the latest transgressions and infidelities.

But Nicholson never seems to be a Washington columnist. Most of the time, he doesn’t have much to say. The Streep character is supposed to be some kind of a food writer, but what we totally miss is the manic desperation of the typical New York free-lancer. She seems too placid and laid back. She ought to be pitching projects and trying to get big advances.

When she wrote the screenplay, Ephron missed a bet by not writing in some scenes in which her character meets with a New York publisher and tries to pitch a comic novel in which she rips the lid off of her marriage to a famous journalist. If we’re going to base a story on a real marriage, let’s go all the way.

After we’ve eviscerated the philandering husband, why stop before we get to the part where the ex-wife violates her own privacy and that of her children in a bid for revenge, the best-seller list and a sale to the movies? And what about the ex-husband’s offer to sue? I had the strangest feeling that “Heartburn” ended just when it was starting to get interesting.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

• Richard Masur as Arthur
• Jack Nicholson as Mark
• Maureen Stapleton as Vera
• Stockard Channing as Julie
• Jeff Daniels as Richard
• Meryl Streep as Rachel
• Catherine O’Hara as Betty
• Carly Simon

Directed by

• Mike Nichols

Photographed by

• Nestor Almendros

Produced by

• Robert Greenhut

Screenplay by

• Nora Ephron

Leave a comment

Now playing.

Transformers One

American Crime Story: Aaron Hernandez

Speak No Evil (2024)

Saturday Night

The Killer’s Game

Girls Will Be Girls

The 4:30 Movie

Sweetheart Deal

Latest articles.

“Agatha All Along” Wastes Supernatural Powers of an Excellent Cast

Colin Farrell Turns Gotham Into “The Sopranos” with HBO’s Thrilling “The Penguin”

TIFF 2024: Table of Contents

TIFF 2024: Village Keeper, 40 Acres, Flow

The best movie reviews, in your inbox.

• Entertainment
• In Defense of Nora Ephron’s Unfairly Panned <em>Heartburn</em> Movie

In Defense of Nora Ephron’s Unfairly Panned Heartburn Movie

S ay the name Nora Ephron and you’ll conjure the romance of autumn in New York City, the charm of Meg Ryan, and the sense that true love is right around the corner. With the holy trinity of Ephron-written films— 1989’s When Harry Met Sally , 1993’s Sleepless in Seattle , and 1998’s You’ve Got Mail (the latter two of which she also directed)—she redefined the rom-com for a new generation . Her most celebrated films center clever, sophisticated yet vulnerable women on the hunt for love. But, while Ephron’s name may be synonymous with romance , her best film is the one that makes a convincing case for a breakup.

Heartburn , the darkly complex 1986 comedy about the implosion of a marriage, written by Ephron and directed by Mike Nichols , could reasonably be called the black sheep of the Ephron canon. The movie is based on Ephron’s deliciously acerbic roman a clef of the same name—a book that turns 40 this month—written in the aftermath of her divorce from her second husband, Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein . Bernstein famously cheated on Ephron while she was pregnant with their second child; both the book and the film center on Rachel Samstat, a pregnant food writer who, like Ephron, discovers that her political journalist husband Mark is having an affair.

Ephron died in 2012. Of all the films she wrote or directed, Heartburn is the most overtly personal. And of all the heroines she created, Rachel skews closest to who Ephron was in real life: intellectual but thorny, deploying her sharp wit as a defense against her deepest insecurities. Heartburn is the film that best embodies the maxim coined by her mother, the playwright Phoebe Ephron, which largely defined Ephron’s work: “Everything is copy.” The film is also the most cogent example of how this ethos, inescapably tied to Ephron’s legacy, was a double-edged sword when it came to her public perception.

Read More : Nora Ephron’s Son Pays Tribute in ‘Everything Is Copy’

While Ephron is now credited with creating the blueprint for a generation of writers who draw from personal experiences to create art, her decision to pull inspiration from the messy nuances of her own life was, in the earlier years of her career, heavily criticized. She was labeled an “effective self-publicizer” in a New York Times review of Heartburn the book, while writer Leon Wieseltier, under the pen name Tristan Vox in Vanity Fair , slammed the then-possibility of a Heartburn film as “child abuse,” going so far as to make the case that Bernstein’s betrayal was far less harmful than Ephron laying bare the details of her story. As Vox, Wieseltier equated the potential creation of a film adaptation to “the infidelity of a mother toward her children.” The film adaptation even played a pivotal role in the divorce agreement, which included stipulations that Bernstein be allowed to meet with Nichols and view an early cut, and that a share of the profits from the film be placed in a trust for their children. Following the finalization of their divorce, Bernstein disparaged Ephron and the Heartburn screenplay, claiming that it “continues the tasteless exploitation and public circus Nora has made out of our lives.”

While Heartburn the novel was ultimately a best-selling hit, Heartburn the film—despite starring a brilliant Meryl Streep and an ever-sinister Jack Nicholson —was panned. It has an audience score of 46% on Rotten Tomatoes. Critics, especially male ones, found it shallow and rancorous. In his review for the Chicago Sun-Times , Robert Ebert labeled Heartburn a “bitter, sour movie about two people who are only marginally interesting,” going so far as to write that Ephron had “too much anger” and suggesting that she should have “based her story on somebody else’s marriage.”

Perhaps it should come as no surprise that sentiment surrounding Heartburn is far from the cozy, effusive enthusiasm that Ephron’s films would later inspire—the movie is a study in hard truths packaged in a medium that’s often used for escapism. But the very things that turn off viewers of Heartburn —its wry and clear-eyed depiction of a failing marriage, a shameless fixation on the indignity of betrayal, the discomfort of witnessing a pregnant woman be scorned, and an unwillingness to offer a romantic reconciliation—are what make it Ephron’s best work.

Heartburn will not pull you in for a warm hug, but it’s a film to turn to when you need a bracing dose of honesty, a look at the ugly side of love we don’t always talk about but intimately know. It offers us a relatable take on modern love—and a candid look at Ephron, a cultural tour de force, at her realest, funniest, and most heartbreakingly vulnerable.

While most films about romantic relationships focus on the process of falling in love, culminating in a grand finale as the couple decides to be together, Heartburn is a meditation on what happens after the credits typically roll. It looks beyond the struggle of finding someone to be with to the greater challenge of staying in love. The film opens with a wedding meet-cute that ends with Rachel and Mark tucking into a post-coital bowl of spaghetti carbonara, Mark grandly telling Rachel that when they’re married, he wants her to make the dish every week. Soon, they tie the knot, but they discover that married life is not all carbonara and kisses—it’s hard work and arduous home renovations, takeout pizza and crying children, suspicions realized, trust lost, and, eventually, vows broken. Streep’s portrayal of Rachel is equal parts spirited and disarmingly pathetic. In a scene at the couple’s country home, she earnestly confides in her friends about the joy she feels as a new mother. But she’s interrupted when Mark savagely rips a drumstick from the roast chicken she prepared for the group before the meal begins. His thoughtless faux pas sparks a heated argument between husband and wife, shattering their tableaux of domestic bliss. In Heartburn, we get the rare opportunity to see a romantic relationship that is finite, flawed, and very, very real.

Read More : Affairs Are Only Human—But That Shouldn’t Be Your Excuse

This element of authenticity looms large in the legacy of Heartburn— it’s the true draw of the film, and the reason Ephron’s work has endured. While her rom-coms with adorable heroines and happy endings made her a genre-defining voice, Heartburn is the film that captures the real reason why we love Ephron—and the real value of the “everything is copy” maxim. Her staunch willingness to mine some of the most painful and humiliating moments of her life, even as naysayers decried her approach as bitter and self-serving, and her ability to weave those moments into a story that makes us laugh and cry at the same time, was daring. More than that, it was groundbreaking, setting an example that would influence generations. “Above all, whatever you do, be the heroine of your own life,” Ephron once famously said. “Not the victim.”

There’s a scene in Heartburn when Rachel discovers that Mark has continued on with his affair. After delivering a wry speech about the end of love at a dinner party—“You can either stick with it, which is unbearable, or you can go off and dream another dream”—she throws a key lime pie in his face with perfect aim, then coolly asks for the car keys and exits the room without looking back. The thrill we feel watching Rachel stand up for herself is a thrill we also feel for Ephron, who refused to be devastated by Bernstein’s infidelity. True to her own advice, Ephron was no victim. But she was also more than a heroine: she was the one telling the story.

More Must-Reads from TIME

• Welcome to the Golden Age of Scams
• Introducing TIME's 2024 Latino Leaders
• How to Make an Argument That’s Actually Persuasive
• Did the Pandemic Break Our Brains?
• 33 True Crime Documentaries That Shaped the Genre
• The Ordained Rabbi Who Bought a Porn Company
• Why Gut Health Issues Are More Common in Women
• The 100 Most Influential People in AI 2024

Write to Cady Lang at [email protected]

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

• About Rotten Tomatoes®
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening This Week
• Top Box Office
• Coming Soon to Theaters
• Certified Fresh Movies

Movies at Home

• Fandango at Home
• Prime Video
• Most Popular Streaming Movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• 83% Speak No Evil Link to Speak No Evil
• 77% Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Link to Beetlejuice Beetlejuice
• 96% Rebel Ridge Link to Rebel Ridge

New TV Tonight

• 91% The Penguin: Season 1
• 90% High Potential: Season 1
• 86% American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez: Season 1
• 64% A Very Royal Scandal: Season 1
• 100% Tulsa King: Season 2
• 29% Emmys: Season 76
• 40% Frasier: Season 2
• 65% Agatha All Along: Season 1
• -- Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story: Season 2
• -- Twilight of the Gods: Season 1

Most Popular TV on RT

• 63% The Perfect Couple: Season 1
• 74% Kaos: Season 1
• 99% Shōgun: Season 1
• 67% The Old Man: Season 2
• 83% The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power: Season 2
• 100% Slow Horses: Season 4
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV

Certified fresh pick

• 91% The Penguin: Season 1 Link to The Penguin: Season 1
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

The 60 Best 1960s Horror Movies

47 Best Italian Horror Movies of All Time

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

‘Seen on the Screen’ Podcast: A Celebration of Universal Stories 

The Fight Night Cast on Trolling Each Other on Set

• Trending on RT
• Hispanic Heritage Month
• Spanish-Language Movies
• Re-Release Calendar

Heartburn Reviews

So far it's the best American movie of the year.

Full Review | Jul 30, 2024

If anything saves Heartburn from disaster, it is the occasional visually comic surprise and a few very funny lines.

Full Review | May 6, 2024

...a mostly stirring endeavor that fares better than one might’ve anticipated.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/4 | Jul 22, 2022

You get the impression its meant to be funny, in that sardonic half-chortle sort of way, but nothing ever quite lands.

Full Review | Mar 2, 2022

Heartburn is another example of the crisis American cinema is undergoing. [Full Review in Spanish]

Full Review | Mar 11, 2020

Despite engaging performances by Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson, the screen adaptation of Nora Ephron's popular novel is shallow and wan.

Full Review | Nov 6, 2019

I really enjoyed Heartburn, despite the fact that the storyline seemed to go nowhere. I wouldn't have wanted to miss Meryl Streep's performance for anything.

Full Review | Aug 22, 2019

What's profound about it is its intimacy. You feel as if you were there, and it happened to you, and its heroism, the heroism of everyday life, is yours.

Full Review | Jan 2, 2018

The food-sex jokes come off half-baked.

Full Review | Original Score: C | Nov 23, 2015

'80s comedy-drama has mature themes, profanity.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Dec 9, 2014

This is the most disappointing film of the year, considering its pedigree -- a Mike Nichols film from a Nora Ephron script, starring Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson.

Full Review | Original Score: 2/4 | Jan 16, 2013

Decently (but no more) acted by Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson, this marriage on the rocks melodrama, based on Nora Ephron's memoir, is ultimately shallow and verbose.

Full Review | Original Score: C | Jun 2, 2012

Grabs you by the heart and doesn't let go

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 17, 2008

Uneven script, but brilliant performances.

Full Review | Original Score: 4/5 | Jun 21, 2005

Depicts a marriage on the rocks.

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Aug 26, 2004

it's hard to root for their reconciliation

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Jun 29, 2004

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Apr 30, 2004

Full Review | Original Score: 3/5 | Feb 22, 2004

Full Review | Original Score: 2/5 | Aug 1, 2003

Unlike the babies that [Meryl Streep] carries convincingly through Rachel's pregnancies, the story has little weight.

Full Review | May 21, 2003

Common Sense Media

Movie & TV reviews for parents

• For Parents
• For Educators
• Our Work and Impact

Or browse by category:

• Movie Reviews
• Best Movie Lists
• Best Movies on Netflix, Disney+, and More

Common Sense Selections for Movies

50 Modern Movies All Kids Should Watch Before They're 12

• Best TV Lists
• Best TV Shows on Netflix, Disney+, and More
• Common Sense Selections for TV
• Video Reviews of TV Shows

Best Kids' Shows on Disney+

Best Kids' TV Shows on Netflix

• Book Reviews
• Best Book Lists
• Common Sense Selections for Books

8 Tips for Getting Kids Hooked on Books

50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12

• Game Reviews
• Best Game Lists

Common Sense Selections for Games

• Video Reviews of Games

Nintendo Switch Games for Family Fun

• Podcast Reviews
• Best Podcast Lists

Common Sense Selections for Podcasts

Parents' Guide to Podcasts

• App Reviews
• Best App Lists

Social Networking for Teens

Gun-Free Action Game Apps

Reviews for AI Apps and Tools

• YouTube Channel Reviews
• YouTube Kids Channels by Topic

Parents' Ultimate Guide to YouTube Kids

YouTube Kids Channels for Gamers

• Preschoolers (2-4)
• Little Kids (5-7)
• Big Kids (8-9)
• Pre-Teens (10-12)
• Teens (13+)
• Screen Time
• Social Media
• Online Safety
• Identity and Community

Parents' Ultimate Guide to Generative AI

• Family Tech Planners
• Digital Skills
• All Articles
• Latino Culture
• Black Voices
• Asian Stories
• Native Narratives
• LGBTQ+ Pride
• Best of Diverse Representation List

Multicultural Books

YouTube Channels with Diverse Representations

Podcasts with Diverse Characters and Stories

• Common Sense Says
• Parents Say 0 Reviews
• Kids Say 0 Reviews

Common Sense Media Review

1980s Nora Ephron comedy-drama has mature themes, profanity.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that Heartburn is a 1986 dramedy written by Nora Ephron that chronicles the collapse of a marriage due to a husband's extramarital affairs. Cheating is frequently discussed. Characters have sex under the covers but nothing explicit is shown. Though it has a positive and complex female…

Why Age 14+?

"F--k" is occasionally used. Characters also say "s--t," "hell," "dyke," "bastar

Characters drink cocktails, wine, champagne, and beer at wedding receptions, par

A man with a gun enters a group therapy session and robs everyone in the room. H

Adultery is a major theme. Affairs and cheating are frequently discussed. Two ad

Any Positive Content?

Rachel Samstat is an independent woman doing her best to balance the demands of

The main character Rachel is a successful writer, modeled after the film's scree

The importance of courage and resilience in the aftermath of difficulties, such

"F--k" is occasionally used. Characters also say "s--t," "hell," "dyke," "bastard," and "bitch."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Drinking, Drugs & Smoking

Characters drink cocktails, wine, champagne, and beer at wedding receptions, parties, and barbecues. Characters smoke cigarettes and cigars.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Violence & Scariness

A man with a gun enters a group therapy session and robs everyone in the room. He puts a gun to the lead character's head.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Adultery is a major theme. Affairs and cheating are frequently discussed. Two adults have sex under the covers; nothing explicit is shown.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Positive Role Models

Rachel Samstat is an independent woman doing her best to balance the demands of a successful writing career with the challenges of motherhood and marriage. When her marriage begins to fall apart, she displays resiliency and even a sense of optimism as she begins picking up the pieces.

Diverse Representations

The main character Rachel is a successful writer, modeled after the film's screenwriter Nora Ephron. Although the film is partly set in diverse New York City, only two characters of color have lines, and they're both in subservient roles: Della (Anna Maria Horsford) is Rachel's Black cleaning lady and Juanita (Aida Linares) is Rachel's Latina nanny, both of them limited to dialogue about their work. Juanita and Rachel's daughter briefly play a culturally insensitive game that uses Native American stereotypes, using a tipi, whooping, and feather headdresses.

Did we miss something on diversity? Suggest an update.

Positive Messages

The importance of courage and resilience in the aftermath of difficulties, such as an unsuccessful marriage. Confidence and a hopeful attitude will take you far.

Parents need to know that Heartburn is a 1986 dramedy written by Nora Ephron that chronicles the collapse of a marriage due to a husband's extramarital affairs. Cheating is frequently discussed. Characters have sex under the covers but nothing explicit is shown. Though it has a positive and complex female lead, who shows courage and resilience in the aftermath of marital difficulties, the cast has very little diversity. Only two characters of color have any lines and are in stereotypical roles as domestic staff. Profanity includes "f--k," "s--t," "bitch," "dyke," etc. A man enters a group therapy session and holds a gun to the lead character's head before robbing everyone. Characters drink and smoke. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

Where to Watch

Videos and photos.

Parent and Kid Reviews

• Parents say

There aren't any parent reviews yet. Be the first to review this title.

What's the Story?

In HEARTBURN, Rachel Samstat ( Meryl Streep ) is a successful food writer living in New York City. At a wedding, she meets Mark Forman ( Jack Nicholson ), a Washington, D.C., columnist. They hit it off, fall in love, and get married, despite Rachel's reservations about marriage and Mark's reputation as a ladies' man who avoids commitment. Rachel moves to D.C., and the newly married couple tries to restore a row house as they start a family. Rachel has never been happier, until she begins to suspect that Mark is having an affair. When she learns that her suspicions are true, she goes back to New York City with their baby (while pregnant with their second child) and tries to pick up the pieces of her shattered life, even as Mark makes an attempt at reconciliation.

Is It Any Good?

Excellent acting and Ephron's intelligent script keep this movie from being lumped in with other 1980s dramedies. Despite occasional forays into New Yorker cliches -- at one point, Streep's character laments how, "You can't get a decent bagel in Washington, D.C.!" Heartburn goes beyond its time and place to explore enduring themes of love, marriage, and infidelity. The comedy and the drama perfectly balance each other out; the humor keeps the serious concerns from being too dour, and the drama keeps the movie from being too lighthearted. The result is a poignant exploration of life before, during, and after a marriage that somehow finds hope in the face of cynical despair.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about the themes in Heartburn . How are marriage, love, infidelity, motherhood, and work/life balance explored throughout this movie?

The screenplay was written by Nora Ephron and is based on her book of the same title, inspired by her marriage to Carl Bernstein, one of the two Washington Post journalists best known for uncovering the Watergate scandal. What do you see as the challenges in creating movies or books rooted in your own life?

This movie came out in 1986. If it were to be remade in contemporary times, what do you think would be done differently? What would remain the same?

Movie Details

• In theaters : July 25, 1986
• On DVD or streaming : July 6, 2004
• Cast : Meryl Streep , Jack Nicholson , Jeff Daniels
• Director : Mike Nichols
• Inclusion Information : Female actors
• Studio : Paramount Pictures
• Genre : Comedy
• Topics : Book Characters
• Run time : 108 minutes
• MPAA rating : R
• Last updated : November 16, 2023

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

Suggest an Update

What to watch next.

You've Got Mail

Sleepless in Seattle

Never Been Kissed

Drama movies that tug at the heartstrings, romantic comedies, related topics.

• Book Characters

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

Heartburn is a beautifully crafted film with flawless performances and many splendid moments, yet the overall effect is a bit disappointing.

By Variety Staff

Variety Staff

Follow Us on Twitter

• ‘Business of Television’ Author Updates Book to Reflect a Very Different Hollywood Era 1 week ago
• J.K. Rowling Labels Valentina Petrillo a ‘Cheat’ After Trans Sprinter Qualifies for Women’s Semi-Finals at Paris Paralympics Following Previous Wins in Men’s Category 2 weeks ago
• More Than 65 Palestinian Filmmakers, Including Hany Abu Assad, Elia Suleiman and Farah Nabulsi, Sign Letter Accusing Hollywood of ‘Dehumanizing’ Palestinians (EXCLUSIVE) 3 weeks ago

From the start Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson are never quite a couple. He’s a Washington political columnist and she’s a New York food writer. They meet at a wedding and he overpowers her. Soon they’re having their own wedding.

Nora Ephron adapted her own novel for the screen which in turn borrowed heavily from her marriage with Watergate reporter Carl Bernstein.

While the day-to-day details are drawn with a striking clarity, Ephron’s script never goes much beyond the mannerisms of middle-class life. Even with the sketchy background information, it’s hard to tell what these people are feeling or what they want.

Where the film does excel is in creating the surface and texture of their life. Director Mike Nichols knows the territory well enough to throw in some subtle but biting satire and Nicholson (who replaced Mandy Patinkin during production) and Streep fill in the canvas.

• Production: Paramount. Dir Mike Nichols; Producer Mike Nichols, Robert Greenhut; Screenplay Nora Ephron; Camera Nestor Almendros; Editor Sam O'Steen; Music Carly Simon Art Dir Tony Walton
• Crew: (Color) Available on VHS, DVD. Extract of a review from 1986. Running time: 108 MIN.
• With: Meryl Streep Jack Nicholson Jeff Daniels Maureen Stapleton Stockard Channing Richard Masur

More from Variety

Marianna Brennand’s Drama ‘Manas,’ Backed by Walter Salles and the Dardenne Brothers, Scores Top Venice Days Prize

Why Studios Still Haven’t Licensed Movies and TV Shows to Train AI

‘Sicilian Letters’ Directors Fabio Grassadonia and Antonio Piazza on Making a Film About Italy’s Last Godfather, a ‘Hyper-Narcissistic Criminal’ Who Read Dostoyevsky

Belgian Films Put on a Show of Force at Festivals as Global Co-Productions Increase

Disney vs. DirecTV Is a Different Kind of Carriage Battle 

‘Why War’ Review: Amos Gitai’s Rumination on Conflict Lacks Specificity

More from our brands, teamsters won’t endorse a candidate, so local unions back harris.

Auberge Is Opening Its First Hotel in Italy Next Year. Here’s a Look Inside.

Philly Mayor Supports 76ers’ $1.3 Billion Downtown Arena Plan

The Best Loofahs and Body Scrubbers, According to Dermatologists

Agatha All Along Nudity ‘First’ Was All Kathryn Hahn’s Idea — And a ‘Point of Pride for Us,’ Says EP

• Paramount Pictures

Summary An autobiographical look at the breakup of Ephron's marriage to Carl "All the President's Men" Bernstein that was also a best-selling novel. The Ephron character, Rachel is a food writer at a New York magazine who meets Washington columnist Mark at a wedding and ends up falling in love with him despite her reservations about marriage. Th ... Read More

Directed By : Mike Nichols

Written By : Nora Ephron

Where to Watch

Meryl Streep

Jack nicholson, jeff daniels, maureen stapleton, stockard channing, richard masur, catherine o'hara, steven hill, rachel's father, milos forman, mamie gummer, karen akers, thelma rice, aida linares, anna maria horsford, ron mclarty, detective o'brien, kenneth welsh, kevin spacey, subway thief, mercedes ruehl, joanna gleason, r.s. thomas, jack gilpin, critic reviews.

• All Reviews
• Positive Reviews
• Mixed Reviews
• Negative Reviews

User Reviews

There are no user reviews yet. Be the first to add a review.

Related Movies

Singin' in the rain, city lights, the rules of the game, some like it hot, dr. strangelove or: how i learned to stop worrying and love the bomb, american graffiti, the shop around the corner, a hard day's night, the philadelphia story, ratatouille, the lady eve, do not expect too much from the end of the world, la dolce vita, meet me in st. louis, the apartment, chimes at midnight, related news.

The 15 Best George Clooney Movies

We rank the 15 best-reviewed movies starring George Clooney by Metascore.

The 15 Best Brad Pitt Movies

We rank the 15 best-reviewed movies starring Brad Pitt by Metascore.

2024-25 Movie Release Calendar

Jason dietz.

Find a schedule of release dates for every movie coming to theaters, VOD, and streaming throughout 2024 and beyond, updated daily.

Film Festival Roundup: Best & Worst Films at TIFF, Venice, and Telluride 2024

Keith kimbell.

Find out what critics are saying about over 50 major films debuting at fall's most prestigious film festivals, including Telluride, Toronto (TIFF), and Venice, and see which films collected the festivals' major awards.

September 2024 Movie Preview

Get details on this month's most notable new films including a long-awaited Beetlejuice sequel, Francis Ford Coppola's controversial passion project, and much more.

🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

Get us in your inbox

Sign up to our newsletter for the latest and greatest from your city and beyond

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

Awesome, you're subscribed!

The best things in life are free.

Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).

Déjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

Love the mag?

Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions.

• Things to Do
• Food & Drink
• Arts & Culture
• Time Out Market
• Coca-Cola Foodmarks
• Los Angeles

Time Out says

Release details.

• Duration: 109 mins

Cast and crew

• Director: Mike Nichols
• Screenwriter: Nora Ephron
• Meryl Streep

Been there, done that? Think again, my friend.

Discover Time Out original video

• Press office
• Investor relations
• Work for Time Out
• Editorial guidelines
• Privacy notice
• Do not sell my information
• Cookie policy
• Accessibility statement
• Terms of use
• Modern slavery statement
• Manage cookies
• Advertising

Time Out Worldwide

• All Time Out Locations
• North America
• South America
• South Pacific

• Now Playing
• Airing Today
• Popular People
• Discussions
• Leaderboard
• Alternative Titles
• Cast & Crew
• Release Dates
• Translations
• Backdrops 5
• Content Issues 0

Available to Rent or Buy

Heartburn (1986).

Login to use TMDB's new rating system.

Welcome to Vibes, TMDB's new rating system! For more information, visit the contribution bible .

• Play Trailer

Sex. Love. Marriage. Some people don't know when to quit.

Rachel is a food writer at a New York magazine who meets Washington columnist Mark at a wedding and ends up falling in love with him despite her reservations about marriage. They buy a house, have a daughter, and Rachel thinks they are living happily ever after until she discovers that Mark is having an affair while she is waddling around with a second pregnancy.

Nora Ephron

Novel, Screenplay

Mike Nichols

Top Billed Cast

Meryl Streep

Jack Nicholson

Jeff Daniels

Maureen Stapleton

Stockard Channing

Richard Masur

Catherine O'Hara

Steven Hill

Rachel's Father

Miloš Forman

Full Cast & Crew

• Discussions 0

We don't have any reviews for Heartburn.

• Most Popular

Status Released

Original Language English

Budget $15,000,000.00

Revenue $52,600,000.00

• husband wife relationship
• based on memoir or autobiography
• semi autobiographical

Content Score 

Yes! Looking good!

Looks like we're missing the following data in en-US or en-US ...

Top Contributors

10 EmperorCommodus

7 heisenbeerg

View Edit History

Popularity Trend

Login to edit

Keyboard Shortcuts

Login to report an issue

You need to be logged in to continue. Click here to login or here to sign up.

Can't find a movie or TV show? Login to create it.

On media pages

On tv season pages, on tv episode pages, on all image pages, on all edit pages, on discussion pages.

Want to rate or add this item to a list?

Not a member?

Sign up and join the community

Heartburn (1986)

Directed by mike nichols.

• AllMovie Rating 6
• User Ratings ( 0 )
• Your Rating
• Overview ↓
• User Reviews ↓
• Cast & Crew ↓
• Streams ↓
• Related ↓

Description by Wikipedia

Heartburn is a 1986 American comedy-drama film directed and produced by Mike Nichols, and stars Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson. The screenplay by Nora Ephron is based on her semi-autobiographical novel of the same name, which was inspired by her tempestuous second marriage, to Carl Bernstein and his affair with Margaret Jay, the daughter of former British Prime Minister James Callaghan.

The film's theme song, "Coming Around Again", written and performed by Carly Simon, became one of 1986's Billboard hits, reaching #18 on the Hot 100 and #5 on the Adult Contemporary chart.

Related Movies

Alternate Titles

"We waste our money so you don't have to."

"We waste our money, so you don't have to."

Movie Review

US Release Date: 07-25-1986

Directed by: Mike Nichols

Starring ▸ ▾

• Meryl Streep ,  as
• Rachel Samstat
• Jack Nicholson ,  as
• Mark Forman
• Stockard Channing ,  as
• Julie Siegel
• Jeff Daniels ,  as
• Milos Forman ,  as
• Steven Hill ,  as
• Harry Samstat
• Catherine O'Hara ,  as
• Mamie Gummer ,  as
• Joanna Gleason ,  as
• Anna Maria Horsford ,  as
• Richard Masur ,  as
• Arthur Siegel
• Maureen Stapleton ,  as
• Mercedes Ruehl ,  as
• Kevin Spacey ,  as
• Subway Thief
• Karen Akers ,  as
• Thelma Rice
• Aida Linares ,  as
• Tony Shalhoub as
• Airplane passenger

Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep in Heartburn .

A movie directed by Mike Nichols, from a screenplay (based on her novel) by Nora Ephron, starring Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson has a lot going for it. It also has a lot to live up to. Heartburn never reaches the level of greatness suggested by the sum of its celebrated parts. Ephron would go on to write better scripts, Nichols certainly directed better films, and Streep and Nicholson would reunite the following year in what most people consider to be a superior film, Ironweed . Heartburn has its moments but it's extremely one-sided and the script often mistakes bitterness for humor.

The story is based on Ehpron's tumultuous real life marriage to Carl ( All the Presidents Men ) Bernstein. Streep is Rachel Samstat, a New York City food writer. She meets Mark Forman (Nicholson), a Washington D.C. based political columnist and they have a whirlwind romance, get married, and begin having babies. And then the roof caves in on Rachel when she finds out her husband is cheating on her. She's got an infant daughter and another baby on the way but she still manages to find time to attend group therapy sessions when she's not preparing gourmet meals for her husband.

Streep is particularly good as the heartbroken mother trying to pick up the pieces after her world falls apart. Unfortunately the script portrays her as practically the perfect little wife and mother while Mark remains pretty much just a symbol of the cheating male, rather than a real person. Ephron was perhaps too close to the story to fully develop its inherent comedic possibilities. A few years later she would successfully recycle certain aspects of the story in When Harry Met Sally . The couple played by Richard Masur and Stockard Channing here are incredibly similar to the couple played by Bruno Kirby and Carrie Fisher in that romantic comedy classic. And just as Billy Crystal does in When Harry Met Sally , Jack Nicholson humorously sings a show tune in Heartburn .

Jack Nicholson replaced Mandy Patinkin as Mark Forman after Mike Nichols realized Patinkin and Streep had no chemistry together. Nicholson and Streep do generate some sparks although neither is particularly known for their romantic leading roles. But the script rushes through their falling in love scenes so that the audience barely has any time to invest in their relationship before it hits the rocks. And once that happens Nicholson disappears from the movie for much of the third act.

From Maureen Stapleton as Rachel's therapist to Kevin Spacey making his movie debut as an armed subway thief, Heartburn boasts an impressive array of familiar faces in supporting roles. Jeff Daniels, Catherine O'Hara, Joanna Gleason, Mercedes Ruehl, Anna Maria Horsford, Steven Hill, and even legendary director Milos Forman all show up in small or cameo roles. Spacey was a baby-faced 26-year-old at the time and his big scene is robbing Rachel's entire therapy group at gunpoint.

Heartburn tells the story of one woman's journey from a young idealistic romantic to a wiser embittered woman (and mother of two small children) able to put a pie in her philandering husband's face and walk out. But since these are upper middle class citizens her triumph is of the emotional kind only. She doesn't have to worry about paying the bills, she simply gets on that plane with her kids and flies off, but to what? Heartburn never really gets beneath the surface of Rachel and Mark's marriage. Thanks to the incredible emoting of Meryl Streep we are able to understand Rachel on a deeper level than the script alone allows. But great acting, and even great directing, cannot overcome the limits of a mediocre screenplay.

Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep in Heartburn

Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep are such iconic actors that their names alone make this a movie worth checking out. Their pairing is akin to Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn. They are the best things about this tepid dramedy.

I agree with Patrick’s point that, as Ephron is depicting herself, she wrote a script that portrays herself as the victim. Why is it that when a wife has an affair, too often the husband gets the blame for neglecting her but when a man has an affair he is a dog plain and simple. Had Mark been completely content in his marriage he would not have sought out other company. Had he been given sufficient sexual attention from his wife he would not have found it elsewhere.

Yes, I know Rachel was pregnant during this time and as I and most fathers can attest, there is no more selfish creature in the world than a pregnant woman. Granted, it is all biological nesting instinct going into over drive but all a pregnant wife talks about is themselves, the baby and how much the next baby related purchase is going to cost, reducing the husband to a wallet and chauffer, taking her to the next doctor’s appointment. And Sex, well that becomes a thing of the past. If ever in a marriage there was a time to forgive a husband for having an affair, it is when the wife is pregnant

Rachel is so selfish that when her father suggests that she let one of the children live with Mark, she yells, “Are you crazy? They’re my children.” So Ephron does not see children as belonging to their father? Rachel forgives Mark but she moves back in with him acting depressed and miserable. Who would want to be with her in that pathetic state? It takes two to make a marriage and two to make a divorce.

I did not care for either of these characters but there were a few scenes that I liked. The scene in the beauty parlor where Streep puts it all together is a good piece of acting. It starts comical as Streep watches the beautician destroying her hair as she rambles on about her cheating boyfriend to another employee. Slowly, Streep stops caring so much about her hair and begins listening to the girls and applies what is being said to her own life. I also enjoyed the scene where her therapist group gets robbed and her ring won’t come off because her finger is swollen due to being pregnant.

Although Nicholson was not given as much to do as Streep, he shines in the scenes where he sings. Both he and Streep have, as Patrick wrote, been in better films. Heartburn is simply a lifetime channel movie with headlining movie stars in the lead roles.

Photos © Copyright Paramount Pictures (1986)

© 2000 - 2017 Three Movie Buffs. All Rights Reserved.

Heartburn (1986)

Movie Details

Stream & watch heartburn.

Cast & Crew

Featured news.

Similar Movies

Movie Reviews

Follow Moviefone

Latest trailers.

Film Details

Brief synopsis, cast & crew, mike nichols, meryl streep, jack nicholson, jeff daniels, stockard channing, maureen stapleton, technical specs.

When successful food critic Rachel Samstat begins to fall for the charming columnist Mark Forman, she is warned that he is not capable of fidelity. But after a whirlwind courtship, they marry, and Rachel gives up her career to dedicate herself to making their marriage work. Mark is thrilled when Rachel announces that she is pregnant but becomes anxious about his new, responsible role and begins cheating on her. .

Richard Masur

Catherine o'hara.

Milos Forman

Kevin Spacey

Mercedes ruehl, ron mclarty, ari roussimoff, garrison lane, mary streep, john rothman, joanna gleason, natasha lyonne, jack gilpin, yakov smirnoff, anna maria horsford, christian clemenson, steven hill, cynthia o'neal, michael regan, margaret thomson, salem ludwig, sidney armus, caroline aaron, elijah lindsay, karen akers, tracy jackson, dana streep, aida linares, kenneth welsh, susan forristal, angela pietropinto.

Charles Denney

Gregg almquist, libby titus, cyrilla dorn, luther rucker, ryan hilliard, patricia falkenhain, mamie gummer, nestor almendros, sally andrews, billy austin, richard barbatta, steve barri, stan bochner, timothy m. bourne, hoagy carmichael, jerry caron, alba censoplano, michael j cerone, dorcas cochran, jerry deblau, john deblau, michael dennison, walter donaldson, david dreyfuss, nora ephron, frank graziadei, romaine greene, robert greenhut, richard guay, merle haggard, brian hamill, oscar hammerstein ii, lorenz hart, joseph r hartwick, j. roy helland, barbara heller, louis jordan, chaim kantor, john kasarda, russ kunkel, ellen lewis, mark livolsi, frank loesser, bruce maccallum, susan macnair, tony martinez, george massenburg, james mazzola, harold mcevoy, patrick mullins, richard nord, sam o'steen, geraldine peroni, ron petagna, thomas prate, helen robin, richard rodgers, james sabat, louis sabat, julio sanders, carly simon, p. f. sloan, ezra swerdlow, juliet taylor, todd thaler, jaromir vejvoda, richard ventre, frank vincent, richard vorisek, tony walton, ned washington, dave weinman, gilbert s williams, miscellaneous notes.

Released in United States on Video February 1987

Released in United States Summer July 25, 1986

Re-released in United States on Video January 25, 1995

Based on the semi-autobiographical novel "Heartburn" written by Nora Ephron and published by Knopf in 1983.

Originally Mandy Patinkin was signed to play Mark, but was replaced by Jack Nicholson during production.

Began shooting July 19, 1985.

Completed shooting October 10, 1985.

Sign Up now to stay up to date with all of the latest news from TCM.

Your Browser is Not Supported

To view this content, please use one of the following compatible browsers:

Safari v11+

Firefox Quantum

Microsoft Edge

Letterboxd — Your life in film

Forgotten username or password ?

• Start a new list…
• Add all films to a list…
• Add all films to watchlist

Add to your films…

Press Tab to complete, Enter to create

A moderator has locked this field.

Add to lists

Where to watch

Directed by Mike Nichols

Sex. Love. Marriage. Some people don't know when to quit.

Rachel is a food writer at a New York magazine who meets Washington columnist Mark at a wedding and ends up falling in love with him despite her reservations about marriage. They buy a house, have a daughter, and Rachel thinks they are living happily ever after until she discovers that Mark is having an affair while she is waddling around with a second pregnancy.

Meryl Streep Jack Nicholson Jeff Daniels Maureen Stapleton Stockard Channing Richard Masur Catherine O'Hara Steven Hill Miloš Forman Mamie Gummer Karen Akers Aida Linares Anna Maria Horsford Ron McLarty Kenneth Welsh Kevin Spacey Mercedes Ruehl Joanna Gleason R.S. Thomas Jack Gilpin Christian Clemenson John Wood Sidney Armus Yakov Smirnoff Caroline Aaron Lela Ivey Tracey Jackson Libby Titus Angela Pietropinto Show All… Cynthia O'Neal Susan Forristal Dana Ivey John Rothman Elijah Lindsay Jack Neam Kim Fertman Salem Ludwig Patricia Falkenhain Margaret Thomson Charles Denny Gregg Almquist Garrison Lane Ryan Hilliard Dana Streep Mary Streep Cyrilla Dorn May Pang Michael Regan Ari M. Roussimoff Luther Rucker Gary Jones Natasha Lyonne Jorge Pupo Grant Harper Reid Carlotta Schock Tony Shalhoub

Director Director

Mike Nichols

Producers Producers

Ezra Swerdlow Joel Tuber Mike Nichols Robert Greenhut

Writer Writer

Nora Ephron

Original Writer Original Writer

Casting casting.

Juliet Taylor

Editor Editor

Sam O'Steen

Cinematography Cinematography

Néstor Almendros

Assistant Directors Asst. Directors

Joel Tuber David Dreyfuss

Camera Operator Camera Operator

Additional photography add. photography.

Bruce MacCallum

Production Design Production Design

Tony Walton

Art Direction Art Direction

John Kasarda

Set Decoration Set Decoration

Susan Bode Tyson

Composer Composer

Carly Simon

Songs Songs

Costume design costume design.

Paramount Pictures

Primary Language

Spoken languages.

Italian English

Releases by Date

25 jul 1986, 10 oct 1986, 26 dec 1986, 01 jan 1987, 09 jan 1987, releases by country.

• Theatrical 12
• Theatrical 15
• Theatrical R18+
• Theatrical R

108 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Ayo Edebiri ★★

reviewing this movie is so hard because this movie isn’t “great” or even “very good” but it made me “horny” because jack nicholson is so hot and charming even when he’s bad, maybe especially when he’s bad, he’s so charming? he truly at one point in time was the hottest most charismatic man on earth and that’s something we all have to live with. I feel as he got older, the ~smooth~ thing started to feel forced, but at one time it was so good, just like in this movie, i would genuinely let him destroy my life, hm, right, anyway, the directing was nice and all the performances are fantastic it just felt scattered in a way? and long. anyway who cares, i got this score by trying to average how I felt about this film with how hot I found Jack Nicholson here. sometimes that IS enough!

Review by elizabeth 2

omfg there should be a kevin spacey content warning... jump scare alert

Review by gal pacino ★★★½ 1

Mike Nichols movie adapted from Nora Ephron book starring Meryl Streep :) please don’t get mad at me but i wish they had cast somebody with sex appeal in the Jack Nicholson role. i thought this was maybe a normal opinion until i read all the reviews by girls going feral for him. i may not be a part of that community but i wish i were so i could give this a full 4 stars like i did for the original novel on Goodreads. a life in which i cannot log and rate every piece of media i consume is no life at all

Review by eleanor_defer ★★★★ 1

The Itsy Bitsy Spider Remix in the end fucking slapped.

Review by TajLV ★★½ 4

Go figure. How is it possible to mess this up?

You've got Oscar winners Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson in starring roles at the height of their careers. You've got Kevin Spacey and Tony Shalhoub making their movie debuts. In control, you've got Oscar-winning director Mike Nichols ( The Graduate ). You've got the score for the film composed by famed songstress Carly Simon. You've got the rights to adapt Nora Ephron's semi-autobiographical novel inspired by her tempestuous marriage to Watergate journalist Carl Bernstein, who cheated on her with the daughter of a former British Prime Minister. How do you possibly fail to turn this into a cinema masterpiece?

The answer, quite clearly, is to put the screenplay into the hands of…

Review by kevintporter ★★★½

Catherine O’Hara as a Texan gossip queen spilling tea at the table with Meryl and Stockard Channing? Joanna Gleason being over-dramatic? Long takes where you’re not sure if Mike Nichols said “yeah just go” before rolling? Baby this is Kevincore.

Nora Ephron setting precedent for Aaron Sorkin taking revenge on Kristin Chenoweth on Studio 60; write EXACTLY what you know and it just so happens exactly what you know is that your ex sucks! Three and a half stars!

Review by Patrick Willems ★★★ 1

Jack Nicholson characters don’t tend to have very successful or stable marriages, do they?

Review by Ella Kemp ★★★★½

Give yourself more rice, more pasta, and let yourself enjoy them before anyone else. Walk tall and fast with the best key lime pie in the world, and make sure everyone knows that only you can make it so good.

Review by fran hoepfner ★★★

funny use of both Milos Forman and Mamie Gummer... alas, good shirts do not save this.

Review by Will Sloan ★★

A few comments:

✓ In the '80s and '90s, three Manhattan filmmakers specialized in middlebrow, upper-middle-class entertainments: Mike Nichols, Nora Ephron, and Woody Allen. And I'm sorry to say that the best of them by far was Woody, b/c he was and is a monstrous sociopath. When Nichols and Ephron try to get dark, they make a somewhat downbeat, vaguely annoying movie like Heartburn . Meanwhile, Woody unleashes the torrent of bile that is Deconstructing Harry .

✓ There's a scene in this where Meryl Streep goes on the subway. I was shocked. It was absolutely unfathomable to me that Mike Nichols, Nora Ephron, and Meryl Streep could ever imagine going on a subway with the unwashed masses. Well... turns out it was a set-up for Meryl to meet a mugger. (The mugger, incidentally, is played by a young Kevin Spacey).

✓ This coasts along for a while on the charisma of Jack and Meryl.

Review by Josh Gillam ★★★ 2

                               MILD SPOILERS 

Mike Nichols’ comedy-drama explores the relationship and subsequent marriage of highly strung New York magazine writer Rachel (Meryl Streep) and womanising newspaper columnist Mark (Jack Nicholson) over the course of several years, which is put under strain when Rachel discovers Mark has been having an affair. 

Writer Nora Ephron based the central relationship on her own marriage to reporter Carl Bernstein, and working from personal experience means she’s able to create an incredibly well drawn and vivid portrait of this particular social bubble and everything within it.

In that way, film is often at its best when her sharp ear for dialogue is…

Review by MichaelEternity ★★★ 3

The irony is strong with this one. You have Mike Nichols direcing, Nora Ephron writing based on her own book, Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson out front, the four horseman of the apocalypse when it comes to going that extra mile to probe for character nuance and find interestingly lesser-seen methods of depicting it. That is a fucking dream team, and they're doing a quintessential "Marriage Story"? Start inscribing those Oscar statues for everyone.

But wait, despite showing a certain attention to behavioral detail during their courtship phase and a viable outlook of frothy realism, this movie barely skims the surface of all its chosen topics: love, marriage, domesticity, compromise, adultery, depression, resentment, recovery, how you conduct yourself socially versus…

Similar Films

Select your preferred backdrop

Select your preferred poster, upgrade to remove ads.

Letterboxd is an independent service created by a small team, and we rely mostly on the support of our members to maintain our site and apps. Please consider upgrading to a Pro account —for less than a couple bucks a month, you’ll get cool additional features like all-time and annual stats pages ( example ), the ability to select (and filter by) your favorite streaming services, and no ads!

MOVIE REVIEW : ‘HEARTBURN’S’ SLICK SOUFFLE

• Copy Link URL Copied!

Watching director Mike Nichols’ “Heartburn” (selected theaters) is like having your pocket picked by Raffles himself: You can admire the audacity and the professionalism all you want, but you’ve still been robbed.

This is a rattlingly empty and surface film--which is not to say it doesn’t have individually delicious moments. How could it not, with Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson, Stockard Channing, Richard Masur and Maureen Stapleton on the premises? Just recalling some of its high points can bring a daffy glow of pleasure hours later. But strung-together moments aren’t a movie; “Heartburn” is thin stuff from rich talents.

It’s missing even a point of view. As we watch Streep and Nicholson, a pair of snugly established writers, propel themselves into love (largely on the basis of her ability to whip up Spaghetti Carbonara at 4 a.m. at his place their first night together), then marriage, then parenthood, then infidelity, we don’t know what emotion director Mike Nichols is courting. A sense of loss? A twinge of identity? A sense of the futility of marriage today? A suspicion that journalists make lousy husbands?

(You might have trouble with the last since, word processor aside, Jack Nicholson never seems connected by so much as an editor or a phone call to any profession at all--much less that of a Washington columnist.)

Presumably Nora Ephron, “Heartburn’s” screenwriter, wrote the extremely slim book on which it was based in white heat--it was, after all, her side of the breakup of her marriage to Washington journalist Carl Bernstein (in the thinnest of disguises). The best things about the brittle and relentlessly in-groupy book were Ephron’s recipes--soothing food for the very, very, very thin or wretched, featuring cream, potatoes, rice, butter or a felicitous arrangement of all four.

The movie’s tone is gentled, but not deepened, and seen exclusively from one point of view (the wife’s). Presumably director Nichols felt that Ephron’s on-the-nose vignettes about upscale Washington life told us enough. If so, he misjudged. Her screenplay needs more ballast; it’s insubstantial as smoke. And the casting throws things out of whack.

Nicholson is far too strong a performer to be shunted off to the sidelines a little more than halfway through the film. Particularly when he’s been banished for infidelity and we have no more idea just why he strayed than his wife does. (Karen Akers is the reason.)

It’s at that halfway-plus mark that the film begins to unravel. Nichols has been able to divert us buoyantly enough until this point, with elements like Nestor Almendros’ rich and infinitely civilized camerawork or glimpses of a “smart” couple discovering the homey joys of parenthood.

Streep, in particular, is aglow with her love of her family-bounded life--it’s one of her loveliest characterizations. And Nicholson is mostly her match, crooning nonsense songs to his wife “Petunia,” celebrating the news of his impending fatherhood with a medley of songs with “baby” in them. (Other times he’s way overboard: for example, using his “Prizzi’s Honor” Charley Partanna-face to denote stupefaction at even the sound of the marriage service.)

You can fret at “Heartburn’s” flimsiness, may even find it insufferably smug in its portrait of “our set,” but you probably won’t be bored by it. And it is peopled with adults, these days enough to make you whimper in gratitude. If only these talents were in the service of something.

A running gag threads through the movie: a surreal experience Streep has while watching “Masterpiece Theatre” (John Wood in a devilishly sly Alistair Cooke send-up). Seeing how well these segments worked, perhaps they should have used the recipes onscreen too. It couldn’t hurt.

‘HEARTBURN’ A Paramount Pictures release. Producers Mike Nichols, Robert Greenhut. Director Nichols. Screenplay Nora Ephron, based on her novel. Camera Nestor Almendros. Production design Tony Walton. Costumes Ann Roth. Editor Sam O’Steen. Music Carly Simon. Art director John Kasarda, set decorator Susan Bode. Sound James Sabat. With Meryl Streep, Jack Nicholson, Jeff Daniels, Maureen Stapleton, Stockard Channing, Richard Masur, Catherine O’Hara, Steven Hill, Milos Forman, Natalie Stern, Karen Akers.

Running time: 1 hour, 48 minutes.

MPAA-rated: R (persons under 17 must be accompanied by parent or adult guardian).

More to Read

A decade later, ‘The Babadook’ is still with us, stronger than ever in memes

Sept. 18, 2024

Review: In ‘My Old Ass,’ an uncertain teen speaks to her future self, with wry two-way wisdom

Sept. 13, 2024

Inside the most unnerving scene in ‘Civil War’: ‘It was a stunning bit of good luck’

April 12, 2024

Only good movies

Get the Indie Focus newsletter, Mark Olsen's weekly guide to the world of cinema.

You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.

More From the Los Angeles Times

Eric Roberts has no use for fame anymore. He just wants to work

Sept. 17, 2024

Review: ‘Look Into My Eyes’ is a compassionate profile of psychics, not out to scam but connect

Chad McQueen, ‘Karate Kid’ actor and son of legend Steve McQueen, dies at 63

Review: A remade ‘Speak No Evil’ is less evil, swapping out Euro-bleakness for a family’s bonding

Sept. 12, 2024

Most Read in Movies

Commentary: Please stop trying to mansplain ‘Nightbitch’

Sept. 9, 2024

Review: In the sluggish space psychodrama ‘Slingshot,’ no one can hear you snooze

Aug. 29, 2024

Heartburn Review

By Christopher Null

Facts and Figures

Year : 1986

Run time : 108 mins

In Theaters : Friday 25th July 1986

Distributed by : Paramount Pictures

Production compaines : Paramount Pictures

Contactmusic.com : 2 / 5

Rotten Tomatoes : 50% Fresh: 7 Rotten: 7

IMDB : 6.0 / 10

Cast & Crew

Director : Mike Nichols

Producer : Robert Greenhut , Mike Nichols

Screenwriter : Nora Ephron

Starring : Meryl Streep as Rachel Samstrat, Jack Nicholson as Mark Forman, Jeff Daniels as Richard, Maureen Stapleton as Vera, Stockard Channing as Julie Siegel, Richard Masur as Arthur Siegel, Catherine O'Hara as Betty, Steven Hill as Harry Samstat, Miloš Forman as Dimitri, Mamie Gummer as Annie Forman, Karen Akers as Thelma Rice, Aida Linares as Juanita

Also starring : Catherine O'Hara , Robert Greenhut , Mike Nichols , Nora Ephron

• Rotten Tomatoes

Star Wars: The Last Jedi Movie Review

After the thunderous reception for J.J. Abrams' Episode VII: The Force Awakens two years ago,...

Daddy's Home 2 Movie Review

Like the 2015 original, this comedy plays merrily with cliches to tell a silly story...

The Man Who Invented Christmas Movie Review

There's a somewhat contrived jauntiness to this blending of fact and fiction that may leave...

Ferdinand Movie Review

This animated comedy adventure is based on the beloved children's book, which was published in...

Brigsby Bear Movie Review

Director Dave McCary makes a superb feature debut with this offbeat black comedy, which explores...

Battle of the Sexes Movie Review

A dramatisation of the real-life clash between tennis icons Billie Jean King and Bobby Riggs,...

Shot Caller Movie Review

There isn't much subtlety to this prison thriller, but it's edgy enough to hold the...

The Disaster Artist Movie Review

A hilariously outrageous story based on real events, this film recounts the making of the...

Stronger Movie Review

Based on a true story about the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, this looks like one...

Only the Brave Movie Review

Based on a genuinely moving true story, this film undercuts the realism by pushing its...

Wonder Movie Review

This film may be based on RJ Palacio's fictional bestseller, but it approaches its story...

Happy End Movie Review

Austrian auteur Michael Haneke isn't known for his light touch, but rather for hard-hitting, award-winning...

Patti Cake$ Movie Review

Seemingly from out of nowhere, this film generates perhaps the biggest smile of any movie...

The Limehouse Golem Movie Review

A Victorian thriller with rather heavy echoes of Jack the Ripper, this film struggles to...

Actors Index: 0 A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Help Contact Us About Us Advertise Business Write For Us T&Cs Privacy Cookie Policy Site Map Consent Settings

Copyright © 2024 Contactmusic.com Ltd, all rights reserved

• Editors Recommended Editors Recommended
• News Headlines News Headlines Trending Headlines
• Music / Festival News Music / Festival News Musicians & bands in the news
• Movie / TV / Theatre News Movie / TV / Theatre News Actors & filmmakers in the news
• Lifestyle / Showbiz News Lifestyle / Showbiz News Celebrities in the news
• News Archive News Archive
• Music Reviews Music Reviews Best Rated Music Reviews
• Music Video Music Video Top Music Videos
• Most Mentioned Most Mentioned Bands and Musicians in Music
• Movie Trailers Movie Trailers
• Movie Reviews Movie Reviews Best Rated Movies
• Most Mentioned Most Mentioned Actors and Filmmakers in Film
• Latest Photos
• Popular Photos Latest Photos Updated Galleries
• Most Mentioned Most Mentioned People in Photos
• Photo Archive Photo Archive
• Trending Artists Trending Artists
• Actors and Filmmakers Actors Filmmakers
• Celebrities Celebrities
• Bands and Musicians Bands Musicians
• Interviews Interviews
• Movie Trailers Movie Trailers Top Movie Trailers
• Video Chart Video Chart
• Most Mentioned Most Menioned Artists in Video
• Music Video
• Movie Trailers
• Video Chart
• Most Mentioned
• Trending Artists
• Actors and Filmmakers
• Bands and Musicians
• Celebrities
• Popular Photos
• Photo Archive

Go Back in Time using our Photos archive to see what happened on a particular day in the past.

• Movie Reviews
• Music Reviews
• News Headlines
• Music / Festival News
• Movie / TV / Theatre News
• Lifestyle / Showbiz News
• News Archive

Go Back in Time using our News archive to see what happened on a particular day in the past.

• Editors Recommended

Join or Sign In

Sign in to customize your TV listings

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy .

• TV Listings
• Cast & Crew

Heartburn Reviews

• 49   Metascore
• 1 hr 48 mins
• Drama, Comedy
• Watchlist Where to Watch

Semi-autobiographical story of a food writer who weds a successful Washington columnist despite her reservations about marriage. While pregnant with their second child, she discovers her husband is having an affair with someone in their circle.

Two name talents in leading roles don't guarantee success, a point proven all too clearly with HEARTBURN. The film is based on the Ephron novel detailing her marital break-up with journalist Carl Bernstein; but although the book had a distinctive bite, the film is a colorless adaptation. While attending a friend's wedding, Streep, a divorced magazine writer, is attracted to Nicholson, an important Washington, DC, columnist. Nicholson begins to woo Streep almost immediately; and within five minutes of film time, the two are getting married. Streep quits her New York job to move to Washington, but gradually Nicholson somes to feel stifled by the marriage. HEARTBURN features some good individual moments from Streep and Nicholson, but there's no spark between the two, and that missing element is one of HEARTBURN's major flaws. In adapting her own novel Ephron deemphasized much of the original's acidity, perhaps because Bernstein demanded (and received) the right to approve the way he would be portrayed in the film. This deflected any potential lawsuits HEARTBURN could have incurred but resulted in a work that just doesn't live up to the personal turmoil its title implies.

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

• She's a magazine writer who gives up her career for love and family. He's a playboy newspaper columnist who can't quite give up his old tricks. And if that combination doesn't give a relationship Heartburn, nothing will.
• An autobiographical look at the break-up of screenwriter Nora Ephron's marriage to Carl "All the President's Men" Bernstein that was also a best-selling novel. The Ephron character, Rachel Samstat (Meryl Streep), is a food writer at a New York City magazine who meets Washington, D.C. columnist Mark Forman (Jack Nicholson) at a wedding and ends up falling in love with him despite her reservations about marriage. They buy a house, have a daughter, and Rachel thinks they are living happily ever after until she discovers that Mark is having an affair while she is waddling around with a second pregnancy. — Lisa Todorovich
• Rachel Samstat (Meryl Streep) and Mark Forman (Jack Nicholson) meet at a mutual friend's wedding, go to bed, and get married shortly afterwards. She works in publishing in New York City, and he is a successful Washington, D.C. columnist, who is always using his friends and social life as material for his column. All goes well initially with the marriage, despite the fact they endure several months of renovation by incompetent builders on their Washington, D.C. house. A child is born, Mark proves himself a fond father, and another baby is soon on the way. Then Rachel discovers that Mark has been having an affair with one of their circle. Heavily pregnant, she briefly returns to her father's house in New York City. Mark comes after her. He says he loves her and asks her to return to him. — Tiff Banks

It looks like we don't have any synopsis for this title yet. Be the first to contribute.

Contribute to this page

• See more gaps
• Learn more about contributing

More from this title

More to explore, recently viewed.

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

SCREEN: 'HEARTBURN,' STREEP AND NICHOLSON

By Walter Goodman

• July 25, 1986

NORA EPHRON'S novel ''Heartburn'' was stuffed with food jokes, sex jokes, food-sex jokes and Jewish food-sex jokes. It was like a bowl of rice pudding dotted with raisins. If you liked raisins and didn't mind rice pudding, it made an O.K. nosh. In her script for the movie version of the novel, Ms. Ephron has tried to expand to a spread of the sort that confronts one at weddings. Some of the dishes are tasty, but a meal it's not.

Meryl Streep plays Rachel, a food columnist who has yet to find a recipe for a successful marriage. Miss Streep's hair is shorter and darker than usual and she talks about having considered a nose job; she is such a good actress that she makes you believe she looks Jewish. Before the opening credits have concluded, she and Mark (Jack Nicholson) have exchanged glances at a wedding. (''Is he single?'' she asks. ''He's famous for it,'' says a friend.) In a moment, they have kissed on busy Third Avenue, and before you can say meaningful relationship, they are in bed enjoying her spaghetti carbonara and thinking about marriage.

The confident touch of Mike Nichols, who directed, gives a smart spin to these starting scenes, which continue humorously with a scene that consists mainly of Rachel's friends, family and therapist trying to persuade her to shake off a severe case of wedding-day jitters and come out of the bedroom. ''Marriage doesn't work,'' she sighs, only too prophetically. ''Divorce works.'' Unhappily, the movie, which opens today at the Paramount and other theaters, begins to show signs of wear even before the marriage does.

It isn't the actors' fault. ''Heartburn'' stands as testimony to the limitations of star power. Mr. Nicholson, although he gives no signs of being the Washington columnist he is supposed to be, brings humor and force to his part. But the part is barely there. We learn little about him except that he loves Rachel, in his fashion, which is to philander with a tall woman-about-Washington (Karen Akers) while his wife is pregnant with their second child.

We are having trouble retrieving the article content.

Please enable JavaScript in your browser settings.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access. If you are in Reader mode please exit and  log into  your Times account, or  subscribe  for all of The Times.

Thank you for your patience while we verify access.

Already a subscriber?  Log in .

Want all of The Times?  Subscribe .