The Six Wives of Henry Lefay (2009)

A grieving daughter tries to arrange her father's funeral, while putting up with all of his ex-wives.

Director:

Howard Michael Gould

Writer:

Howard Michael Gould

Stars:

Tim Allen, Barbara Barrie, Elisha Cuthbert

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Tim Allen	...	Henry
Barbara Barrie	...	Mae
Elisha Cuthbert	...	Barbara
Jenna Dewan	...	Sarah Jane
Jenna Elfman	...	Ophelia
Edward Herrmann	...	Goodenough
Andie MacDowell	...	Kate
Chris Klein	...	Stevie
S. Epatha Merkerson	...	Effa
Larry Miller	...	Lipschutz
Eric Christian Olsen	...	Lloyd
Lindsay Sloane	...	Autumn
Paz Vega	...	Veronica
T. Anthony Quinn	...	Officer Pinky (as Tony Quinn)
Peter Kybart	...	Minister

Storyline

Henry Lefay has been married before. Depending on how you count, he's been married either five or six times. So when Henry is vacationing in Mexico and gets killed in a para-sailing accident, things get awfully complicated for all the wives involved. His daughter, Barbie, feels guilty for getting mad at him over his womanizing ways, and she feels responsible for keeping the funeral an honorable and dignified affair. But one crazy ex-wife, one hateful ex-wife, two first wives, one current wife, and one future wife all have their own plans for how Henry Lefay should be put to rest.

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Plot Keywords:

funeral | womanizer | cheating husband | ex husband ex wife relationship | mother daughter relationship | 

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Taglines:

Can't live with them - can't live without them.

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Genres:

Comedy

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG-13 for sexual content, nudity and some language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

18 June 2009 (Israel)

Also Known As:

My Dad's Six Wives

Filming Locations:

Banner Stationers, Main St., El Segundo, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Brillstein Entertainment Partners, Holly Wiersma Productions, Ring Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

When Ophilia is having a tantrum and throwing staffed animals at Henry, a quick cut goes to a man with ice cream in his left hand and his right hand dangling at his side. Within a split second, the ice cream is open and he has a spoonful in his right hand near his face.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Lipschutt: Gorgeous hotel, huh?
Henry Lefay: Yeah. I spent my honeymoon here. Actually, two of my honeymoons were here.
Lipschutt: We went to Pittsburgh, but very much like this.

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Connections

Version of Anne Boleyn (1914)

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Soundtracks

Bridal Chorus
Written by Richard Wagner (uncredited)
Arranged by Gerhard Narholz (as Otto Sieben)

User Reviews

Sit back and enjoy this contemporary Screwball Comedy!

They don't make screwball comedies like they used to, but this one was pretty good. In my opinion, "The Six Wives of Henry Lefay" rates a solid 6 1/2 stars. While I wasn't doubling over with laughter through the entire movie, the time I spent watching this crazy family go nuts and enjoying my bowl of ice-cream was thoroughly entertaining.

Yes, Henry is an unconstrained libertine with the social IQ of a 13 year old boy. He races through relationships so fast that he doesn't even take time to glance back at the trails of tears for which he is responsible. In fact, his little boy affect is probably what keeps the women in his wake from killing him. Once connected to him, they stay connected, even burdened with their pain and anger. His daughter, Barbie, has been dealt with by him in a very similar vein. Yet, she, along with his suite of sweets, his collection of coquettes, has his back in time of need. WHY!?

Another reviewer questions why any woman would fall in love with Henry. My response to that is, "Why did Laura Bush fall in love with George? Hillary with Bill? Me with my first husband? We don't need a reason. We just do it! Maybe we are looking for our father-figure, who, by-the-way, we had no part in choosing in the first place. Since we don't have any part in picking them, our father can be the last man on earth we would ever think of dating, and yet there we go, marrying them! What is there to say? Either d-i-v-o-r-c-e or long-suffering, pretty well says it all!

This movie has been widely panned, criticized for lack of depth(?) as well as character development. After seeing some of the very popular movies in the 'comedy' genre currently, I am surprised that these are even requirements. In my opinion, many of us watch certain films simply for entertainment value. Furthermore, are there not endless numbers of variables in our lives that bring humorous connections to various story lines? "The Six Wives of Henry Lefay" was funny, relevant (believe it or not), sweet, and a bit odd. I found myself thinking, were I in this the same situation, I might have shot the guy! But this is not the first movie of its kind.

"The Six Wives of Henry Lefay" is a contemporary screwball comedy reminiscent of the fun and warm films of early 20th century such as "Bluebeard's Eighth Wife" with Carey Grant and Claudette Colbert. A man with faults, people who stick by him, lots of laughs, redemption and a moral delivered at the end is the recipe for a very nice movie night at home for the right audience.