The Break-Up
Director: Peyton Reed (Bring it On, Down with Love)
Screenplay: Jeremy Garelick & Jay Lavender
Story: Vince Vaughn, Jeremy Garelick, Jay Lavender
Producers: Scott Stuber, Vince Vaughn
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Aniston, Joey Lauren Adams, Cole Hauser, Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman, Vincent D'Onofrio
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Running time: 105 min
read my spoiler disclaimer
Aquick, easy review: in two words, rent it. That's my first piece of advice. I'm giving it a thumbs up, but there is no reason to pay $10 to see this movie in a theater. Not that it's bad, it's just not necessary. A weekday evening movie at home on the couch is what this movie seems to be perfect for in my opinon.
Jennifer Aniston plays a girl who's just had enough of her lazy boyfriend (Vince Vaughn). She decides to leave him, but neither has anywhere to go so they are forced to live in the same house together. This brings about ridiculous ploys and schemes to make each other angry and jealous; including attempts at turning mutual friends against the other person. Hilarity ensues.
As you may or may not know by this time, I have developed a strong liking for Jennifer Aniston. She is nothing but pure cuteness in this movie and she is the only "Friend" to branch out into something other than her character from the show. Why someone would let her go is beyond me. Vince Vaughn is his normal classic self. Although he's got a few more serious moments that he actually performs pretty well in, he shines the brightest during his sarcastic rants and fights with his his ex-girlfriend. Just a bunch of great, quotable one-liners and facial expressions that are laugh out loud funny. These one-on-one moments of uncomfortability are the obvious bright spots in the whole movie; and there are plenty of them.
My only real issue was the pacing. You'd have these great, funny scenes, then all of a sudden it would get very serious. Not over the top serious, like cancer, but just...serious. Then suddenly the next scene hits you in the face with more jokes. Then it's instantly serious again. Back and forth, back and forth. I would compare it to a rollercoaster ride, but without the smooth ups and down. Just a peak and a trough with no transition.
Another highlite is definitely the supporting cast. Vincent D'Onofrio plays one of the oddest characters I've seen in a film and he does it perfectly. Jason Bateman's non-verbal sarcasm and dry wit is always fun. John Michael Higgins' (Best in Show, A Mighty Wind) role as Aniston's gay, music loving brother is a riot and turns an otherwise boring dinner scene into comedic magic. Even side characters like Aniston's boss and co-worker are charismatic and original. Every side character brought so much to the movie that the cast as a whole is actually it's own character. Even Jon Favreau's (Swingers, Made) final scene with Vaughn in the bar was a quiet riot (haha).
To sum it up quickly, it is what it is. Vaughn fans will have a good time. It's not comedic genius, but it's got enough moments to keep you going. Unfortunately I just felt like it doesn't know whether it wants to be a comedy or a drama. For the more unstable relationships out there, it might be a good idea to avoid this one together. The men are going to side with Vaughn, while the women are going to completely empathize with Aniston's plight and they may spur an argument on the car ride home. The only question you have to ask yourself is, are they going to get back together by the end? They're too cute together not too right? I'm not telling!
Links:
IMDb.com - full cast and crew
Official Site
FLIXSTER PROFILE for The Break-Up
