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Amazon.co.uk Review
The combined star power of Vince Vaughn (Wedding Crashers, Swingers) and Jennifer Aniston (Bruce Almighty, The Good Girl) makes The Break-Up a high-profile romantic comedy. Gary (Vaughn) and Brooke (Aniston) find that their brittle relationship may have reached the breaking point--but neither is willing to give up the condo they co-own. As their fighting grows increasingly bitter, neither is sure if they're fighting to get out of the relationship or to save it. The Break-Up is an odd combination of realistic scenes that capture the harsh yet human ways that lovers can hurt each other, and broad comic scenes with a more farcical edge. Both types of scenes are entertaining on their own terms--the movie is never boring--but they don't fully mesh, and as a result it's hard to engage emotionally with either Gary or Brooke. But the sterling supporting cast--including Jon Favreau (Wimbledon), Cole Hauser (The Cave), Joey Lauren Adams (Chasing Amy), John Michael Higgins (A Mighty Wind), Justin Long (Dodgeball), Jason Bateman (Arrested Development), Vincent D'Onofrio (Happy Accidents), and the ever-delirious Judy Davis (Husbands and Wives)--give every scene they're in a boost of comic energy. An uneven but enjoyable movie that may suffer from viewers having overly high expectations due to Vaughn and Aniston's celebrity. --Bret Fetzer
Synopsis
Despite its seemingly classic date-movie setup, The Break Up bucks romantic comedy tradition at almost every turn. Gary (Vince Vaughn) and Brooke (Jennifer Aniston) are a mismatched couple who meet, develop a seemingly contented relationship, and buy a beautiful condo together within the movie's first few minutes. Soon an all-too-believable fight triggers the title event, and they spend the rest of the movie alternately arguing and playing mind games as they battle over ownership of their beloved condo--and try to decide whether or not they really want this to be the end. In one of the movie's more dangerous yet courageous twists, neither Vaughn nor Aniston play especially likable characters. They never become unpleasant to watch, though, thanks largely to their formidable reservoirs of charisma. Vaughn is a master of the unkempt, immature, and hilarious everyman (Old School, The Wedding Crashers), while Aniston radiates bewildered decency, even in prickly roles (The Good Girl, Friends With Money). Both of them are engaging presences, even when the movie veers away from comedy and into a kind of painful realism, as Gary and Brooke get caught up in a bitter and mean-spirited cycle of fighting that neither of them can win. The script's few weak patches are usually saved by the tremendous supporting cast, including Arrested Development's Jason Bateman as the couple's realtor, Judy Davis as Brooke's boss, John Michael Higgins as her irrepressible, sexually ambiguous brother, and Jon Favreau as Gary's best friend, in scenes that effortlessly recapture some of the duo's Swingers chemistry. Peyton Reed, the director of the underrated Down With Love, isn't afraid to make his romantic comedy both unromantic and, occasionally, depressingly truthful, but thanks to the group of actors assembled here, watching a relationship unravel has rarely been more enjoyable.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
If you like your romcom with romance and comedy - don't buy this film.
I don't normally make a review where I don't feel it will make a difference to the star rating compared to the amount of people that have placed a review, but I feel I should warn as many people as I can to save their money for... well anything but this.
I love Jennifer Aniston (and romcoms) don't get me wrong. I also love Vince Vaughn, but the way they marketed this film was very clever. They had all the hype of the off screen romance, they met on the set, they hit it off straight away, he made her laugh at such 'a bad time' - blah, blah, blah. Don't be fooled. This is a slow moving film and the scenes that you know should be funny, don't help because you just want it to be over.
The last few scenes of the film are actually the best, touching, well acted and well thought out. And this is where my two stars comes in. It's just a shame they went for a sprint finish instead of keeping a steady pace.
I don't normally make a review where I don't feel it will make a difference to the star rating compared to the amount of people that have placed a review, but I feel I should warn as many people as I can to save their money for... well anything but this.
I love Jennifer Aniston (and romcoms) don't get me wrong. I also love Vince Vaughn, but the way they marketed this film was very clever. They had all the hype of the off screen romance, they met on the set, they hit it off straight away, he made her laugh at such 'a bad time' - blah, blah, blah. Don't be fooled. This is a slow moving film and the scenes that you know should be funny, don't help because you just want it to be over.
The last few scenes of the film are actually the best, touching, well acted and well thought out. And this is where my two stars comes in. It's just a shame they went for a sprint finish instead of keeping a steady pace.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
I agree with so many others that this was mis-marketed as a comedy. This is not a comedy, it is in fact a really depressing film.
Through the whole film I could not see why these two ever got into a relationship in the first place, or how they ever lasted so long, considering that they were entirely unable to communicate. Even in hindsight, I am not sure what the point of the film was.
I think it was better than "Rumour has it" which was most painfully boring, but I wouldn't recommend it to anybody either.
I do like Jennifer Aniston a lot, and I wish she would be in better movies, where the focus was not on her hair and tan! She deserves better.
Through the whole film I could not see why these two ever got into a relationship in the first place, or how they ever lasted so long, considering that they were entirely unable to communicate. Even in hindsight, I am not sure what the point of the film was.
I think it was better than "Rumour has it" which was most painfully boring, but I wouldn't recommend it to anybody either.
I do like Jennifer Aniston a lot, and I wish she would be in better movies, where the focus was not on her hair and tan! She deserves better.
12 of 14 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
If you're thinking of renting or buying this film as a 'chick flick' or 'romcom', pause, take a moment, and read on.
To my mind, "The Break Up" doesn't know what it is trying to be or become. No belly laughs a la Bridget Jones. No heart tugging drama a la The War of the Roses ending. In places, this film is mildly amusing but it simply isn't funny. It really isn't dramatic either. It's, well, caught somewhere in the void in between.
It has a promising start i.e. the set piece before the opening credits. But then it deteriorates into unlikely chapters of behaviour. Yes, the arguments may raise a knowing male v female eyebrow, but in context, it doesn't work.
Jennifer Aniston is lovely - fair comment. Vince Vaughan, well, he's chubby and unlikeable. Why on earth is she with him? And, to an extent, what are they doing in this vehicle?
As my wife said afterwards, disappointing, empty and somewhat pointless.
To my mind, "The Break Up" doesn't know what it is trying to be or become. No belly laughs a la Bridget Jones. No heart tugging drama a la The War of the Roses ending. In places, this film is mildly amusing but it simply isn't funny. It really isn't dramatic either. It's, well, caught somewhere in the void in between.
It has a promising start i.e. the set piece before the opening credits. But then it deteriorates into unlikely chapters of behaviour. Yes, the arguments may raise a knowing male v female eyebrow, but in context, it doesn't work.
Jennifer Aniston is lovely - fair comment. Vince Vaughan, well, he's chubby and unlikeable. Why on earth is she with him? And, to an extent, what are they doing in this vehicle?
As my wife said afterwards, disappointing, empty and somewhat pointless.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
WARNING: This is NOT a romantic comedy
Some actors get typecast pretty quickly. I think it's fair to say that Jenifer Aniston is one. She readily plays the loveable, kooky happy-go-lucky characters in a will... Read more
Published 2 months ago by Albatross
Terrible, avoid!
I bought it on a super offer as I was in the mood for some light entertainment. This movie is awful. I did not even finish it as it was far too boring. Read more
Published 4 months ago by B. Isabella
the break up
this movie was very moving as a romance gone wrong. you feel for jennifer aniston but she sorts herself out in the end which is lovely
very good movie
very good movie
Published 11 months ago by dragonangel
Perfect light hearted and to understand the selfish partner
This film is so helpful to anyone trying to heal and/or understand a selfish person.
Its simple straightforward and fun, buthas a very serious underlying message about... Read more
Its simple straightforward and fun, buthas a very serious underlying message about... Read more
Published 12 months ago by Sunflower888
Not a Rom-Com
This is definitely not rom-com since there is no romance (they just argue) and it's not very funny. It's actually a bit depressing to watch. Read more
Published 14 months ago by C. Patterson
This is not a rom com - so build a bridge and get over it
I think this film suffered because it is not a Rom-com, it is not a fluffy film about love, with soppy romantic sub-plots. Read more
Published 16 months ago by D. Bowtell
Not a 'fluffy' film but is that bad?
Firstly I would like to point out that this in fact a good film in principle. I dont understand the neagtive review of the storyline - yes it is hardly a comedy but this IS a break... Read more
Published 16 months ago by christheibot
Surprisingly good...and sadly right on the money
Watched this on Telly last night and was really impressed, the acting is yeah at times, a bit hammy, but the emotional moments really hit you and as quite a few people have... Read more
Published 17 months ago by FanJW
great watch
i love this film its funny and kept me glued to the screen all the way through although it was a different ending to wat i expected i loved watching it
Published 21 months ago by laura ashurst
Non Comedy About A Relationship Tearing At The Seam
I remember that when it was new this movie was misrepresented in trailers as a broad comedy to match the lightweight stuff for which both Vaughn and Aniston are famous. Read more
Published on 27 Mar 2010 by Philoctetes
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