Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Aniston, Jon Favreau
Directed by Peyton Reed
Rated PG-13
2 Pulses
Summer cinema is littered with family films, unnecessary sequels, enormous explosions and marquee stars. In recent years, there have been some break-out comedies of enormous proportions (American Pie, The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Wedding Crashers) that break up the monotony, capturing audiences nationwide.
The Break Up is not this summer’s equivalent.
Filled with flat characters, the film relies too heavily on stereotypes. Gary (Vaughn) is a Cubbies-loving Madden junkie, ungrateful for the hard work girlfriend Brooke (Aniston) does around the house, cooking and cleaning, planning parties after putting in long days at the art gallery where she works.
One has to wonder what these two are doing together anyway, as they seem incompatible from their first meeting. We’re shown the development of their relationship through a montage of “happy couple” photographs, which aren’t very convincing.
Each of them is too stubborn to leave the condo they co-own and an ugly and bitter battle of wits ensues.
Anyone who’s ever suffered through an extensive break-up knows just how nasty it can be and The Break-Up doesn’t sugarcoat the atrociousness. Their words are harsh, conflicts of the past tossed back at one another, and angry chick rock blasts from the bedroom. No one wants to go through this in life, much less pay to see another couple suffer through it.
Screenwriters Jeremy Garalick and Jay Lavender (working from a story they created with Vaughn) do manage to use the movie to show the humorous side of break-ups, like when Gary and Brooke are being brutally honest about how they really feel about each other’s families. Unfortunately, they don’t show enough of the funny side of things.
Not that anyone really cares. There is certainly chemistry between Aniston and Vaughn, but it turns sour quickly. I didn’t find myself pulling for them to make it?I just wanted it to be over so we could all go on with our lives.
The reunion of Vaughn and longtime collaborator Jon Favreau (Swingers, Made) isn’t even enough to save this average comedy, though it was nice to see Favreau (as tough-guy Johnny O) as a character opposite the usual underdog, sensitive boor which we’re accustomed to seeing him play.
Director Peyton Reed makes little use of a great supporting cast, including Jason Bateman, Ann Margaret, and Joey Lauren Adams. D’Onofrio is quietly obsessive as Gary’s anal-retentive brother and Judy Davis is hilarious as Brooke’s eccentric boss. Veteran TV actor John Michael Higgins stands out as Brooke’s brother, a member of an a cappella group who attempts an impromptu sing-along over dinner.
The film would’ve worked much better as an ensemble comedy. As it is, it lacks spirit, spark and compassion.
