The
Break-up
is a sort of anti-romantic comedy starring on-again-off-again
celebrity couple Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn. It’s their
version of Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie’s Mr and Mrs Smith if
you want to get into the whole who did the dirty on who
celebrity affair/marriage breakdown drama.
The
Break-up
follows the aftermath of the break-up (duh) of the relationship
between tour guide Gary (Vaughn) and art dealer Brooke
(Aniston). The film opens with Gary (Vaughn) cracking onto
Brooke (Aniston) at a baseball game – the very first day of
their courtship. Then we jump forward and we are witness to the
very last day of their relationship, where after a falling out
following a family dinner Brooke calls it quits.
Things don’t end there however as the couple share an apartment
that neither wants to give up; what follows is various, often
comical (and increasingly vicious) attempts – a pool table in
the dining room, a spot of nudity and a tug of war over friends
- by Gary and Brooke to oust the other from the apartment and
end the relationship for good. This is a bitter-sweet comedy
with moments of very real heart despite some of the over the top
antics. It is clear that neither character really wants the
relationship to end – and do what they can, Gary especially, to
kill any attempt the other makes to start a new relationship.
The
Break-up
features an engaging cast, with Aniston and Vaughn ably assisted
in their post break-up antics by their family members, including
Anne Margaret as Brooke’s mum, and on-screen best friends, and
meddlers, John Favreau and Joey Lauren Adams. Indeed there are
a lot of recognisable stars in the cast, but they are not given
nearly enough to do. John Michael Higgins who plays Brooke’s
Brother Richard is introduced and only seen once more on screen
– a waste of the comedic potential his character shows. Justin
Long is hilarious as Brooke’s off the wall fellow art gallery
employee, and Judy Davis as Brookes boss Marilyn Dean is
hilariously over the top.
No
matter what is going on in their off-screen relationship Vaughn
and Aniston make a very charismatic and believable on-screen
pairing; and Aniston proves she has what it takes to be a
leading lady. Overall The
Break-up boasts an engaging and witty script, and a
talented cast which makes it a very enjoyable DVD night in.
