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.