Customer Reviews

The Break-Up (Widescreen)

5 star:		(0)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Not even Vince Vaughn's comedic popularity or Jennifer Aniston's partially nude body can save this pile of crap. Vaughn's signature (and played out) frantic fast talking does not make any part of this the least bit humorous. Although I did laugh at one scene where Jennifer Aniston's character arrives home to hear the crack of billiard balls...
Their squabbles become less believable and even more frustrating to watch throughout. Drama that is so meaningless and stupid that is preferred by everyone to be kept behind closed doors. Who can stand watching these awkward arguments in "real life" let alone pay to see a film about it.
Watching a couple squabble over trivial garbage for 90 minutes is not my idea of quality film entertainment. THIS FILM HAS NO REDEEMING QUALITIES WHATSOEVER.
Also one of the only films I have ever turned off before the end. 0 stars.

In fairness, most comedies are rather silly, with the viewer wading through the film in order to get to the really funny scenes. Remarkably, this film really does not have that much comedy, and even worst, its drama is undermined by the film's effort to be a comedy. In some ways, it attempts to be another War of the Roses starring Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner, but it lacks the black humour and farce of the aforementioned film. It also does not help that the leading man is Vince Vaughn, whom I personally find uncharismatic and frankly not all that funny.

Jennifer Aniston was at the peak of her career when she did this film, and it is obvious she did it for the money and as a vehicle to work with her then boyfriend Vince Vaughn. However, many of her fans will enjoy her usual comedic performance and her alluring beauty, but other than that, it is difficult to find any other reason to recommend this film.

Please save your money and don't buy or rent this movie. I watched the whole thing, two hours of my life that I will never get back, and didn't laugh once. The movie was pointless, the characters undeveloped and unbelievable. I can`t say enough bad things about it. I was extremely disappointed. Sad to say, I think Jennifer Aniston's best work was in "Friends" and how she is classed as a movie star is beyond me. I should have known better.

My husband and I watched this, expecting it to at some point pick up. It didn't. There is nothing memorable or remarkable about this movie. I am guessing that most people themselves have had more dramatic break ups then this. Nothing is learned, or solved, and the worst part of all, is that I was under the impression this was a comedy, and save for a very few parts, lacked wit or humour. We kept expecting it to pick up at some point, but it never did. The ending seems like they ran out of things to have the couple bitch over, so they just ended it. It was tacked on, and you are left going.."thats it? What was the point?"

Although Vince Vaughn and Jon Favreau again team up for some of the comedic scenes, this movie is not a complete disappointment. If you like VV you may enjoy the first hour of this film; after that it descends into predictability, strained comedy, and gay stereotypes from the 80's.

Vaughn gets sole credit for adding any substance to this film. And I do mean ANY. Vincent D'Onofrio, a good actor, is wasted in an inscrutable part, a deranged older sibling who runs the tourism business in Chicago with Vaughn. There are some awful scenes- REALLY awful, at the dinner table where Ann-Margret is also present.Judy Davis is a welcome diversion from this mess, but her cameo as an eccentric art gallery owner is not long enough. Aniston plays her usual self; which may be good or bad, depending on what you think of her personality. Joey Lauren Adams is also a one-dimensional character, trying to help her sister find Mr. Right.

Apparently, the director did not want this to be construed as a "chick flick" so added Vaughn, and a few male characters, without developing the characters, or giving them any substance.There is a brief scene with the "Old 97's" in concert, Vaughn has a few dramatic moments, and the plot could have worked, but the screenwriter must have been under a time limit, or creatively challenged.

Breaking the mold of an already faulty genre does not an instant classic make. It just means it's an unusual addition to the faulty genre, rather than an exception. And Reed should have paid closer attention to the romantic comedies that Linklater (Before Sunrise), Crowe (Jerry Maguire) and Smith (Chasing Amy) made following their teen flicks. The devil is in the dialogue, and more attention should have been paid attention to it. Oh, and casting the right people for the parts, rather than the flavours of the month. That really helps too. Overall, this film is a slight disappointment which could actually have worked, had there been any creative thought put into it.