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List Price: $9.99 | | Label: Universal Studios
Salesrank: 30034
Released: October 17, 2006 |
| Our Price: $3.14 |
| Used Price: $1.18 |
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MPAA Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: DVD |
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Editorial Review:
Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston star in the charming and unpredictable comedy The Break-Up. After two years together, Gary and Brooke's relationship seems to have taken a comical wrong turn on the way to happily ever after. Now the break-up is on, the lines have been drawn, and their honest feelings for each other are coming out. Get ready for an all-out war of the exes in this fun date movie that's hilarious and heartfelt.
Description of The Break-Up (Full Screen Edition):
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
The Break-Up (Full Screen Edition) Reviews:
Too Much Reality! 
2009-12-05 - I've had terrible luck with love, but that doesn't mean I want to watch a movie about how much it sucks! This is also not a funny movie at all. It's just depressing.
not funny 
2009-12-04 - why did this movie get billed as a comedy? This was an awful film. Talk about petty & mean spirited.
My husband walked out on it & left me to finish it on my own.
I have to say the only redeemable part of this film was after all was said & done Vince Vaughns & Jennifer Anistons character's were civil to one another.
I watched it once & then took it to my local book/video trader & got rid of it!
Don't waste your money on this one.
Why is it all his fault? 
2009-11-06 - This movie has it's good points and not so good points regarding (1) the main characters, (2) the supporting characters and (3) the overall storyline.
1 -- the main characters
Vince Vaughn -- this is the funniest I've seen Vaughn (second best was his role in Swingers). I especially loved the scene where his girlfriend accuses him of being bitter that her brother kicked his a**. The look on his face as well as his response just cracked me up.
Jennifer Aniston -- on the show Friends, I thought Aniston was the funniest female character (and, therefore, couldn't understand why Lisa Kudrow kept winning awards). But I've noticed that in movies, she doesn't bring the same sparkle she brought to Friends. Instead, her performances falls flat. This movie is no exception. Her acting here is very lethargic.
2 -- the supporting characters
Jon Favreau -- loved him in Swingers and in this movie as well. The scene at the end where he's giving Vaughn advice on how to handle Aniston's new love interest is the funniest part in the movie.
Cole Hauser -- Hauser normally plays serious roles, but in this movie, proves he can also do comedy. The scene where he hits on these two women is both creepy and hilarious.
Jason Bateman -- I'm a big fan of Bateman. He's just a natural comedian. His role in this movie is small, but he still manages to make those scenes funny, too.
Justin Long -- I think Long has a very natural, very believable acting style. In this movie, however, his talents are underused. Instead, he relies on a weird hairdo and costume to provide all the gags, but they're not even funny.
Vincent D'onofrio -- D'onofrio is the only person in this film who seemed really out of place. His attempts at trying to be funny only made me cringe and feel sorry for him. He should stick to drama.
3 -- the overall storyline
This movie definitely has it's funny moments, however, I have a gripe about the overall storyline. What bothered me was that the fault of the breakup seemed to rest solely with Vaughn's character. But I think they were both at fault.
Towards the end, when Aniston is blaming him for not giving enough to the relationship, Vaughn makes an important point that he's not a mind reader. I agree. Based on his apology at the end, I think had she spoken up, he would've done anything to make her happy.
I mean, I could see if she asked him to change and he refused, but she didn't even ask. Instead she expected him to read her mind and when he failed to do that (because he doesn't have any magical powers), she let her resentment fester to the point where she broke up with him.
This seemed really unfair to me and not a good message for women to walk away with.
I think a better message would be for Aniston to apologize as well, saying she wished she had spoken up earlier about her unmet needs and because she didn't, it caused her resentment to reach it's boiling point.
That would've been refreshing to see.
Concise Review
2009-11-03 - A romantic comedy that is neither romantic or funny the arguing that is required to set the stage is painful. While I think there is something to be learned by guys here, those that would benefit from it would probably never recognize it. Decent job by Jennifer Aniston is largely wasted on a lackluster story that is made all the more uninteresting through the improbable pairing of Aniston and Vince Vaughn, who seems more than comfortable playing the obnoxious charactor. Even more wasted is Vincent D'Onofrio who expertly delivers what he can out of nothing. A boring ride that, by the time it's ready to make a turn for the better leaves you just wanting to leave it in the dust. There are many great romantic comedies out there and any woman that wants her guy to enjoy one with her had better not bring this one home.
No romance, no comedy ....
2009-10-24 - The only saving grace of this film was Judy Davis, who, as the gallery owner, Marilyn Dean, was absolutely superb. Unfortunately, the two leads didn't have as much to work with. The problems started even before the movie began. Why on earth would a sophisticated, artsy, beautiful woman want to go out with a self-centered boor like ... what's his name? (Such a memorable role...) Once the writers had failed to establish that there was any chemistry between the apple and the orange, they immediately proceeded to split them up. Good, you think. They really need to break up. So, why watch the rest of the film? The fights are predictable. Their behavior is not particularly funny. And apart from one or two hilarious moments (Vince Vaughn getting the bejeezus kicked out of him by Jennifer Anniston's "gay" brother got a guffaw out of me), there was no real spark to the film. It just plodded on and on in its petty pace, from scene to scene, until the last syllable of its unsatisfying ending.
