Film Review: The Break-Up (2006)
In the world of old Hollywood, where the power to draw in audiences rested predominantly on the shoulders of stars and their names on movie posters, filmmakers were occasionally granted the freedom to experiment creatively and deviate from conventional storytelling. Sadly, not all such endeavours yielded positive results, and 2006's The Break-Up stands as a prime example of this phenomenon.
Set in Chicago, the plot revolves around Gary Grabowski (played by Vince Vaughn), a tour guide, and his girlfriend Brooke Meyers (played by Jennifer Aniston), an art gallery manager. As their relationship begins to deteriorate due to incompatible personalities and lifestyles, Gary, with his love for video games and televised baseball, perceives Brooke as controlling, and manipulative. In turn, Brooke sees Gary as immature. Their disagreements escalate, culminating in Brooke ending the relationship. However, a significant hurdle remains: they jointly own a condominium, neither is willing to relinquish their stake, and so they devise an unconventional arrangement - continuing to live together while navigating their lingering attraction.
The script, co-written by Vince Vaughn himself, holds an interesting premise that runs counter to the traditional Hollywood formula of romantic comedies. It starts at the point where most such films would end – with the couple together – and then proceeds to explore the disintegration of their relationship. Despite a few red herrings and hints suggesting that the protagonists might ultimately realise they are perfect for each other, the film concludes on a bittersweet note, leaving audiences to believe that the relationship was toxic and everyone is better off having ended it.
While such a premise isn't necessarily flawed, the script struggles to strike a balance between comedy and drama, with the latter taking precedence as the plot unfolds. As a result, many viewers would feel cheated by the ending, and the poor quality of humour doesn't help matters either.
Vince Vaughn, an actor known for his comedic prowess, does what he can with the material, as does Jennifer Aniston, who sought to distance herself from her Friends image in order to establish herself as a leading lady in romantic comedies. However, their efforts ultimately fall short of replicating the success enjoyed by Meg Ryan and Sandra Bullock in similar roles.
Peyton Reed's direction is another factor contributing to the film's shortcomings. Despite having previously achieved great success with light comedies, Reed struggles to bring The Break-Up to life, resulting in a runtime that is at least fifteen minutes longer than necessary.
Some of Reed's solutions, such as the scene where Brooke parades around their shared apartment naked, while the camera being shielded by strategically placed objects, only serve to feel manipulative and exploitative. This scene, along with others like it, reinforces the sense that the film is adhering to Hollywood's PG-13 principles and ultimately feels false and insincere.
Unsurprisingly, given its myriad issues, The Break-Up ended up critically panned and as one of the more forgettable films of its time – a fate it richly deserves. Despite boasting big-name stars on its poster, the film failed to captivate audiences or leave a lasting impression, ultimately cementing its place as an unfortunate misfire in the romantic comedy genre.
RATING: 3/10 (+)
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