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Review #141 of 365
Film: The Break-Up [PG-13] 106 minutes
WIP™ Scale: $8.75
Where Viewed: Muller Family Theatres Lakeville 21, Lakeville, MN
When 1st Seen: 2 June 2006
Time: 7:30 p.m.
Review Dedicated to: SSM Class of 2006
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DVD | soundtrack |
Click for 'Review Lite' [a 150-word review of this film]
The Break-Up directed by Peyton "Bring it On" Reed and starring Vince Vaugh as Gary Grobowski (one half of the couple) and Jennifer Anniston as Brooke Meyers (the other half of the couple) plus an excellent line-up of supporting actors including Joey Lauren Adams as Maddie (Brooke's best friend), Cole Hauser and Vincent D'Onofrio as Lupus and Dennis Grobowski (Gary's brothers and partners in their Three Brothers, Big Red Bus-like Chicago company), Jon Favreau as Johnny O (Gary's best friend), Jason Bateman as Riggleman (Gary and Brooke's friend and realtor), Judy Davis as the world-renowned Marilyn Dean of Marilyn Dean's Gallery (Brooke's boss), and Ann-Margret in a rare movie cameo as Wendy Meyers (Brooke's mother) starts off hilariously and ends quietly with barely a whimper. Given the build up for this film, and the wonderful premise: Gary and Brooke who have been living together for three years destined, in the minds of all who knew them and even their own, to wed soon, invite their relatives for a two-family, coalescing dinner at their spectacularly valuable Chicago condo only to have Gary's failure to bring home 12 lemons for the centerpiece Brooke wished to make for the occasion catalyze the fracture of their relationship. Given their equally strong penchant for proving the other less worthy in a battle of the wills, neither moves out right away, leaving each to set up increasingly challenging situations for the other to test their resolve and their still-lingering feelings.
There were some scenes, notably when Brooke's brother, Richard (John Michael Higgins), a member of the a cappella singing group called the Tone Rangers uses, as Gary reports, "…trickery and slight-of-hand to attack your throat and take you down before you even know you're in a fight". Both the fight and Gary's report on it caused an uproar from the audience the likes of which I've not heard since Wedding Crashers. Unfortunately, these great laughs are few in the film and most of the best lines were, sadly, given away in the film's preview as is, in my view, too much of the plot. Even so, the cast of characters and the performances of the actors were all splendid. I enjoyed each one, even the quirky brother role of Vincent D'Onofrio who casts his portrayal of Dennis Grobowski in the same vein as his L&O: CI role without quite as much creepy insight that I generally find a bit spooky to enjoy. The biggest problem is that it turns out not to be that much fun to watch these two characters break up and even harder down the line to figure out what actually drew them together in the first place. Turns out, that, by his own admission, Gary is a pretty self-centered guy. He does not, in fact, seem to really care about anything to do with Brooke except that she does everything for him and he puts barely anything back. Eventually, they were bound to break-up because there are not many people whose dream relationship, let alone long-term commitment, is so decidedly one-sided. Indeed, it is a wonder Gary has any friends let alone a three-year, very intimate, condo-buying-together relationship with Brooke. And that is a bit of a flaw in the script or in the casting. It's difficult to be upset they are breaking up when there's little to show why they should have been together in the first place. If they say opposites attract, these two were as opposite as imaginable, yet in the most destructive ways possible for a mutual relationship. Ms. Anniston and Mr. Vaugh both do wonderful jobs playing these characters, that is not the problem.
There were some scenes, notably when Brooke's brother, Richard (John Michael Higgins), a member of the a cappella singing group called the Tone Rangers uses, as Gary reports, "…trickery and slight-of-hand to attack your throat and take you down before you even know you're in a fight". Both the fight and Gary's report on it caused an uproar from the audience the likes of which I've not heard since Wedding Crashers. Unfortunately, these great laughs are few in the film and most of the best lines were, sadly, given away in the film's preview as is, in my view, too much of the plot. Even so, the cast of characters and the performances of the actors were all splendid. I enjoyed each one, even the quirky brother role of Vincent D'Onofrio who casts his portrayal of Dennis Grobowski in the same vein as his L&O: CI role without quite as much creepy insight that I generally find a bit spooky to enjoy. The biggest problem is that it turns out not to be that much fun to watch these two characters break up and even harder down the line to figure out what actually drew them together in the first place. Turns out, that, by his own admission, Gary is a pretty self-centered guy. He does not, in fact, seem to really care about anything to do with Brooke except that she does everything for him and he puts barely anything back. Eventually, they were bound to break-up because there are not many people whose dream relationship, let alone long-term commitment, is so decidedly one-sided. Indeed, it is a wonder Gary has any friends let alone a three-year, very intimate, condo-buying-together relationship with Brooke. And that is a bit of a flaw in the script or in the casting. It's difficult to be upset they are breaking up when there's little to show why they should have been together in the first place. If they say opposites attract, these two were as opposite as imaginable, yet in the most destructive ways possible for a mutual relationship. Ms. Anniston and Mr. Vaugh both do wonderful jobs playing these characters, that is not the problem.
"The Break-Up directed by Peyton "Bring it On" Reed and starring Vince Vaugh as Gary Grobowski (one half of the couple) and Jennifer Anniston as Brooke Meyers (the other half of the couple) plus an excellent line-up of supporting actors…starts off hilariously and ends quietly with barely a whimper."
The problem is that Gary lacks a single physical or behavioral trait that would seem to dram her to him. Ironically, when the break-up occurs, his tactic is to show her how much he was giving up by having a relationship with her, while she tries to get him to see how much he is losing in all that she gave to the relationship. That probably sums up right there what was wrong with the relationship and why is shouldn't be repaired. Though, Brooke certainly tries her best including enduring a rather too-much-information-like visit to the personal waxer of Marilyn Dean to get a job done that will supposedly drive Gary wild and running back into her awaiting arms. This part also includes a Jennifer Anniston, bare-backside tour of the condo to get something to drink that made me question what causes films to be PG-13 versus R anymore. Apparently, full back-side nudity does not evoke an R-Rating these days.
Probably the worst thing a film can do that bills itself as a comedy is end like an inconclusive drama where the audience is sort of left to draw its own conclusions about what happens down the road for the main characters. With comedies, you want more resolution, and/or you want something really funny to happen. When the credits started to roll, there was a nearly universal gasp of frustration from the audience in last night's theatre. Admittedly, this was a hard film to figure out how to end, especially on a high note. I have some ideas, but they would give away the ending, so, I'll keep them on hold for a while and maybe come back and add them in in a month or two. With all due respect to cast, director and crew, The Break-up is just not a very satisfying film. Funny at times, yes, but does not end well.
Probably the worst thing a film can do that bills itself as a comedy is end like an inconclusive drama where the audience is sort of left to draw its own conclusions about what happens down the road for the main characters. With comedies, you want more resolution, and/or you want something really funny to happen. When the credits started to roll, there was a nearly universal gasp of frustration from the audience in last night's theatre. Admittedly, this was a hard film to figure out how to end, especially on a high note. I have some ideas, but they would give away the ending, so, I'll keep them on hold for a while and maybe come back and add them in in a month or two. With all due respect to cast, director and crew, The Break-up is just not a very satisfying film. Funny at times, yes, but does not end well.
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The Break-Up (Widescreen Version) [DVD](2006) DVD
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The Break-Up Review-lite [150-word cap]
The Break-Up starring Vince Vaugh and Jennifer Anniston as two halves of a couple plus an excellent cast of supporting actors starts off hilariously and ends quietly with a whimper. Given the wonderful premise: Gary and Brooke destined to wed soon, invite their relatives for dinner at their Chicago condo only to have Gary's failure to acquire 12 lemons for the centerpiece fracture their three-year relationship. Proving that the other is less worthy in a battle of the wills becomes their game as neither is willing to move out and serves as the source for the comedy for the rest of the film. It is not that much fun to watch these two characters break up and even harder to figure out what drew them together in the first place. Probably the worst thing a film can do that bills itself as a comedy is end like an inconclusive drama.
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