The Break-Up
starring Vince Vaughn, Jennifer Aniston, Joey Lauren Adams, Ann-Margaret, Jason Bateman, Judy Davis, Vincent D’Onofrio, Jon Favreau, Cole Hauser, John Michael Higgins and Justin Long
screenplay by Jeremy Garelick and Jay Lavender
directed by Peyton Reed
This film is exactly what the title describes, and it’s an ugly, cruel, nasty story, too. Why do people - especially men and women - hurt each other so badly, and set about it deliberately? Why do separating lovers have to be gratuitously cruel? But I thought it was well acted. And don’t forget, with Vince Vaughn in it it’s going to be a comedy. It was funny in a very real, uncomfortable way. The movie is a success because it speaks to everyone. Like the Neil Diamond song says, “song sung blue, everybody knows one.” You will like it. I love Vince Vaughn, and I like Vincent D’Onofrio a lot. I’m not a Jennifer Aniston fan, but she is good.
Brooke (Jennifer Aniston) thinks she can force her boyfriend Gary (Vince Vaughn) to change his personality and behavior to her liking by breaking up with him. The idea is that it will force him to return to her on her terms. But it doesn’t work. It never works in real like, and I know because I watched it happen in my own family, with one of my brothers and his girlfriend - a horrible, messy, injurious and debilitating affair.
I don’t like the ending of the story. It’s not happy, but it is probably realistic. Watch it and you’ll see.