Rated PG-13 for sexual content, some nudity and language.
105 Minutes
Directed By: Peyton Reed
Written By: Jeremy Garelick and LJay Lavender
Staring: Jennifer Aniston, Vince Vaughn, Joey Lauren Adams, Cole Hauser, Jon Favreau, Jason Bateman, Ann Margaret, Justin Long, Vincent D’Onfrio, and Judy Davis
Is that how you want to play it Brooke? Because I can play it like that. I can play it like Lionel Richie, “All night long.” -Gary
Review:
Jennifer Aniston in a romantic comedy? Who woulda thunk it? Guys are going to dig this because of Vince Vaughn, and probably women that like Vaughn too, but beyond this, The Break Up had very little to offer. It was a film that felt like it had the urge to strive to be more than your typical romance or relationship drama, but at every challenge or turn it referred back to cliches and predictability never bothering to take any risks or travel new territory.
It was pretty obvious these two were going to break-up showing essentially no chemistry.
The Break Up at least started off showing some spark. Then it got lost and couldn’t figure out if it was a romantic comedy or a relationship drama. In the beginning you feel a sense of realism from the arguments and stresses of the couples relationship. Both characters make decisions that are typical and their reactions seem plausible, but suddenly as the inevitable “Break Up” happens it turns into a movie that feels more like a film fitted for Ashton Kutcher and Britney Murphy. The level of the stories maturity digresses, but the part of the characters and the strength the film started off with remains. It isn’t funny or sad, it’s simply a confusing mess of emotions. This movie had no idea what it was trying to be.
Aniston plays the same role in every movie. It gets more and more boring and nearly to the point where I feel bad for her. If she’s going to play the same character again and again why can’t it be Rachel from Friends? At least we all liked her. Either way Aniston does not manage to grow or give a noteworthy performance in this confused film. Likewise though is Vaughn, except his character is charismatic, charming, and funny. Even though he’s playing a giant man-child he still makes himself a likable
Towards the end, the arguments sounded more like the adults from "Charlie Brown". Wah wah wah....
character, because Vaughn, like Aniston seldomly explores different kinds of roles for himself. It’s so repetitive, I can barely tell the difference between their characters or their movies anymore. I prefer to watch them in interviews rather than in their movies. The Break-Up is just another movie that I will forget about.
Perhaps I’m not the biggest fan of “chick flicks”, but I know a good one when I see one. The Break-Up was not a good movie on any level. The best emotion I can emote from it by its finale was boring. The characters superficial layers dried up halfway through the movie and the peculiar antics that attempted to stimulate the audience were insulting. It felt like the story needed more time to make a film and they just continued to add pointless scenes to make it more than an episode of Desperate Housewives. The Break-Up is a big giant FAIL.
I agree that Jenn’s lookin a little busted these days
I think as female actors age they feel the pressure to remain attractive and for some reason that translates as plastic surgery, botox, and getting excruciatingly thin. If anything it makes them look older and does a disservice to aging gracefully.