Film

What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases

Get 2 for 1 cinema tickets with Orange Click Here

Search cinema listings

Browse cinemas A-Z

Search 20,000 reviews

 

The Break-Up (2006)

Director: Peyton Reed

Average user rating
1 review

Movie review

From Time Out London

Much like ‘The War Of The Roses’, this wilfully bucks romantic comedy formula by speeding through a couple’s courtship and cohabitation and diving straight into the separation of the title: a family dinner party is the catalyst, widening the gap between the couple and emphasising their differences. As Brooke (Jennifer Aniston) spends hours preparing for a lavish dinner, Gary (Vince Vaughn) returns home without the shopping and puts his feet up in front of the sports channel. It may sound like lame, stereotype-driven humour, but sharp dialogue and detailed observations make it a good deal funnier than you might expect. As in most of Vaughn’s other comedies (‘Wedding Crashers’, ‘Old School’), unexpected biting remarks bring bursts of laughter. ‘She’s been through a lot,’ protests Brooke when Gary criticises her troubled sister. ‘Of dick!’ he proclaims.

Clearly, this is no PC outing: Brooke’s camp brother is ridiculed (albeit mostly for his refusal to come out) and Vaughn’s regular sidekick Jon Favreau makes a virtue of his sexist remarks. But Favreau’s bold character Johnny is one of the funniest in the film: Brooke’s sex-mad art gallery boss and her camp assistant are less successful comic figures. This is at its most amusing when the warring couple’s attempts to aggravate each other backfire, such as when Brooke’s token date – designed to make Gary jealous – ends up bonding with Gary over a computer game. ‘The Break-Up’ is at its least successful when addressing the issue of romance. While implying that the pair love each other deep down, the film ís uncertain about their ultimate compatibility, which – however realistic – makes it less emotionally affecting than many of its contemporaries. Still, at least it’s funnier.

Author: Anna Smith 2006-07-18 10:22:11

Time Out London Issue 1864: July 19-26 2006


  • Print this page
  • Send to a friend
Get 2 for 1 cinema tickets with Orange Click Here

User reviews of this film

  • Tina said...
    Posted on Jul 06 2007 13:14 I thought this film was okay - didn't think it was overly funny. I still think Jennifer Aniston has still to make a good film, which is a shame as i really like her as an actress.
    Report as inappropriate

What do you think?
Post your review now

clear rating
Min 1 star. Zero stars will be treated as unrated.

*mandatory fields





Top Stories

Has Michael Mann lost it?

Has Michael Mann lost it?

Adam Lee Davies mourns the passing of a major Hollywood talent as Michael Mann's 'Public Enemies' sees the great director running on empty

Why 'Ice Age 3' is really for adults

Why 'Ice Age 3' is really for adults

Tom Huddleston takes a look at a selection of films which bring adult problems to a pre-teen audience

Is this Summer 2009's best film?

Is this Summer 2009's best film?

The French filmmaker Claire Denis speaks to Dave Calhoun about her new film, '35 Shots of Rum', a tender portrait of a father-daughter relationship in Paris

The Informant: trailer preview

The Informant: trailer preview

Steven Soderbergh is at it again, this time with a screwball corporate caper starring Matt Damon called 'The Informant'. View the trailer here...

Rudo y Cursi: interview

Rudo y Cursi: interview

Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna talk to Time Out about their highly entertaining new comedy, 'Rudo y Cursi'

An open letter to Peter Morgan

An open letter to Peter Morgan

Tom Huddleston penned an open letter to Peter Morgan offering some friendly dos and don'ts for the new Bond movie

Outdoor film screenings in London 2009

Outdoor film screenings in London 2009

Derek Adams offers a guide to the best places to see films outside in London this summer

50 essential sci-fi films

50 essential sci-fi films

With 'Star Trek' making serious waves, we thought it would be a perfect time to select 50 must-see sci-fi films






The City made easy in association with Sony Ericsson W715