MOVIE REVIEW: THE BREAK-UP
I actually saw The Break-Up. On purpose. I had designated the movie an obvious rental as soon as the trailer appeared months ago, but I had a few spare hours yesterday (and I’d seen every other film now playing at my local theatre). I’m not onboard with either Team Brangelina or Team Vaughniston, but morbid curiosity and sheer boredom were enough of an impetus for me to shell out $7 for the matinee.
In a nutshell, The Break-Up is a harsh glimpse into the uncomfortable airspace between two adults living together after their relationship implodes and unravels in a very quick and ugly way. Although I was impressed by the script, I was not sold on the chemistry between Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn at all (which may or may not be an indication of their potential or longevity together off-screen).
I am not surprised that the movie was marketed as a comedy, given both the stars and the few funny scenes that were chosen for the trailer. But this is not an entertaining two hours; the interaction between the lead characters is unpleasant at best. As a matter of fact, I would not recommend The Break-Up to anyone who has been through or never recovered from the painful dissolution of a long-term relationship. Watching this film is not a therapeutic experience, and there is a good chance that you might leave the theatre more unresolved and depressed than you anticipated.
Pop culture highlight: Peter Billingsley, who plays Joey Lauren Adams’ husband in The Break-Up, was the infamous Ralphie in A Christmas Story. Now a successful television and film producer, Billingsley and Vince Vaughn have been best friends since they appeared together in an After School Special about steroids early in their careers. Awesome.