The Break Up (The Break Up (DVD))

Member Name: danfellowes

Product:	The Break Up (DVD)
Date:	25/05/07 (109 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Different to normal Rom-coms.

Disadvantages: could have more plot...

Note: Review for movie not DVD.

The Movie

The concept of the film was very simple: a happy couple together enjoying life with one and other and then one day, something gets out of hand and they fall out, they break up, the end. Done. Review Over.

The Story

But of course it's not as simple as that! The film starts with a little clip of the two meeting followed by a lot of photo shots of their happy two years together so there's no wasting time really before the main plot of the film gets put into place which is good. The haste of getting to the actual breaking up shows that there is a lot to happen in the rest of the film which is always good.

The scene is set in Chicago where Gary, a simp[le young man, works for the firm 'The Three Brothers' as a highly successful and much loved tour bus commentator giving guided tours around the city with the help of a few laughs. The ambitious firm plans to go seawards and skywards giving tours of the city from all angles and Gary's got to help. Played by Vince Vaughn, the character seems content to begin with with what he has. He has a decent job, his own place and a girlfriend who loves him.

This girlfriend is Brooke, played by Jennifer Aniston, an arts saleswoman. She works for big time multi-millionaire artist Marilyn Dean (Judy Davis) in the Marilyn Dean Gallery in the centre of the city. Seemingly a little more upper class than Gary enjoying art pieces and ballets whereas he prefers baseball and Grand Theft Auto for PlayStation 2.

The relationship between the unlikely couple is going well, together for two years as the story begins. The beginning of the end is apparent almost from the get go. A small tiff begins when Brooke is cooking dinner and preparing for a meal with both of their families and she has asked Gary to get her twelve lemons, but missing the vital piece of information he only brings her three. As ever a remarkably silly thing to fall out over but that's how things are!

After a little row they patch it up a little and act the part when the families arrive. The scene of the family dinner, while setting up the end of the relationship, is a highly entertaining bit of film. Gary's side of the family: dad, mum and brothers are, as suggested by Gary's character, a little less civilised than Brooke's side of the family with attempted rude jokes and a clear dislike for certain qualities of some of Brooke's family.

On Brooke's side of the family there is mum and dad and in my eyes star of the scene her brother Richard, who is a rather flamboyant member of the male acapella vocal group The Tone Rangers. Trying to bring the family together with a good ol' sing-song, what is there not to like about this guy? But Vince above all is not amused. The character of Gary from the start shows that he gets what he wants, and doesn't stand for what he doesn't want.

The more selfish and rude side of Gary's character is brought out by the meeting of the families and he takes it out on Brooke. With a swift argument and a few flying insults she's out of there. Well eventually he leaves to seek condolences with his friend in the bar who continuously has terrible advice for him and luckily Gary realises that much at least.

After the break up the film becomes a bit of a warfare type strategy game... each player taking turns to get one over on the other. This is not exactly what either of them want but bad advice and even worse interpretations of that advice cause strange things to happen. Brooke is trying now to get Gary jealous by going out with other men but nothing ever comes of them they are just for show. Gary takes this as though she's completely over him and, amongst other things, has crazy strip poker/ dancing parties with a few girls his friends have provided. Not the best way to go about getting back the woman you love!

The Acting

The leading actors in this are obviously Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn who as expected from veterans of the business put on a very good show and play their roles brilliantly and are well deserved of their parts. Other characters such as the couple's friends are all high quality actors and I don't think there is a lot to complain about to do with acting. High budget film so the acting standards were to be expected

Genre

Obviously this is quite based around the genre of a Rom-Com chick flick but with an obvious twist in the way that the characters are not falling in love, they are falling out of love and hitting a few sharp objects on the way down! I would still call this a chick flick and I'm a guy who enjoys them, don't know why but they're nice. This one takes you on an emotional journey with them and you really want them to get back together by the end and it leaves you hanging until the very end as to whether they're going to reunite or not. I think it's cleverly made and produced.

Conclusion

An interesting film with a few unexpected twists but nothing that cannot be predicted a few minutes before, it makes you feel a bit sad as you're watching but not too overwhelming. Good enough storyline to keep you interested throughout the whole film and not too thought wrenching so you have to concentrate too hard to relax.

Details

Director: Peyton Reed
Rating: 12
Warnings: Strong Language, Sexual Content
Running Time: 102 minutes
Year: 2006

Price

£5.26 at Amazon.co.uk

Summary: Relationship warfare between loving couple.