"I want you to want to do the washing up!" (The Break Up (DVD))

Member Name: gingerella

Product:	The Break Up (DVD)
Date:	13/06/09 (26 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Painfully amusing

Disadvantages: Not all that "feel good" - wouldn't watch it if I was going through a break up

For some reason I have found myself drawn more to the romcom genre more than any other of late...perhaps it is the warm fuzzy feeling it engenders without the need for prescription drugs? So when I saw this film for under £4 on amazon I felt it would satisfy my appetite for paint by numbers romantic comedy quite nicely. It stars queen of the genre Jennifer Aniston as Brooke Meyers, an art dealer who is feeling dissatisfied and undervalued in her relationship with self-centred Gary Grobowski (played to perfection by Vince Vaughn). Quite near the beginning a row breaks out which most couples will relate to - started by something as seemingly innocuous as Gary buying the wrong number of lemons - before it escalates to a full scale screaming match where Brooke calls time on their relationship. Then we see a battle of the sexes begin as the couple continue to share their apartment whilst trying desperately to make each other jealous and playing petty tit for tat games which leave their friends cringing.

This is a really funny film, which goes a bit deeper at points than your average romcom. It is actually more of an anti-romcom which was not what I was expecting. The contrast of comedy situations (you will never watch Kojak in the same way again!) and bitter realism works quite well. I found Aniston's game-playing woman who tries to coerce her partner into change without actually confronting the problem very convincing and Vaughn is equally as engaging as the man child who sees nothing wrong in his selfish behaviour. The supporting cast which includes Joey Lauren Adams of Chasing Amy fame give an equally comical yet believable dimension to the film. All in all a fun film that questions what it takes to make a relationship work which both sexes can enjoy.

Running time of the dvd is 102 minutes. Studio is Universal and classification is 12. Although I have seen pictures saying 15 as well? Whichever, I would say it isn't really a kids film and you would probably do well to watch it yourself before sitting down to watch it with younger teenagers.

Summary: The anti-romcom