Everyone knows about Jennifer Aniston and Vince Vaughn’s “secretive” relationship. We’ve seen the pictures, we’ve heard the wedding rumors and we know the story of how they started dating while filming their latest film, “The Break-Up.” This all coming on the heals of Aniston and Brad Pitt’s very public divorce. Now the movie is finally out, and it’s like the Aniston-Pitt-Vaughn saga may finally be able to come to a close.

The film begins with a quick introduction of Brooke (Aniston) and Gary (Vaughn) and how they met. During the opening credits of the film, director Peyton Reed uses his time wisely and efficiently by showing a scrapbook’s worth of photos that show the progression of Gary and Brooke’s relationship, allowing the film to get right to the nitty gritty topic at hand: the break-up.

The film picks back up right before a dinner party which has both Gary and Brooke’s families coming to their shared condo. Brooke has cleaned and cooked in preparation for the visit and all she has asked of Gary is to pick up 12 lemons for her “12 lemon centerpiece.” When Gary shows up with three lemons and settles in on the couch to watch baseball, her frustration begins to build. Dinner only magnifies their differences and the differences in their families, and when Brooke asks Gary to help her clean up after the families have left, his response sets her off.

Feeling unappreciated Brooke breaks up with Gary, thinking he will see the error of his ways, become a changed man and beg her to take him back.

Gary gets advice from his buddy Johnny (Jon Favreau) and believes that the relationship is truly over and that he shouldn’t kowtow to Brooke.

Neither person is willing to move out of the condo they share and they begin a battle of mental warfare to try to make the other leave (or in Brooke’s case, apologize).

Team Aniston...er Brooke...versus Team Gary.

What Gary doesn’t understand is that Brooke’s tactics are meant to get them back together (through jealousy, lust and bowling, go figure), while Gary simply wants to fight for what he believes is rightfully his.

Brooke finally realizes she may have made the biggest mistake of her life, but when Gary sees the light, is it too late?

Vince Vaughn is the highlight of this film. He has mastered the art of ranting and uses it throughout this flick with pop culture references thrown in so seamlessly you could almost miss them. It’s no wonder he can be found in virtually any successful comedy as of late (“Wedding Crashers,” “Dodgeball,” “Old School”), he’s hilarious.

Filming “The Break-Up” had to be a cathartic experience for Aniston who was dealing with her divorce while shooting. In one particular scene, she is sitting on the bed crying because she realizes the relationship is really over. Either she’s the most realistic fake crier in the world or some real emotion spilled over into the scene. She’s funny and cute and women everywhere will be able to relate to her frustrations, but she isn’t the star of this movie.

The writing of the actual break-up scene is classic and shows how communication is the key to a healthy relationship. The instigator of the actual break-up comes in the form of an argument about doing dishes that goes a little something like this:
Gary: “Fine, I'll help you do the dishes.”
Brooke: “Now that's not what I want.”
Gary: “You just said that you want me to help you do the dishes.”
Brooke: “I want you to want to do the dishes.”
Gary: “Why would I want to do dishes?”

The conversation, of course, then escalates into an argument about ballet and football games and the relationship as a whole.

I could completely see where both characters were coming from. Brooke thinks her issue with Gary should be obvious to him. He can’t read minds and needs her to verbalize the real issue that’s bothering her. Miscommunication prevails and another couple bites the dust.

The supporting cast is filled with interesting characters who add a lot to the film. Joey Lauren Adams plays Brooke’s married best friend.

In my opinion, there are a few moments that don’t ring true for the characters, but beyond that I really enjoyed it. It’s not your typical romantic comedy; it’s called “The Break-Up” for a reason. If you’re expecting “When Harry Met Sally,” wait for it to come out on DVD or skip it altogether. But, if you go in without the pretense of seeing a happy-go-lucky boy meets girl tale, I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. It’s funny, it’s heartbreaking and it ends in a way that could have any number of outcomes. Who knows, as long as Vaughn and Aniston stay together, there could be a sequel in the future; “The Make-Up” anyone?

****

login to post comments