Movie Review: THE BREAK UP Author: Jenn Bobbitt Saturday, June 3, 2005 U.S. Release Date: June 2, 2006 Distributor: Universal Director: Peyton Reed Writing Credits: Jeremy Garelick & Jay Lavender Cast: Jennifer Aniston, Vince Vaughn, Joey Lauren Adams, Jason Bateman, Cole Hauser Genre: Romantic Comedy MPAA Rating: PG-13 OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.thebreakupmovie.net TRAILERS: www.apple.com./trailers Let me just begin by saying that I LOVED this one! It was so money, baby (to borrow a line from Vince Vaughn a la SWINGERS)! As much as I loved it, I have to admit it was terribly mismarketed. Everyone who came to this one looking for their “Vaughn as funny man” fix (which, through reaction, I’m assuming was 90% of the people in the theatre with me) was grossly disappointed. Almost all of the humorous moments were highlighted in the trailer. This one is much less romantic comedy and much more romantic realism -- FINALLY! I went to see this movie with a girlfriend. She is getting a divorce and I just ended an engagement, so, needless to say, we are both “that girl.” You know the girl I’m talking about -- it’s the total characterization of Brooke (Jennifer Anniston), so from the get go I was hooked. Because this is a situation that hits close to home, let me level with you -- this one is very realistic, uncomfortable, brooding, but funny at times. Director Peyton Reed does a tremendous job of portraying the reality of a breakup, from indifference to lust to frustration. The opening scene is classic Vaughn humor, as Gary (Vince Vaughn) steals Brooke away from her preppy, plaid short wearing date at a baseball game. I think this is what gave the men in the audience hope that this would be another "Old School-esque" film in the books for Vaughn. Not so. About halfway through the film, when the arguments between Brooke and Gary had progressed to yelling and the separating of belongings, you could feel the tension in the theatre. I’m sure they were thinking the same thing my girlfriend said to me, “If I hate dealing with it at home, why would I want to see it in a movie?” As uncomfortable as the movie may have been for those expecting a laugh out lound comedy, I feel that the ending was truly redemptive (Although that is the part that I have heard the most complaints about. Get over it people, “happy endings” are overrated!). The concept that life continues after relationships end was refreshing and is something that is celebrated too infrequently. JENN’S GRADE: A Jenn Bobbitt is a reviewer and writer for ON-FILM.NET. SEND JENN FEEBACK!