Product Description

Vince Vaughn and Jennifer Aniston star in the charming and unpredictable comedy The Break-Up. After two years together, Gary and Brooke's relationship seems to have taken a comical wrong turn on the way to happily ever after. Now the break-up is on, the lines have been drawn, and their honest feelings for each other are coming out. Get ready for an all-out war of the exes in this fun date movie that's hilarious and heartfelt.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #7342 in DVD
• Brand: Universal Studios
• Released on: 2006-10-17
• Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Formats: AC-3, Color, Dolby, Dubbed, DVD, Subtitled, Widescreen, NTSC
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, Spanish, French
• Dubbed in: French, Spanish
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .20 pounds
• Running time: 106 minutes

Amazon.com
The combined star power of Vince Vaughn (Wedding Crashers, Swingers) and Jennifer Aniston (Bruce Almighty, The Good Girl) makes The Break-Up a high-profile romantic comedy. Gary (Vaughn) and Brooke (Aniston) find that their brittle relationship may have reached the breaking point--but neither is willing to give up the condo they co-own. As their fighting grows increasingly bitter, neither is sure if they're fighting to get out of the relationship or to save it. The Break-Up is an odd combination of realistic scenes that capture the harsh yet human ways that lovers can hurt each other, and broad comic scenes with a more farcical edge. Both types of scenes are entertaining on their own terms--the movie is never boring--but they don't fully mesh, and as a result it's hard to engage emotionally with either Gary or Brooke. But the sterling supporting cast--including Jon Favreau (Wimbledon), Cole Hauser (The Cave), Joey Lauren Adams (Chasing Amy), John Michael Higgins (A Mighty Wind), Justin Long (Dodgeball), Jason Bateman (Arrested Development), Vincent D'Onofrio (Happy Accidents), and the ever-delirious Judy Davis (Husbands and Wives)--give every scene they're in a boost of comic energy. An uneven but enjoyable movie that may suffer from viewers having overly high expectations due to Vaughn and Aniston's celebrity. --Bret Fetzer

On the DVD
If you ever want a complete Cliff's Notes interpretation of a movie, get Vince Vaughn to do the commentary. The actor (and in this case, producer and writer of the story) painstakingly explains the meaning behind every story decision, bit of dialogue, and sidelong glance in the movie ("See, he plays video games because it's comfortable for him--he loves to have control."). Jennifer Aniston joins him on the commentary, but has little to say but agree with his nonstop play-by-play. Gossipmongers looking for any extra chemistry indicating the Vaughniston romance will be disappointed, though Vaughn wisely makes no reference to his past dating history with co-star Joey Lauren Adams, who plays Aniston's best friend. Only director Peyton Reed, in a separate commentary track, makes an allusion: that he was hesitant about sending Aniston a script called The Break-Up in the middle of her divorce from Brad Pitt.

There's clearly a fondness for the city of Chicago (where the movie is set), the subject of a feature hosted by the Three Brothers (the fictional tourism business run by Vaughn's character). Castmates Cole Hauser and Jon Favreau also pitch in to showcase famous Chicago haunts. There's also a behind-the-scenes doc on the Tone Rangers, the a capella group formed by John Michael Higgins in the movie, a number of extended scenes and outtakes, and a silly "alternate ending" that thankfully, stayed alternate. But the best feature is the unedited footage of Vaughn and Favreau riffing various takes during a bar scene. Watching it can get tedious after the eighth go-around, but fans of the pair (who co-starred in Swingers and Made) will be fascinated watching them organically grow a hilarious scene through improvisation. --Ellen A. Kim

Customer Reviews

"I want you to help me for a change"
In order to appreciate The Break-Up you really have to suspend disbelief at the reasons why a couple like Gary (Vince Vaughn) and Brooke (Jennifer Aniston) would actually come together in the first place. The film is well acted and fast paced and also entertaining, and it does a generally good job of showing what happens when love turns into a weapon of mutual destruction.

It's just I didn't quite buy the fact that a somewhat educated and cultured girl like Brooke who works as a art-gallery curator and likes going to the ballet would actually see in a working class schlep like Gary, a voluble if considerably doughy charmer who, with his two brothers (Vincent D'Onofrio) and Cole Hauser), runs a guided tourist service in Chicago.

If you can get beyond this strange lapse of logic, The Break-Up is a mostly fun and astute and features the lovely Jennifer and the clever Vince at their snappish best. The story itself is pretty slim: Brook and Gary meet at a Cubs game, fall in love hard, buy a showpiece apartment together and live happily ever after. All this happens in the opening credits.

It doesn't take long, however, for the cracks to appear in the relationship and the fights inevitably start coming. He doesn't buy the right number of lemons for a dinner party she's hosting for their respective families, and then doesn't do the dishes until she nags him to help. She doesn't understand his needs, which is basically relaxing after a hard day on his feet and watching the ball game. So consequently, after a bitter argument, Brooke impulsively puts an end to their relationship.

The big problem is that they both own the apartment together, and over the next couple of weeks things get worse. Lines are drawn over who can do what and trivial disagreements break out over common space, noise, and eventually escalating into Brooke inviting over dates, Gary inviting over strippers, moving in a pool table, and everything else as the relationship spirals out of control.

The couple's realtor (Jason Bateman) and shared friends, including Maddie (Joey Lauren Adams) and Johnny (Jon Favreau), all get caught up and are forced to take sides. But will Brooke and Gary be able to sort out their differences and stay together, or is the relationship doomed to failure?

I think the strength of the film comes from the biting repartee that takes place between Aniston and Vaughn, especially in the earlier scenes. You really do believe that they are - and have been - a committed couple that are about to explode with frustration at each other's failings. The actors indeed imbue Gary and Brooke with moments of sincere woundedness and the film's arguments - that relationships are essentially about mutual respect and about give and take - come across as remarkably authentic.

As usual in these sorts of Hollywood romantic comedies - and using the term romantic loosely - the supporting cast is filled out with a number of veterans. Judy Davis steals every scene she's in as Brooke's eccentric art gallery boss and Ann Margaret makes a surprise appearance as Brooke's mother.

But the movie ultimately belongs to both Aniston and Vaughn - she's tanned and toned and looks fantastic and he does what he does best - playing the permissive man-child who just refuses to take responsibility for anything, either personal or professional.

The film stalls a bit in its final third; as though the producers are intent to pad the story out and Brooke's motivations for doing what she does remain bit of an enigma - first she loves him then she doesn't and we're left to infer some of her feelings rather than bear witness to them. In the end, though, The Break-Up is at least partially notable for showing both lead actors at their best, but the film also shows off some terrific views of the beautiful city of Chicago. Mike Leonard October 06.

Most of Us Will Be There

Realistic to the end. I've been involved with counseling many couples who break up and this movie hits the proverbial nail right on the head. Many break ups are "accidental". Many times persons who break up wish they could be back together. Many times the greatest danger comes when the problems are out in the open and persons attempt to save the relationship.

All of the cast does a good job. The characters are believable and make the viewer root for them, even the supporting cast. The viewer becomes emotionally glued to this film with a desire for these two to make it, but they always seem to just miss, even though both want it to work. This could be a healing film, but it is not a "feel good" film. This may be why so many viewers, expecting a light hearted comedy, gave it less than stellar reviews.

Most people who have experienced the breakup of a close relationship will see themselves in this film. About half of all marriages end in divorce and most couples who live together will eventually split. The brightest spot in the film is the ending. It reminds us that however relationships turn out, there is hope for a future on the other side.

I won't say how this film turns out, but if you do not like the ending there is an alternate ending in the bonus features. I liked the ending that showed in the theatres, but the other ending is worth a glance, if only for a few laughs.

Excellent -- Realistic, Attractive and Brilliant Supporting Cast
I had recently begun to have my doubts about the Hollywood romantic comedy (failure to launch...family stone...yawn), but I must say I really liked "The Break Up". What makes it stand out I think is its realism (warning to couples in the middle of actual arguments -- this movie may stir things up). Anyway, it's not as fairly tale artificial as some movies and the main characters were charming in their very different ways. But I wouldn't say charming actually...that makes it sound like "Amelie" or something. They were relatable and real...and funny. I would say that if you liked "Fever Pitch," you might like this film too. It even has a little baseball in it (but just a little).

The cinematography is worth mentioning. Chicago looks great as does Jennifer Aniston. Vince vaughn was a bit chubby, but I think that was for the role. In the end of the movie he is thin again for character reasons.

Final very important point: often what can turn an okay movie into a memorable exposition of cinema art (or at least a good night in front of the tube in this case I suppose) are the supporting cast members. John Michael Higgins, whom I had never heard of before, was hilarious as Jennifer Aniston's brother (when he tried to get Vince Vaughn to sing at dinner? That was gold). Anyway, Jon Favreau as Vince Vaughn's best friend was, as always, 'money'. And Judy Davis, of course, was tremendous as Aniston's boss at the art gallery. Every day she is not acting is a loss to the art. So I/we liked it.