The Break-Up (2006)
Jennifer Aniston, Vince Vaughn, Vincent D‘Onofrio

In The Break-Up, Jennifer Aniston (Brooke Meyers) and Vince Vaughn (Gary Grobowski) do look good together, but that’s not enough to make the movie solid and interesting. I am sure that all of the talk about "Brangelina" and Jen and Vince, has gotten a lot of people out to see this movie, like me, they may find themselves disappointed because they were expecting a really good comedy. It misses by a mile.

Two incompatible people fall in love, and then have nothing in common to keep them together. It sounds cute and should have been a fun movie but heart and soul was missing. There were a lot of arguments and some of them were funny. Brooke works full time at a high-end art gallery, then comes home to clean the apartment, pick up after Gary and make dinner. Gary watches the Chicago Cubs from the minute he comes home until bedtime. The reason they argue so much and eventually break up is because Gary has a problem giving of himself and letting people in, as his friend (Jimmy Fallon), a Red Sox fan, points out to him near the end of the movie by asking, "How many Red Sox games have we been to?" The answer is none, because Gary wants things done his way and everyone gives into him. Apparently they don’t think it’s worth the trouble to argue, and because he is a very likable guy. That may work with friends but it can’t work in this relationship or at his job. He and his brothers own a tour bus company, and Gary refuses to do anything except act as tour guide, because as he claims, "People line up to ride his tour bus", so it is up to his brothers (Cole Hauser and Vincent D‘Onofrio) to take up the slack. D’Onofrio will be familiar to “Law & Order: CI” television fans as Detective Robert Goren.

When Gary and Brooke finally decide to make a break, it is not clean and both refuse to move from the condo they own jointly. They play childish "I’ll make you jealous" and "Don‘t cross this line" games. They fight so much that you hope they will separate and move on to better relationships. Speaking of fights, there is a really funny fight scene between Gary and Brooke’s brother. There are several other scenes that should be funny but miss it by an inch. Brooke’s brother (Michael Higgins) belongs to a men’s choir and decides to hold a family sing-along at the dinner table. Everyone joins in, Gary refuses; o.k., he may have been right that time. The scene was funny but it lasted a bit too long. Brooke’s mother (Ann-Margret) joins in and sings too. Ann-Margret’s role is very small, but it is good to see her.

Rated PG-13

-Vanette Ryanes

Vanette Ryanes is a true movie maven. She has been an avid movie fan for more than 35 years and has a video library of 200 plus movies. She has a vast knowledge of classic black and white, noir and vintage color movies. If you have questions about movies contact Vanette, (Vannie to her friends) for answers, advice and recommendations.